Crowds flock to show

BY BLAIR ENSOR

Thousands flocked to Ward's Weld Park for the 85th annual Flaxbourne A & P Show on Sunday. A diverse lineup of events, great weather and plenty of stock had people crowing about the event.

Man's best friend, the beloved canine, made a timely return to the Flaxbourne A & P Show on Sunday as thousands of people flocked to the traditional pastoral farming area for the annual event.

Richmond Brook stock manager Stephen Forsyth and his huntaway Jim shook off stiff competition from a field of 35 to take out the Flaxbourne Handy Dog Challenge.

It was the first time dog trialling had been seen at the event in more than five years, after competition headed south to Kaikoura.

Judges said Mr Forsyth's control of both the sheep and his three-year-old dog were impressive.

"There was a bit of luck in the sheep, he [Jim] just seemed to listen today. Some days it clicks and some days it doesn't," Mr Forsyth said.

Kekerengu shepherd Tony Shadbolt, who helped organise the Handy Dog Challenge, said he was delighted with the way the event had been received by the public with good crowds on hand to watch farmers put their skills to the test.

Flaxbourne A & P Show Association president Rob Peter said the 85th event was one of the area's best shows in recent history, with gate takings well up on the previous year.

"It's been very, very good."

He attributed the popularity of the show to the weather, an influx of trade stalls, and the diversity of events on offer to spectators.

A first time visitor to the show, Lesley Brinsdon from Blenheim, said the event was "absolutely amazing".

"It's brilliant, there's everything here we'd want and it's a beautiful day... I'll definitely come again."

Mr Peter's team took out an unusual new event on the show programme, the Iron Man competition.

Teams of four competed to drink a glass of sparkling wine, saw a log, roll a hay bale, and shear a sheep using a handpiece powered by a bicycle.

The president's team completed the task in a time of 2 minutes and 46 seconds.

In the second annual farmers versus fire fighters tug-o-war match the cockies retained their title, but the local emergency services gave the men of the land a good run for their money. MC and Flaxbourne farmer John Hickman said it was the "No8 fencing mentality" which got the farmers across the line.

Open shearing honours went to Jason Win from Reefton who fought off tough local competition to put away 16 sheep in a time of about 13 minutes.

More results from the event will appear later this week.

- The Marlborough Express