Newspaper Article 2013 – Royal status bestowed on show

Royal status bestowed on show

Entry numbers building for events at 150th anniversary milestone

By Doug Laing

The Hawke’s Bay Show has been granted royal status by the Royal Agricultural Society, but is unlikely to ever again see the huge sheep and cattle numbers of many of its earlier years.

However, there are still promising signs for the 150th celebration events in two weeks.

The sheep classes appear likely to have about 300 head, which Hawke’s Bay A&P Society general manager Brent Linn says is “not bad”, being a third up on last year when the sheep section was reinstated after being culled from the programme because of dwindling numbers.

Entries are still open for all classes including the export lamb class that has been reinstated this year with support from Progressive Meats.

Fleece entries, also still open, won’t be known until closer to the day.

“Anecdotally the drought of last year will have some influence on numbers but to counter this the royal status may drive entries from further afield,” Mr Linn said.

Beef entries, also driven by the attraction of an RAS medal, were up 50 per cent, offering close to 50 head across three breed classes plus commercial animals for the led steer competition from Taratahi/EIT students.

Mr Linn said equestrian entries were running at the same level as last year, in a full event calendar for the equestrian community and heightened competition for entries across the shows.

The show’s World Cup Showjumping round was well supported with nine entries including some of the country’s leading showjumpers.

Sheep dog triallists had warmed to the appeal of the anniversary with 226 dogs entered, the biggest entry “in recent history”, Mr Linn said. The numbers meant the trials would run for the full three days of the show. A big sign of the eminence of the show came yesterday when president Bob Pattullo and 10 surviving predecessors signed “limited edition” copies of Hawke’s Bay on Show, the 150th anniversary book.They were joined by book author and show stalwart Ewan McGregor.

The book will be officially launched next Thursday evening at a cocktail function in the President’s Marquee at the Showgrounds, and tickets are still available.

“The drought of last year will have some influence on numbers but to counter this the Royal status may drive entries from further afield.” Brent Linn, Hawke’s Bay A&P Society general manager

Photo caption – PENNANCE: For their years of service to the Hawke’s Bay Show and the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society, 10 past presidents yesterday joined incumbent Rob Pattullo and book author Ewan McGregor for a big sign-up at the Showgrounds. The signatories are John Renton (back left). Hugh McKeesick, Peter Tod, Robert Pattullo, Mick Lester, Neil Chambers, Sam Nelson: author Ewan McGregor (front left), Peter Holden, Brian Pattullo, Hamilton Logan, and David Hildreth.