Show veteran not fazed by forecast

Sheep dog trialist Keith Satchwell, 91, is expected to be the oldest competitor at the Hawke's Bay Show.

A weather forecast offering deteriorating weather for the three days of the Hawke's Bay Show which starts in Hastings today isn't the sort of thing that would bother veteran sheep dog trialist Keith Satchwell.

Aged 91, and turning 92 next month, he's competed in some fairly adverse conditions over more than 60 years of trials.

"When you go down to the South Island," he said, "that's when you come across the snow, and it gets a bit tough. We've competed in a lot of rain over the years."

The worst he can expect this week is a few showers, with the weather talking a southerly turn on the big day of the show, the Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day public holiday People's Day on Friday.

"But it won't make a lot of difference to the trials," he said.

Mr Satchwell started working on the land at the age of 15, before going to World War II where he became a veteran of the Battle of Monte Cassino, in 1944.

He competed in the New Zealand Championships for the first time in 1954, when they were held at Taradale.

He won a New Zealand title in 1960, and, now the patron of the Hawke's Bay Sheep Dog Trial Centre, he still managed a win this year, with 11-year-old bitch Sue in the Waikoau club's short head and yard run in February.

He will have Sue back at the show this week, along with recently acquired Glen, a national trials run-off qualifier with Raupunga farmer Tom Manson in Geraldine in May, when the pair won the South Island short head and yard title.

He's not just a competitor and still farming a few cattle, he was out on Sunday as dog trial organisers ran through the sheep drafted from Mangatutu Station for the trials on the second and third day of the show (tomorrow and Friday).

Hundreds of agri-sports competitors are lining up for events at the show, including showjumping and other horse events throughout the three days and culminating with a World Cup qualifying round on Friday.

There's also farm fencing tomorrow, and the Great Raihania Shears on Friday, for which veteran multiple World champion David Fagan, of Te Kuiti is also a starter, 31 years after he first won a Hawke's Bay Show title.

The opening day today is Schools' Day, and features several events directed at the younger following, including an Agri-Tri multi-events competition, for age groups from juniors to about 12-years-old, and the second secondary schools shearing match.

Show organiser Anna Hamilton said about 1500 children were expected with school groups from Napier and Hastings, and Putorino, transported by at least 16 buses.

The forecast offers a fine day with light wind today, possibly a turn to some showers late tomorrow, and showers turning to cool southerlies on the Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day public holiday People's Day on Friday.

The Hawke's Bay A and P Society, which celebrated a 150th show anniversary last year, and has a three-year licence from the Royal Agricultural Society to stage the Royal Show from 2015-2017, is hoping for total crowds of more than 30,000 people over the three days.