Wairoa A&P Show a boomer

Bart Hadfield, shearing organiser for the show, competing as part of the Wairoa team in the France v Wairoa test. Photo / Alice Lock

The Wairoa A and P Show was a "boomer" this year with entries up right across the board.

From the thrilling rodeo to the rapid speed shear, crowds on all three days were never a disappointment to event organisers.

Wairoa A and P Show president Ross Mitchell said the number of people who came through the gates was a sign of how successful the show has become.

"It really was a boomer. The grounds looked awesome and everything went according to plan and everyone was happy," Mr Mitchell said.

The rodeo, which has become the biggest attraction of the show despite criticism by animal right groups, had record numbers this year.

Wairoa Rodeo Club secretary Harmony Wallace said they had 207 entries from 187 competitors, which was almost double usual numbers.

"We usually get 90 to 110 competitors."

She said this was an encouraging promotional sign ahead of the national circuit finals on March 24-25, also held in Wairoa.

The shearing joined the rodeo in popularity with a rise in the number of participants on both days.

Forty people competed in the speed shear on the Friday night and 92 competed in the championships on Saturday.

Wairoa show shearing co-ordinator Nuku Hadfield said they were pleased with the numbers as well as the quality of shearers.

"It was a great spectacle right through from novice to open and at the end of the day on Saturday we had a Golden Shears line-up, which world champion Rowland Smith took out."

The prestigious France v Wairoa test was taken out by Wairoa shearers Lachie Baynes and Bart Hadfield, keeping the local crowd happy.

The Wairoa show is the only one in New Zealand that holds a local and national final in each category, which Mrs Hadfield said helped build local talent.

"It was great to have people from Wairoa in the national finals with Jack Dever in the seniors and Keith Swann and Atawhai Hadfield in the junior final, who have all come up through these local finals."

She said it's a great way to train the shearers, as they move up through the system.

The number of horses in the ring and dogs in the trials added to the show's success with 410 ponies and horses and 92 dogs competing.

Equestrian secretary Merryn Maxwell said everything went well except the battle with the gale force winds.

"For only a little show we had great numbers in all of the higher classes as well as the Pony Grand Prix, which had 21 competitors."

Dog trial organiser Ian Denton was pleased with how everything went from his end.

"We had dog trial legends with Bob Bruce and Rod Mead competing and there was great support from both Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay. It was a good day and a half."

The Farmlands Rural Ironman was another event which added to the list of attractions that grew in size this year.

Six teams ran around the junior course dragging hale bales and carrying eggs on teaspoons while the nine senior teams carried a deer, rolled bales of wool and carried a gator.

Organiser Barry Everest said he was happy to see so many young people competing since they are the future of it all.

Other events which kept show-goers entertained was the scarecrow competition, thistle growing competition and baking competition, all judged by New Zealand comedian and television personality Te Radar.