Wairoa puts on another top show

The country came to town in Wairoa yesterday for the 103rd A&P; show, and choppers, riders, jumpers and shearers from throughout New Zealand and the world followed suit.
Record numbers of showjumpers will be in attendance this weekend and the "big guns" in the rodeo world will be drawn by news that the national championships are to be held in Wairoa in March.
Show president Fenton Wilson, whose first job at the show was as a rodeo clown, said some of the top riders from Australia and Canada would be using this weekend as a dress rehearsal.
"Jeff Young (Wairoa Rodeo Association president) developed the rodeo arena and it is now a national, if not world class, facility," Mr Wilson said.
The horse section was also "absolutely chock full" and there a tremendous selection of show jumping talent would be on display.
The Wairoa show usually had to compete with Levin's A&P;, but not this year, so the best riders, and horses, from across the country would be present at the weekend, Mr Wilson said.
The good weather and the range of activities on offer should bring a good crowd out.
He was expecting 3-4000 over the weekend, although it was always difficult to gauge the likely attendance.
The opening of the new competition shearing sheds would also be a major drawcard.
The sheds cost more than $40,000 to build and equip and the local community had raised about $30,000 of that total throughout last year.
The building of the sheds was a real community effort and highlighted what was best about the rural township, he said.
More than 60 people had volunteered their labour over the last few months to ensure the sheds were built in time for the show.
The work of local identities, such as Michael Whitworth and Bruce Taylor, deserved special mention for the amount of time and effort they had put in, he said.
Mr Taylor, a former president and local farmer, said the new sheds had to be built because the old ones were "stuffed".
The new sheds would offer more room for the judges, sheep and the shearers.
There would be a "Testimonial Chop" in honour of expert local axeman Bernie Kent.
The 64-year-old had chopped for 45 years at the show but had hung up his axe, for this year, because of health problems.
Mr Kent said he was honoured and was tipping father-son duo Hoot and Steven Knowles to do well at today's event.
Osie Hanson, who had attended the show for about 50 years, said it was the family atmosphere that made the Wairoa show special.
The 83-year-old former equestrian came down to watch his children and grandchildren compete at the showjumping.
His son, Hawke's Bay Horse of the Year Show organiser Kevin, had designed the course.
"We competed as a family for 20 years and now I am here to watch the grandchildren," Mr Hanson said.
Kevin Hanson said: "Wairoa is a real rural show, run by real rural people, for real rural people."
Today's events include the open rodeo, shearing, dog trials, chainsaw carving and woodchopping.