Rural games part of farming heritage

Whangarei strongman Dale Shepherd throwing the weight for height at an earlier A&P Show.

A goal to preserve the legacy of rural heritage will see Northland's largest Agricultural and Pastoral Society Show feature rural Olympics when it kicks off in Whangarei next weekend.

The NZ Rural Games promote New Zealand's farming heritage and rural sporting achievements around the world and will feature at the one-day show at the 64 hectares of Barge Showgrounds in Maunu on December 3.

Showing off their strength will be the participants of the Highland Games 'Heavies' events, which include Weight-for-distance, Tossing the Caber, Farmers Walk and Weight Over Bar, with former NZ Strongman Champ Rueben DeJong.

DeJong will compete alongside top athletes Corey Gent, Craig Walker and Pat Hellier.
Off course the ambitious folks in the audience will also have a chance to have a go with egg throwing, wine barrel racing, gumboot throwing and hay bale stacking.

Executive director of the A&P Society, Malcolm McKerrow, said that as agriculture was at the core of the community, rural games were a natural fit at the show.

"The addition of 'have a go' and other popular rural games will add to the strong land-based theme of the show and we hope this will attract families from far and wide," he said.

"We have made a number of changes to the show this year, including combining all of the great animal attractions and the trade sites into one fantastic, jam-packed day."

As well as the popular woodchopping event, there will be a speed shearing sheep exhibition event featuring Sir David Fagan and his son, Jack Fagan; local Rowland Smith and Dion King.

Of course, it's not just the humans that get to show off their talents. Dogs too will have their moment to shine when the Ultimate Canines, a team of working dogs, perform their variety of humorous, unusual and clever tricks.

There will be three 35-minute dog shows throughout the day.

The agile dogs will perform everything from tidying up some bowls and washing their paws to taking care of the baby.

The show will feature livestock and equestrian competitions, as well as pony rides, mini jeeps, the Big Dig, bouncy castles, the petting area in the Farm Yard Nursery and the Fresha Valley Suzie Moo Show.

The show is in its 136th year and will run from 9.30am to 6pm for one day, instead of the usual weekend long event.

Family passes are $35 and gate admission is $10 per adult, with children 5 years and under free.