Breeders vye for blue ribbons

Entries were marginally down on last year, but nevertheless stud breeders from all over the South Island, and some from further north, made their annual journey to Christchurch for the 149^th Canterbury Show.

“If you can win a big ribbon here in Christchurch, you’re competing against the best,” says Canterbury A&P president Peter Gardner.  “And it makes sales – if you get a good bull that can win here, it certainly puts money in your back pocket.

“I suppose we’re bits of skites, but we showed here for many years and people would say: ‘I see you won the supreme champion Angus at the Canterbury A&P Show. It must be a good bugger’.  

“So we’re very proud of it – every Cantabrian is and that’s why they come along.”

Even the grey skies and cool temperatures didn’t deter 10,000 visitors from turning up on the first day and organisers were confident of attracting 100,000 over the three days that the show runs.

Gardner says there are advantages of cool conditions.  

“You don’t want it
too hot because the
cattle get tired and get
sick of it so we’re more than happy with the weather.”

Thanks to one of the mildest winters for years (despite a couple of snow dumps) and plenty of growth this spring, livestock were in good condition and some judges seemed surprised at the quality of the animals.

“I just had a Jersey judge saying, ‘they don’t have any decent Jerseys in Canterbury’, but he’s come down here and now says, ‘this is the best I’ve seen in New Zealand,” says Gardner.  

“So that tells me there’s a guy who’s come from the North Island and he’s happy with what he sees in front of him.”