Thursday, 30 July 2015 15:43

Canterbury A&P Show to host Royal Equestrian Event

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

The Canterbury A&P Show will host a Royal A&P Equestrian Event in 2015, giving competitors the chance to win prestigious Royal ribbons and medals at the annual show.

Livestock and equestrian entries officially open for the 153rd Show on August 1. Every year around 3000 animals are entered into 1700 classes ranging from costumed Arabian horses to Piedmontese cattle and Red Boer goats to soft feather Bantams.

Event director, Geoff Bone says over 3500 entries were received in the equestrian section in 2014, making it the second biggest equestrian section in the show's history.

"Hot on the heels of increasing entry numbers by 10% in 2014, Royal Event status will further grow what is already the second largest equestrian event in New Zealand."

Canterbury A&P Association president Nicky Hutchinson has been a competitor and volunteer in the equestrian section since the 1960s, and is excited to be hosting the Royal Event in her presidential year.

Hutchinson notes that the Canterbury A&P Association last hosted a full Royal New Zealand Show in 2009.

"We have aspirations to one day host the Royal Show here in Canterbury again, so in the meantime it's fantastic to be able to give our competitors the opportunity to compete for Royal ribbons and medals again."

"We're looking forward to delivering a fantastic event in 2015 not just for the competitors, but also for spectators by attracting some of the best competitors and horses in the country."

RAS president John Grigg is looking forward to working with the Association on the Royal Event.

"It's a particularly good fit with the current president, Nicky Hutchinson, considering her equestrian interests. Canterbury has always had a very strong equestrian presence within the showing movement and this will be complemented by Royal Event status.

Grigg says that winning a Supreme Champion medal at a Royal A&P Event for a particular section is similar to winning a medal in that same section at a Royal A&P Show.

"It's one of the most prestigious medals within the organisation, and along with the tri-coloured ribbon it's sought after by competitors."

Equestrian entries close on 18 September and livestock entries close on 25 September. Schedules and entry forms are available from www.theshow.co.nz.

Published in Rural Life

More like this

New board resurrects show

The new chair of the Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) board, Sir David Carter, is pleading for public support for this year's Christchurch Show.

Council lifeline for A&P Show

Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) have signed an agreement which will open more of Canterbury Agricultural Park for public use while helping to provide long-term certainty for the A&P Show.

Canterbury Show canned for 2020

The iconic Canterbury A&P Show – known as the New Zealand Agricultural Show – will not go ahead this year.

M. bovis casts long shadow over the show

Mycoplasma bovis has cast its shadow over the New Zealand Agricultural Show.

The show will go on!

The country’s biggest annual A&P show will go ahead with cattle classes this year despite the threat of spreading Mycoplasma bovis.

Featured

2026 Meat Industry Association scholarship applications open

Applications have now opened for the 2026 Meat Industry Association scholarships.

Bank of New Zealand launches First Farm initiative

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through a new initiative designed to make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking easier.

Editorial: Credit where it's due

OPINION: While farmers are busy and diligently doing their best to deal with unwanted gasses, the opponents of farming - namely the Greens and their mates - are busy polluting the atmosphere with tirades of hot air about what farmers supposedly aren't doing.

Methane emission target reset

OPINION: For close to eight years now, I have found myself talking about methane quite a lot.

Royal A&P Show Returns to Canterbury: Record livestock entries and renewed prestige

The Royal A&P Show of New Zealand, hosted by the Canterbury A&P Association, is back next month, bigger and better after the uncertainty of last year.

Farmers Lead Sustainability Push: Woodchip bioreactor cuts nitrate runoff in Manawatu

Claims that farmers are polluters of waterways and aquifers and 'don't care' still ring out from environmental groups and individuals. The phrase 'dirty dairying' continues to surface from time to time. But as reporter Peter Burke points out, quite the opposite is the case. He says, quietly and behind the scenes, farmers are embracing new ideas and technologies to make their farms sustainable, resilient, environmentally friendly and profitable.