100th show to be 'biggest of all time'

This photograph from 1904 shows the first A&P Show held at Ayrburn, near Arrowtown, on December 1 that year. On Saturday, the Lake Hayes A&P Show will mark the 100th show in the district. Photo from the Lakes District Museum.

The A&P show under way at the Lake Hayes Showgrounds, circa 1950. Photo from the Lakes District Museum.

World champion log roller Darren Hudson from Nova Scotia, Canada, demonstrates his skills to a large crowd before cooling off from the heat of the Lakes Hayes A&P Show in 2007. Photos from the ODT files.

Troy Kirkby, left and Ben James compete in the axe challenge during the Kiwi Lumberjacks show at the Lake Hayes A&P Show in 2009.

"[The Topp Twins are] the right people for the show - they understand the culture behind an agricultural and pastoral show" - show co-ordinator Julie Hughes

In April 1871, a big crowd converged on the Frankton Flat for the inaugural Wakatip (sic) Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Tracey Roxburgh revisits the country showpiece's history on the eve of the 100th A & P Show.

Early judges queried

Even though the first event now known as the Lakes County A & P Show was held in 1871, Saturday's show at Lake Hayes will be the 100th, as war and other events cancelled many shows over the years.

Co-ordinator Julie Hughes said the 2015 event would reflect the changing face of the Wakatipu.

Traditional elements like equestrian, livestock categories and ''home industry'' would be present, as well as new additions representative of today's society.

That would include an international food court, she said.

''Who would have thought [144] years ago we'd be eating sushi and Mexican and Indian at an agricultural and pastoral show?

"It's nice that we've changed with the times ... the committee want to keep changing and bringing in new bits and pieces.''

To mark the milestone, the committee had created 12 plaques to be placed on stone plinths around the arena, erected about 10 years ago.

Each plaque detailed different aspects of Wakatipu history, with information prepared by the Lakes District Museum, including gold mining, Maori settlement and farming.

Mrs Hughes said the Central Lakes Trust approved a $6000 grant towards the cost of the plaques and the remaining $6000 was contributed by the committee.

Special guests at Saturday's show would be the Topp Twins.

It had taken about three years to secure them for the event, she said.

''They're the right people for the show - they understand the culture behind an agricultural and pastoral show.''

The pair would perform twice on Saturday, at 10.30am and 2.30pm, and would also be involved in the Grand Parade.

The parade, beginning at noon, promised to be bigger and better than ever and would include life membership presentations, Mrs Hughes said.

Entries across all categories were up, particularly in equestrian where 124 entries had been received, compared to about 90 last year.

The committee had also made some changes to parking and transport for the show, aiming to discourage people from parking on State Highway 6 beside the show grounds.

General parking would be set up within the show grounds, near Lake Hayes-Arrowtown Rd, while a free park and ride service would run from Alec Robins Rd, off State Highway 6, to the show.

A bus would run every 15 minutes from the park at Alec Robins Rd to the showgrounds and return.

Gates open at 8.15am on Saturday. Entry will be free for all school-aged children and a $10 for adults.

''It's looking really good.

''We're gearing up for the biggest show of all time ... there's a bit of everything for everybody. That's what the show's about.

''It's about families.''

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

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