Brothers Jack (4) and Archie Body (7) with their
prize-winning swedes in Tapanui yesterday. Photo by Helena
de Reus.
Now may have covered West Otago but that did not stop the
annual baleage competition in Tapanui yesterday.
Over 50 farmers entered the West Otago Lions Club and West
Otago A and P annual fundraiser, with a total of 94 entries
across five categories - small hay, hay, cereal baleage,
silage and lucerne.
Athol Lawlor, of Lawlor Farms, won the overall prize as well
as winning the lucerne section. Bales were judged on the
crop's state of maturity, smell and tightness, and how well
the bale was wrapped.
The bales were then auctioned, raising about $6700 for the
West Otago community.
West Otago A and P immediate past president Robert Bray said
he was pleased with the number of entries despite the cold
snap.
Some areas of West Otago had up to 15cm of snow, with schools
in Tapanui, Heriot and Waikoikoi closed for the day
yesterday.
Graders were busy clearing roads around West Otago and will
be out again today.
Roads around Clinton and the Owaka Valley were also affected
by snow, and parts of Waipori, Mahinerangi, Waitahuna and Mt
Stuart by large snow drifts in places. The top of Finlayson
Rd, between Waihola and Taieri Mouth, SH1 between Balclutha
and Gore and SH8 between Lawrence and Beaumont were affected
by black ice or snow.
Results.-
• Small hay: Peter Byars 1; Emily Byars 2; Alan
McPherson 3.
• Hay: LWB Crawford 1; Ivan Roulston 2; MT Allan 3.
• Cereal baleage: George Hutson 1; Maitland
Contracting 2; B Norman 3.
• Silage: Ivan Roulston 1; Clayton and Lyn Chittock 2.
• Lucerne: Lawlor Farms 1; Gem Lake 2; Crown Rock 3.
• Tallest kale: J Marshall 1; Kerren Pilgrim 2;
Bradley Catto 3.
• Heaviest swede: Archie Body (10.2kg) 1; Henry Power
(9kg) 2; Jack Body (8.8kg) 3.
• Ugliest swede: Cole Scammell.
• Overall winner: Lawlor Farms.
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