A blind and deaf dog was just one of many winners at the 151st Tokomairiro A&P Show on Saturday.
As part of the annual show held at the rugby fields at Milton, one of the competitive events for animals was a fox terrier sprint race.
The small contingent of dogs chased a dead hare on the back of a motorbike across the main field as they vied for first place.
The top dog in the race, Smidge, was both blind and deaf, his owner Brenda Harland said.
She said he might not be able to see or hear properly but he ‘‘knew how to hunt’’.
His sense of smell was what helped him track down the animal on the back of the motorbike.
Show president Geoff Howie said the dog race was a fun event the organisers brought back this year.As well as the usual events for stock and show animals, there was also a fancy dress for pets.
Numbers of entrants were down from last year’s 150th show but the quality of stock was "exceptional" this year, Mr Howie said.
Most of the horse events were for novices and those entered were "real horse people but not real show people".
One of the entrants, 8-year-old Emily Dennis from Cromwell, was at the Tokomairiro Show for the first time.
She had been in several horse shows before but not Milton. Emily had to teach her horse, Royal Buzzer, to trot, gallop, canter and change direction in front of the judges.
Royal Buzzer was her "best friend".
Her favourite part of the show was getting ribbons.
Mr Howie said they had been lucky with the weather, as the sun shone down on hundreds of show-goers.
Entertainment and activities at the show included rides, sideshow amusements, stock displays, a show parade and Silver Peaks Country performers.
