Duvauchelle A&P Show day 'perfect'

Horses and their riders make their way around the main arena during the grand parade at the Duvauchelle A&P Show on Saturday. Photos: David Hill
Horses and their riders make their way around the main arena during the grand parade at the Duvauchelle A&P Show on Saturday. Photos: David Hill
Tom Macfarlane (left) and Charl Chaney, from the Akaroa Bays Lions Club on gate duty at the...
Tom Macfarlane (left) and Charl Chaney, from the Akaroa Bays Lions Club on gate duty at the Duvauchelle A&P Show on Saturday. The Akaroa Bays Lions Club serves a large area, from Little River to the Akaroa Harbour area and the eastern bays.
An historical display told the story of the earliest beginnings of agricultural and pastoral...
An historical display told the story of the earliest beginnings of agricultural and pastoral shows in Akaroa Harbour, from a horse race on the beach at Duvauchelle 150 years ago, to the present day.
Christchurch entertainer Adam Allsorts was popular with all ages.
Christchurch entertainer Adam Allsorts was popular with all ages.
The produce shed had its usual array of colours.
The produce shed had its usual array of colours.
Akaroa Men's Shed members Rich Sales (left) and Paul Newport were on duty selling bird feeders...
Akaroa Men's Shed members Rich Sales (left) and Paul Newport were on duty selling bird feeders made by men's shed members. Based in the old council depot shed in Duvauchelle, the Akaroa Men's Shed meets on Saturdays from 10am to noon and has members...
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel (second from right) joined Duvauchelle A&P Show president Phil...
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel (second from right) joined Duvauchelle A&P Show president Phil Bremner (right) and secretary Tania Bradley (second from left) at the front of the grand parade on Saturday.
Millie Vogan (11), of Dunsandel, leads her pet sheep, Tag, in the grand parade at the Duvauchelle...
Millie Vogan (11), of Dunsandel, leads her pet sheep, Tag, in the grand parade at the Duvauchelle A&P Show on Saturday. The day also celebrated 150 years of agricultural and pastoral shows in the Akaroa Harbour area.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel (left) watches on while Duvauchelle A&P Show president Phil...
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel (left) watches on while Duvauchelle A&P Show president Phil Bremner gives his address, after the grand parade on Saturday.
Tim Little (left), of Duvauchelle, accepts the Banks Peninsula Recognition Award from...
Tim Little (left), of Duvauchelle, accepts the Banks Peninsula Recognition Award from Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel on behalf of his sister Kerry Little, of Takamatua near Akaroa, who was unable to attend the Duvauchelle A&P Show on Saturday.
Ponies and horses are ridden around the main arena during the grand parade.
Ponies and horses are ridden around the main arena during the grand parade.

The rain stayed away and the sun hid behind the clouds, making it the ''perfect day'' for the Duvauchelle A&P Show on Saturday.

Show president Phil Bremner said the conditions were ideal as the Duvauchelle A&P Association celebrated 150 years of agricultural and pastoral shows in the Akaroa Harbour area.

Starting out from humble beginnings, with a horse race on the beach at Duvauchelle, the Banks Peninsula A&P Show was founded in 1868, changing its name to the Akaroa A&P Show in 1884 and the Peninsula Horse Show in 1898.

After the Banks Peninsula A&P Association was established over the hill in Little River in 1912, the Peninsula Horse Show and Pastoral Association was formed as an incorporated body and held its first show at Duvauchelle in 1914.

There was a further name change in 1994 to the Duvauchelle A&P Show.

Mr Bremner said he had enjoyed learning the history of shows in the Akaroa Harbour area and noted how much transportation between Akaroa and Christchurch had changed.

In the early days, the quickest way to travel was by ferry from Akaroa to Duvauchelle and then walking over the hill before continuing on to Christchurch.

When a road was first established to Akaroa, a coach trip to Christchurch took nine hours.

Mr Bremner said it was later recorded that the Akaroa County Council forbade driving at night, accept on Wednesdays, to allow farmers to attend the Addington sales the next day - ''so long as they didn't go faster than 24kmh''.

To mark the occasion, Mr Bremner said past presidents and secretaries had been invited to attend an afternoon tea with Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel and the day concluded with an informal barbecue to thank all those who had been involved in the show over the years.

Ms Dalziel was also on hand to present the Banks Peninsula Appreciation Award, which went to Kerry Little, of Takamatua near Akaroa, for her work as Heartlands Services Centre co-ordinator in Akaroa.

As she was unable to attend the show, her brother, Tim Little, accepted the award of her behalf.

Mr Little said his sister often went ''above and beyond, so it's not just a job for her, it's more or less 24/7''.

-By David Hill

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