‘A really good day’ for show

Record gate takings and perfect weather made the 108th Winton A&P Show one of the most successful on record.

Annabelle Edward (10) gently guides the horse Bailey Shepherd (10) is riding at the Winton A&P Show, held at the Winton Racecourse on Saturday. PHOTOS: TONI MCDONALD

Winton A&P Association president Wayne Malcolm put the annual event’s success down to a combination of factors including the good weather and the opportunity to be able to socialise freely after the pandemic cancelled the 2022 show.

"I think people wanted to get out and about because there was no show last year.

"I think that’s what attracts people out as well. It wasn’t too hot, so people stayed around for a while.

"If it’s too hot, the kids get a bit bothered and the animals get a bit bothered too.

"Overall it was a really good day. I’ve been coming to this show for a long time and there was a lot of people."

Gate takings topped $18,000, in comparison with the usual $12,000, Mr Malcolm said.

"The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the kids area."

While there were no new children’s attractions this year, the time-proven ones were loved by the children, he said.

Owen Bennett, from Greenhills, tootles around the grounds on his little steam traction engine.

"We had very good support from the trade and car [sectors]".

The Waimatuku Pipe band lead the grand parade, minus the dairy section which was still being judged.

Fergus Gibbs (3), from Invercargill, tries to entice the sheep with some treats.

"It was a shame [not to have them] ... especially with the big entries, it would’ve looked absolutely marvellous."

Entries into the dairy, horse and sheep divisions were all well supported, and the new excavator-digger driver competitions had created a lot of interest, he said.

Kendra Kean (4) has a ball with the children’s activities.

The Winton A&P Show is one of largest shows in the Southland regions.

The show had traditionally been well supported by both Southlanders and people from the broader provincial regions as well as the North Otago and Canterbury, he said.

Brittany Tiller, of Edendale, sneaks in a quiet nap.

"The shearing [competitions] were a big attraction here as well."

The Wanaka A&P show might be larger, but had a different demographic because it had a bigger focus on trade with more craft markets, he said.

Wedger Brian Gutsell watches as mother-and-son team Ben and Christine Edgerton rip through the block of wood in the Jack and Jill sawing competition.

He had only received positive feedback from visitors and stall holders — some had already booked for 2024, to be held on the third Saturday in January.

By: Toni McDonald