MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 15 November 2012
For immediate release

Thursday at the Show

Its day two of Canterbury’s much loved event, the Canterbury A&P Show. This year we are celebrating 150 years of showing in Canterbury. Day two highlights below.

Judging Highlights
9.00am Allflex Futurity Class (Sheep) – Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion
10.00am Children’s Calf Classes – The ANZ Lawn
11.15-12.45pm Renown Cup (Horse) – Main Arena
12.00pm CRT Young Sheep Exhibitor of the Year – Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion
2.00pm Essential Nutrition Miss Canterbury (Sheep) – Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion
3.00pm Open Woolhandling Final – Shearing Pavilion
3.30pm BNZ Supreme Champion Meat & Wool Animal (Sheep) – Alliance NZ Sheep Pavilion

Entertainment Highlights
11.15am Hunts and Hounds – Main Arena
12.30 & 2.30pm Mandy Pickering and Band - MORE FM Stage, Village Green
12.45pm 150th Anniversary Machinery Parade – Main Arena
1.05pm 150th Anniversary Equestrian Parade – Main Arena
1.30 & 3.30pm Moorhouse - MORE FM Stage, Village Green
2.45pm Dakins Ambassador of the Year and Show Legend Award Presentations – Main Arena
3.05pm Livestock Parade led by St Andrews College Pipe Band – Main Arena

Allflex Futurity Class
This event has been running for three consecutive Canterbury A&P Shows. The first year (2010) breeders entered a hogget, ram or ewe, in the under 18 months class; these sheep were judged and pointed accordingly. At the following years Show (2011) any of the sheep entered at the previous year’s Show are entered in the 18-30 months class, judged and pointed accordingly. At the current year’s Show the sheep are entered in the over 30 months class and judged for the final time. The points from all three Shows are tallied up and the winner of the class is decided. The objective is to bring out not only the best hogget’s of any given year but also create interest in any given sheep's ability to go on and feature in years to come.

Hunts and Hounds
In the proud tradition of hunting with horses to hounds in New Zealand, the team from the Christchurch Hunt will complete a series of laps of the Main Arena in livery with their trusty hounds leading the chase. The Christchurch Hunt was formed in 1880 making it the second oldest of the 26 Hunts in New Zealand. Spectators can enjoy the spectacle of hounds in full cry. Competitors in the Renown Cup will enter the Main Arena and complete a lap with the Hunts and Hounds prior to judging. The Renown Cup is a qualified hunter competition for horses which have hunted three times in the current season. The cup was originally presented to the Christchurch Hunt in 1921 when HRH The Prince of Wales visited Christchurch aboard the HMS Renown.

150th Anniversary Equestrian Display
To celebrate the 150th Anniversary, the Horse Committee of the Canterbury A&P Association are coordinating a 150th Anniversary Equestrian Display to be held on Thursday and Friday of the Show in the Main Arena. The display will include a range of breeds of horses that are also competing at the Show in the equestrian classes.

Dakins Ambassador of the Year
Awarded annually in recognition of the considerable contribution made by all livestock/equestrian exhibitors at the Canterbury A&P Show. Judges take into account the nominees continued loyalty to the A&P movement over a number of years, the support extended by the nominee to the Canterbury A&P Association, the potential benefits to the Canterbury A&P Association should the nominee receive the Award and the standard of the nominees current exhibits. The winner of the Award receives travel to the value of $3000 to allow the recipient to visit an international A&P Show or agricultural event.

Show Legend Award
The ingredient that is the true essence of the success of the Canterbury A&P Association and annual Show is its people. The Show Legend celebrates the people who are truly passionate about the Show, who give their time freely and enthusiastically to support the A&P movement. It is these people who are often the unsung heroes that truly make the Show a success.
The 2012 Canterbury A&P Show will be held Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. It is the largest A&P Show in the country attracting over 100,000 people, close to 7000 livestock and feature competition entries and 600 trade exhibitors.

-ENDS-

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