Entries Up For Royal Easter Show A&P Comps

MEDIA RELEASE Friday 2 March 2007

Entries Up For Royal Easter Show A&P Comps

Alpaca and dairy cattle breeders can expect some stiff competition at this year’s Royal Easter Show, with entries up significantly for both breed events.

On from 5-9 April at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland, the Royal Easter Show features a strong line-up of A&P events and competitions with some of New Zealand’s finest animals competing for honours.

“Entries are up in several areas this year, particularly alpacas for which we’ve had a record number so expect the competition to be tough” says Robin Hill, Auckland A&P Society Secretary. “Public interest in alpacas is also huge, people really seem to love them. Dairy cattle are also really big this year.”

Breeders and their animals are travelling from as far afield as the Bay of Islands and Canterbury to compete with five days of events for dairy and beef cattle, calves, sheep, donkeys, rabbits, goats and poultry, alpacas and pigs.

Robin Hill says while the A&P competitions are always great entertainment, they are also a must for anyone thinking of upgrading their breeding stock. “We get hundreds of out-of-towners coming along to take a look.”

Loggersports fans will be wowed by this year’s drawcard, world logrolling champion Canadian Darren Hudson. Current and two time world champ, Hudson, 27, will join the Kiwi Loggersports team in chainsaw carving, axe throwing, crosscut sawing and logrolling demonstrations.

The new ASB Farm Zone recreates a street in a rural New Zealand town during the agricultural boom of the late 1930s. A 1938 Chrysler, stable and saddler set the scene, with loads of farm animals including a sow and litter, day-old chicks, turkeys, rabbits and rare poultry breeds. While petting pens allow children to get up close to and learn about farm animals.

The Lion Foundation Royal Easter Show Shears is back with many of New Zealand’s top shearers competing for honours. One of the top three in the North Island, the event will see 120-odd competitors battle it out for their share of a $13,800 prize pool.

Categories include senior, veteran, open, intermediate, junior and the highlight of the event, speed shearing.

All the usual favourites are back including the Royal Easter Cat Show, Royal Easter Show Art Awards, dog trials, carnival rides, street entertainers and displays of award winning wines from the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards.

And for those with families and young ones in tow, this year’s feature acts include Over the Hedge, the Looney Tunes Loot Show and the Cadbury Crème Egg Circus EGGstravaganza.

Entry is only $36 for a family pass (for up to five), $16 for adults, $11 for seniors, $6 for children and under-2s are free. All shows and attractions (excluding carnival rides) are included in the entry price at no extra cost!

For more information on the Royal Easter Show visit www.royaleastershow.co.nz.

ENDS

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