Rain again on A&P

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 474, 23 February 1993, Page 1

Rain again on A&P

Farmers are supposed to love rain, but the agricultural folk who support the annual Waimarino A&P ShoW must be starting to wonder about the timing of it. Once again the show was rained on in the weekend. But, despite that, more than 1000 people visited the showgrounds, many checking out the outdoor sights during fine spells and the produce shed during showers. Raetihi' s centennial was the theme of a special parade, which preceded the usual grand parade just after 1pm. Horse drawn vehicles, vintage cars and trucks and floats with an historical flavour made up the parade. Descendants of an early Raetihi family, the Punch's, put together a float with a logging theme and BNZ staff had a mobile bank set up, complete ' with robbers on horse back. Reno the Clown entcrtained children at various times on the grandstand. I Entries in the horse [events were good, with both Saturday and Sunday events fceing held, the

weather on the Sunday proving better. There were more entries in the big ponies' ring but less of the small ponies. Most entrants were 'Waimarino riders but visitors included some from Taihape, Waverley, Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Stratford. While the standard of entries was good in the sheep section, numbers were down. Similarly in the beef section there were few entries though those present were of good quality. Things were busy in the produce shed, with entries up in most classes. tapestry and embroidery entries were a highlight, along with more knitting entries. More classes of preserving and bottling led to an increase in overall entries and baking entries were up by a third. Carrots and beetroots joined cabbages in prominence in the vegetable section. Sunday saw a large crowd come to watch the Waimarino Shears, with a number of local shearers taking part.