MATTHEWS CUP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1939, Page 4

MATTHEWS CUP

WON BY YOUNG FARMERS CLUB MEMBER ANNUAL FLEECE COMPETITION. ENTRIES BELOW USUAL STANDARD. The winner of the Alfred Matthews Memorial Cup for the championship in this year’s fleece competition, which was held conjointly by the Farmers' Union and Young Farmers' clubs, was a Young Farmer Club member, Mr D. C. Ross, Longbush, son of Mr Alex Ross, the present holder of the cup. The championship fleece was an outstanding entry amongst its rivals. It was agreed that the Young Farmers' fleeces should be open competitors for the Alfred Matthews Memorial Challenge Cup, which is awarded annually for the best fleece of predominating Romney type. Sixty fleeces were presented for judging. The officials were Mr V. Wilton (judge) and Mr Eric Shaw (classer), while Messrs N. A. Lamont and Jas. Watson acted for the Young Farmers and Farmers' Union respectively. In the opinion of the judge and his associates this year’s entries were distinctly below the standard of previous years. Many fleeces of excellent general appearance opened out to show many faults, and whether this is due to faulty growing conditions or lack of perception by the entrants is purely a matter of conjecture. Results are as follow: —

Young Farmers' Clubs, fine crossbred class: Donald C. Ross, 77 points, 1; Geoff. Blatchford, 60 points. 2; H. Bannister, 59 points, 3.

Young Farmers’ Clubs, medium crossbred class: Geoff. Blatchford, 69 points, 1; D. McGregor, 60 points, 2: H. Bannister, 58 points, 3. Farmers’ Union, fine crossbred class: T. A. Brown, 64 points, 1; Ken Groves, 61 points, 2. Farmers’ Union, medium crossbred class: Geo. Shaw, 70 points, 1; Geo. Shaw. 69 points, 2. Best hogget, open class: Geo. Shaw. i

Champion fleece and winner of Alfred Matthews Memorial Cup: Donald C. Ross.

Mr J. Watson, Provincial Secretary of the Farmers’ Union, will be available in the Ram ring on the first day of the 'Masterton Show only, to demonstrate judging points and their comments. Owing to limited space the fleeces must be removed from the showgrounds on Tuesday night.