A&P show to celebrate busy volunteers

Land Rover buff Mark Warren tilts a wheel or two as he puts his 1953 Series One workhorse through its paces yesterday at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds in Hastings.

This week's Hawke's Bay Show is shaping up as a celebration not only of 150 years of A&P shows in the region but also as a celebration of the huge volunteer contributions that keep it going each year.

As temperatures in Hastings hit almost 26C, the hottest in the country according to MetService, there were volunteers all over the showgrounds in Hastings, where the three-day sesqui-centennial show starts tomorrow, although it has, in effect, already started.

Mark Warren, from Waipari Station in Central Hawke's Bay, was yesterday busy setting up a course and display area for the show's celebration of the Land Rover, and its 65 years' service to rural New Zealand.

In the Information Booth near the back of the grandstand, Richard Edmunds, of Napier, put the experience of 15 years on the trades committee to good use as he checked in early-birds who will fill in some of about 300 trade sites by which 50,000 people are expected to pass by the time the show ends late on Friday afternoon.

In the home industries quarter, with examples of home cooking and handcraft, Pat Davis, of Taradale, completed her day judging by signing the certificates, as keen as ever after about 30 years' service. "It's not as hard as it looks," she said.

Julie Reay, of Hastings, didn't disclose how long she'd been involved.

Checking the displays had all their correct ribbons out, she barely missed a step as Mrs Davis signed-off her first prize in class 9875 - Teddy Bear, in fur fabric, jointed or unjointed, safety eyes preferred but not essential.

She had the only two entries in the classes, and there were no cash prizes like the days when the catalogues listed yards of $1, $2 and $5 offerings.

"Now it's just for love," she said.

Another volunteer was former president Peter Tod, who helped judge the show's first competition, the revived export lamb section which had 22 pens of three lambs each, judged on the hoof and on the hook, all in the same day.

The A&P Society's 2011 report calculated 330 volunteers had contributed a combined 9900 hours of voluntary labour, which might have cost about $250,000 if it were paid.

Mr Linn said the number of hours would have increased considerably for this year's show, including past presidents, some with show service dating back more than 50 years.

As hundreds of exhibitors pour into the showgrounds today, along with dozens of horses, ponies and their riders, another part of the historic show will be taking place on a farm east of the showgrounds, where competitors take part in the preliminary stages of the New Zealand Farm Fencing Championships.

The best qualify for finals of three events at the showgrounds over the following three days, including the Golden Pliers, being held in Hawke's Bay for the first time.

While some showers are forecast today and tomorrow, weather is expected to be fine on on Thursday and the public holiday People's Day on Friday.