Rural roots on display at A&P show

RACING NOW: The keen canines always put their all into the terrier races.

This year's CHB A&P Show began yesterday with dog trial and equestrian event competitors braving cold temperatures and showers at the showgrounds in Waipukurau.

Fingers are crossed that the conditions will settle down for the main day tomorrow, in this the 103rd year the event has been running.

CHB A&P Society president Chris Menzies was slightly apprehensive yesterday, hoping the cold spell would blow over, but not in the dramatic fashion it did last year when high winds threatened to topple the event.

"Our theme for this year's show is 'Living with Water' - it's at the risk of tempting fate after last year's 'Surviving the Hurricane'!" he said.

The water theme will see a number of irrigation companies set up in the trade area of this year's show.

"The aim is to bring these operators together in one place so people can take a couple of hours away from the farm, find out what's on offer and discuss issues with the suppliers and each other," Mr Menzies said.

Officially opening at 9am on Saturday, the dog trials will be under way for the final run-offs and the equestrian events continue throughout the day with up to 300 riders taking part across all sections, from show jumping to pleasure horses.

The district's rural roots will also be showcased in the other traditional show activities throughout the day such as the shearing and woolhandling, fencing, sheep and wool competitions.

At the shearing shed, look out for the Baker Shearing team who are using the event to raise money to support people living with cancer - they will be selling pink shirts and singlets, running a raffle, and staging a head shave just before prizegiving in the afternoon.

A Waipukerised Wool Fashion parade at the wool section will see models sporting all manner of outfits made from the fibre or featuring wool accessories, and the ANZ Bank Pet Lamb and Calf competition will be happening at the sheep section in the morning.

Something new this year is the appearance of the Science Roadshow, a mobile science discovery centre that will accompany Central Hawke's Bay primary school children displaying exhibits they have worked on during the year.

Popular spectator events including the terrier racing, that starts at 1.30pm in the main ring, and the Top Team Challenge, where teams pit their skills against each other in difficult obstacles such as the slippery pole and bale rolling, are back this year.

These are in addition to displays of vintage cars and machinery, Highland dancing, children's petting zoo, baking and craft, photography, roses and more situated around and under large trees with plenty of picnic spot options.

Food stalls are operating on-site and keeping with the food theme, two surprise guests from this season's popular My Kitchen Rules programme will be in residence giving a cooking demonstration.

The family entertainment continues with Mahons sideshows and amusement rides, and another new spectacle this year - a wakeboarding demonstration on two large portable pools.

These are being brought to the show by Takapau's Backpaddock Lakes and some of the country's top wakeboarders will be attached to winches performing jumps and tricks on obstacles.

The finale of the show on Saturday night starting at 5.30pm is the bullriding event, the first fixture in this summer's bullriding circuit that will see more than 30 competitors pit themselves against bucking bulls weighing up to 800kgs apiece.

Tickets: There is a separate entry fee for the bull riding on Saturday night - adults $15, children 15 and under $5, under 5s free, family pass (two adults, two children) $35.

The general show admission fee is the same as for the bull riding.