Showgrounds in great shape for Wairoa A and P Show

Equestrian competitions at the Wairoa A and P Show start today (Rachel Marin pictured). Photo / File

Event organisers are expecting " a great day" to kick off the annual Wairoa A and P Show this week, with the weather expected to join the party too.

The three-day show starts today with the dressage equestrian competition, and event manager Laura Trowbridge said it was hoped more than 3000 people would turn out to support the organisation once again.

"The weather is looking brilliant which is really neat and our show will start from about 9am today. We will have equestrian events running throughout the day."

Ms Trowbridge said people could also look forward to dog-trails and a "Rural Iron Man" competition over the course of the weekend.

Dog trials would run over two days from Friday and entertainment would be provided by LuLu the Clown and a "huge amount" of bouncy castles.

"In addition to that we will also be having a mechanical bull and a vertical bungy. We will have home industries running through the day on Friday and Saturday. There will also be a scarecrow competition for people to enter, plus we're also running a Scotch Thistle competition, which is quite cool for our local farmers.

"Our sheep section is quite a biggy - so we ran a fat lamb competition, where people enter a pen of three and they are judged on hoof and on hock.

"This year, we are also running a 'Gift Lamb' competition - that basically involves anyone who has a sheep they would like to gift to the show, it will get judged and then the proceeds will get donated to us. It's a really nice fundraiser for us."

Rodeo and shearing would also take place on Friday and Saturday.

"Friday night is a huge big rodeo event for us, we will have Catch a Cowboy and the local calf ride. We also have shearing on the Friday night."

Pony rides would make a return to the show this year after several years' absence.

"We also have demonstrations from an arborist.

"It's very much based on families, this is a big day in the Wairoa community, it's very much something people look forward to and we have quite a strong membership base, so it's really great that people get out and support us and come along because the majority of it is put on by volunteers, who work tirelessly to make it happen.

"The grounds are looking amazing at the moment and it's looking like it will be a great event."