Contest a sizzler for top lambs

FAMILY FUN: From left, Charlotte Wyeth, 3, Lucy Wyeth, 7, and Lochie James Wyeth, 5, from Masterton went along to the Gate to Plate on-the-hoof judging on Sunday.

Wairarapa's annual Gate to Plate competition has kicked off with the judging of the lambs on-the-hoof completed.

But entrants will have to wait until the big cook-up on Saturday to find out whose lamb tops the lot.

Judges, Derek Clarkson, John Griffiths Jnr and Steve Wilkinson, spent several hours on Sunday scoring the 67 lambs entered in the competition, held at the Solway Showgrounds in Masterton, ahead of the A&P show this Saturday.

The judging of the lambs on-the-hoof is the first stage in the three-part event, which includes judging the lambs on-the-hook, this Tuesday, and judging the finalist lambs cooked, and on-the-plate, on Saturday.

Masterton A&P Society president Allan Williams said the lambs were being judged as "a prime lamb, suitable for the restaurant trade".

Mr Williams said the on-the-hoof score would be combined with the on-the-hook score and the top six lambs would then be picked for the on-the-plate section.

"We're really pleased with the standard of lambs presented, they are all looking pretty good, the judges will have a pretty difficult time I'd say," he said.

Mr Williams said he was thrilled with the way farmers had risen to the idea of the competition, with the number of lambs entered being significantly higher than last year's 26. "It's really exciting, hopefully next year we can do a bigger and better competition.

"Our goal is to make it into a main Wairarapa event in two, three years time with the support of the farmers."