Sue Kyle, then Sue Aitchison, won the cup in her late brother David's name 60 years earlier.
Sue Kyle, then Sue Aitchison, won the cup in her late brother David's name 60 years earlier.
It was almost 60 years to the day that Sue Kyle won a major prize at the Horowhenua Girls and Boys Agricultural Club finals.
But of all the trophies and ribbons she won that day, one stood out among all others - a cup donated in honour of her late brother David Aitchison, who at age 10 had died after a short battle with cancer just a few months earlier.
Back then Sue Aitchison was a 12-year-old student at Levin East School and she scooped a pool of prizes and cups at the 1963 competition final with a champion jersey calf she called Penny.
“I still remember her name,” she said.
Sue Kyle with her great niece and nephew Blake and Kaylee Unsworth and their jersey calves at the Horowhenua Boys and Girls Agricultural Competition final.
Sue, who now lives in Taradale with husband Robert, returned to the show to present the cup, won this year by Opiki School student Fletcher Rider and his calf Lyla.
“It is the first time I have been back to the show in 60 years,” she said.
Sue Kyle presents Fletcher Rider, 13, with the award for best leading calf at the Horowhenua Boys and Girls Agricultural competition final.
Sue said she remembered the show being a lot bigger back then with more animals entered, but was impressed with the entries she saw and the work the children had put into presenting their animals for judging.
“I’ve been a townie for so long now, but I can still look at a calf what is good and what isn’t,” she said.
Cooper Burgess with his lamb Boy at the Horowhenua Boys and Girls Agricultural Competition final at Levin.
Showing cattle had always run in the family. Her sister Dianne Timms and niece Jill and nephew Corey were judges of different sections on the day, while Jill’s children Blake and Kaylee Unsworth had their prized jersey calves entered.
Schools had held preliminary competitions leading into finals day, which had now been running for almost 100 years at the Levin AP&I Showgrounds. Several generations of families have their names etched on many of the trophies.
Poroutawhao cousins Harry, 8, and Angus Easton, 7, with calves Clover and Graeme at the Horowhenua Boys and Girls Agricultural Competition final.
A little bit of rain didn’t deter anybody and a large crowd of supporters gathered to watch judging, although some of the lamb competition was held under roof in the stock yard nearby.
Every lamb, calf and kid had a name. One of the best names was given to a Charolais calf owned by Angus Easton. He had called it Graeme.
Jorja McLeod, 7, with her lamb Snowy at the Horowhenua Boys and Girls Agricultural final in Levin.
Jorja McLeod had a lamb called Snowy while her older sister Alexis called her lamb Dazzle. Andre Herbert called his “Lil Lil’s”.
HOROWHENUA BOYS & GIRLS AGRICULTURAL CLUB- GROUP FINAL DAY RESULTS
TROPHY RESULTS
Champion Kid: ELLA SIMONSEN, Koputaroa School.
SQUIRE FAMILY SHIELD: Best Care & Rearing – Kid: ELLA SIMONSEN, Koputaroa School.
TARARUA CUP: Senior Care & Rearing – Lamb: PRAIRIE CUDBY, Te Horo School
