Ashburton Courier: November 04, 2021

NEWS
6 Ashburton Courier, November 4, 2021
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Show with adifference
DANIEL.TOBIN
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Covidmay have put a
dampener on Ashburton’s A&P
showthisyear but theribbons,
cups, and camaraderie
continued to shine.
Forthe second year running
the show wasnot open to the
public because of Level 2
restrictions, duetocovid, but
the organisers and volunteers
made sure theshow went on
withaprogramme of
competitions.
AshburtonA&P Association
president Peter Stewartsaid
there were strong entries
across all sections, and held
overtwo days to limit the
number of people on the
grounds.
‘‘There have been alot of
people disappointed they
couldn’t come, but people
know one of thenew norms is
these public events aren't going
to happen under covid,’’he
said.
An army of volunteers help
run theshow, many havebeen
doing it foryears and run a
smoothoperation.
Peter has been the president
for the past two years; thecovid
years.
‘‘I am disappointed Ihaven't
hostedapublicshowbutitis
what it is, there is still plenty of
work to do,’’ he said.
‘‘Wehave alotofindividuals
and businesses who sponsor
the show andare very good
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Peter Stewart
sponsors year afteryear, the
show wouldn'thappenwithout
their support.’’
‘‘One of thepositive things
about the showiswehave a
vast amount of peoplefrom
around theSouth Island
involved, judgeshave come
from Dipton, the West Coast
andNelson,’’ he said.
‘‘All the competitorsare
pleased to be here, they are
here for that champion ribbon,
that cup or certificate,
promoting thebreeds theyare
interested in and doing the
best wecan forexcellence in
agriculture.’’
Royal Agricultural Society
judge Melissa Jebson was
thrilledthe competitionwas
allowed to go ahead and
thankful for the association for
giving it agoand running the
event.
‘‘We ask ourselves‘‘whyare
we doing it?’’ We’re not doingit
to stand outhere andenjoy the
sunshine, we’redoing for our
competitors,’’ shesaid.
‘‘It’s reallyimportant in this
day andagewhen we don't
know what's coming.’’
Fellow judge Kristine
Russell agreed,noting the
mental strain farmers had
been under.
‘‘So many things have been
cancelled and it’s nicetheycan
actually get out and go to
something itsgood for their
mental health,’’she said.
The large pavilion that
housed thehome industries
competition was fullofmany
creative items,including
quilts, baking,woodworkand
paintings, with judgesbusy
selectingthe bestfrom each
category.
Home Industriespavilion
convenor Julie Hollings said
the standard of work with
entries had beenamazing, but
organisers stillhad to work
around covid rules.
‘‘We have had to maintain
bubbles whichhas been
reasonablyeasytodoand most
of our exhibitors have been
very supportive.
‘‘Unfortunately wehad to
cancel thechildrens sections,
because the numbers would
have been too high with them
in the shed, itwasvery
disappointing for the
children.’’
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Alex Smith, left, with parents Lynn and Grant.
PHOTO TONI WILLIAMS
Grant’s shear grit
Forty years of shearing has not
lostits appeal to Rakaia shearing
contractorGrant Smith,owner of
ProShearLtd.
He jumpedatthe chance to
compete lastweekend at the
closedtothe publicAshburton
A&P Showshearing competition:
he won the open/senior local
shearer eventoffive sheep in a
final which became an all­
ProShear Ltd showdown with
company shearers Toko Hapuku
(Methven)second, and senior
shear winner Taare Edwards
(Ashburton) third in the local
event.
Grant, 55,started on the stands
asateenin school to help a
family friend.
He learnedhow to shear from
the likesofJohn Hough, Lindsay
Palmer andDavid Fagan,and
worked with Peter Lyon, John
Mulholland, AdrianCox and
Barry Pullin,before setting up
the contractingbusiness,in
Rakaia,with Norm Harraway.
Now Grant,and wife Lynn run
the business and at peak, from
mid­July to the endof
September, have 30 to 40 staff
working in theAshburtonand
Rakaia gorge’s and as far afield
as Little River, at Banks
Peninsula.
It’s abusy operationwhich
seesstaff often living and
working together. It helpsifthey
get along.
The couple’s twin sons, Alex
and Jackson, 26,have also
ventured into shearing, but in
different ways. Alex has takenit
up as aprofession­after
attending Telford ­and has
travelled the world shearing.
Jackson, after full­time
university studyand two
completedbachelor degrees,
sees its potential as apathway
for travel.
After fourdecades,
representing NewZealand and
plentyoftitles, Grant feels the
impact on his bodywith‘‘a few
niggles’; he is likely due ahip
replacement with bone­on­bone
abit of acause for concern.
LuckilymostofGrant’s
16­hour­long days involve
keeping the shearsmoving for
his staff, andclients. He’slucky if
he has shorn 100 sheep pre­lamb
this season, he says.
Despite this, Grant was on the
starting lineupinthe New
Zealand MerinoShearing
Championships open machine
shearing event at Alexandra last
month;its 60th show.
He took thestandsagainst 37
others; all younger, and among
whichincluded his son, Alex,26.
Luggingmerino wethers
weighing up to 60kg, Grant made
it through to the six shearer
final. He is nowthe only shearer,
aged over 50, to contest the open
final twice. He last diditin2018.
The shows were away to
always try to betteryourself,
often notabout theprize money
but earning thetitle, he said.
Therewas plenty of
competition between shearers
but friendshipsmade in the
yardswereput aside during the
event, and rekindled afterwards,
he said.
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