Cambridge’s Brooke Dillon clears the wire fence while competing aboard Jupiter in the round the ring jumping at Sunday’s Cambridge A&P Show.
The Cambridge A and P Show may look somewhat different to past iterations but a new generation of interest is still being fostered, organisers say.
The 119th edition of the show was held at Cambridge Raceway – where it has been based since 1936 – on Sunday and 2023 show secretary Kerryanne Greene said more than 170
competitors and upwards of 220 horses took part.
They came from as far north as Dairy Flat, north of Auckland, and as far south as Gisborne for a day of horse showing – a discipline in which horses and ponies are judged on traits like
fluidity of movement and overall presentation as they make their way around a ring.
There were 11 different rings up and running on Sunday in order to accommodate all the sections – with competition classes for everything from show ponies and hacks, or ridden
show horses, through to the larger Clydesdales.
A number of round the ring jumping categories and other sections were also held at the neighbouring East Maungakawa Pony Club on Taylor St.
Greene said as well as the horse events, the longstanding show once also previously held dairy and beef cattle sections as well as dairy goat categories.
But a few challenging years thanks to Covid, coupled with a date change in about 2019 for the Stratford A&P Show – which has an “incredibly strong” dairy section – so that it now happens on the same weekend has seen those categories discontinued in Cambridge.
Now only the horses remain – but young riders are increasingly showing an interest in saddling up.
On Sunday, riders as young as four through into their 60s were competing.
Greene – who has been part of the show’s 13-person committee since 2020 – told The News she noticed several young faces from among the watching public in the crowd throughout the
day.
“Sunday was a neat opportunity for younger people who want to get involved in showing to come along and see it.
“I’m always delighted when I see the next generation beginning to show an interest.”
It is ensuring future years of the show are in good hands, she said.
“We are so grateful to all the competitors who come along. They put in many hours of work to ensure their horses are in pristine condition.
“We wouldn’t have a show without them.”
-
- Competitors make their way around the ring as judges look on.
-
- Judge Monique Bennett, left, and steward Jackie Brett compare notes.
-
- Mother and daughter Nikki and Violet Katcheman celebrate Violet – and Dolly – being named purebred Gypsy Cob reserve champion.
-
- Tamsan Douglas, 12, with Lola prepares to enter the ring for her next category.
-
- Five-year-old Molly Brosnan – and Sabbath – wait for their next round of judging.
