At the drop of the announcer’s hat on Saturday afternoon, attendees of the 87th Wānaka A&P show were treated to the time-honoured spectacle of more than 70 terriers tearing up the racetrack in every possible direction - a frenzy that race organiser Richard Burdon said was all “part of the fun".
“Only about 30% of the dogs finish. The other 30 are fighting, the other 30 are running in all sorts of directions."
He said while it would be reasonable to assume an event where contestants chased a dead rabbit pulled by a mounted officer would favour dogs with rabbit hunting experience, this was often not the case.
“The winning dog wasn’t a rabbiter, it didn’t chase rabbits. I would have thought a dog from Tarras or Cromwell would have won the race. But it always surprises me who wins."
More than 40,000 people are believed to have passed through the show’s gates between Friday and Saturday. While this number was fairly consistent with past iterations of the show, Upper Clutha A&P Society chair Keith Cooper said there were signs this year’s attendees had come with a greater willingness to spend money.
“I’m told, by the various exhibitors I’ve spoken to, many people are talking about their sales being up 40%.’’
He said the society had been focused on bolstering the agricultural side of the show, in the interests of honouring their “forebear’s wishes of bringing Upper Clutha rural to town".
A key part of this was the farm wool fleece competition, which had seen over 200 entries submitted from 53 farms.
“I’m told, by the experts, it’s one of the best displays in the world of fine wool.
"Which is great for New Zealand, and Upper Clutha, to be showing off."
"We will put our hand up and say it is the best A&P show in New Zealand now."
