First of Hawke’s Bay’s A&P Shows a big success

Olivia McDonald and Madison Murdoch from Waipukurau took a turn on the sideshows.

The country’s annual coming-to-town season has started with the 160th anniversary Hawke’s Bay A&P Show at the Tomoana Showgrounds in Hastings.

Organisers say they are rapt with the turnout for the event, which attracted an estimated 30,000 people.

The show dates back to an event held near Havelock North in 1863, and has called the Tomoana Showgrounds home since 1925.

Susan Grayson from Central Hawke’s Bay with her Hoggett Fine Fleece class winner, also taking out Champion Fleece and Supreme Overall Black and Coloured Fleece.

To keep the venue in public hands and help ensure the viability of the event, the showgrounds were sold by the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society to the Hastings District Council last year.

Margaret Fullerton-Smith with her black Orpington, winner of Best Heavy Breed and Best in Show, taking out the Dudding Cup for the fifth time.

The show is the first of four A&P shows in Hawke’s Bay each spring and summer, with the Central Hawke’s Bay A&P Show in Waipukurau on November 10-11, the Wairoa A&P Show on January 19-20, and the Dannevirke A&P Show on February 3-4.