The Mayfield A&P Show is a community day out showcasing the rural community.
It’s a family-friendly day out, in its 98th year, has something for everyone, and everyone is invited this Saturday (March 9).
There will be the popular tractor pull and pig races, Highland dancing, the Clydesdale versus people tug of war and an extra large pet tent where kids can get up close to, and touch, animals.
This year the show is under the leadership of Mayfield A&P show president Ben Morrow, with honorary patrons Alan Bean and Jack Allan, and continues its tradition of being a great day with variety and lots of different attractions for people of any age.
It will also have a focus on mental health with Rural Support Trust bringing ambassador Matt Chisholm to the show as part of the nationwide Time Out Tour.
Morrow said the trust had engaged Chisholm to help rural communities continue the conversation about mental health.
‘‘He’s going to be out and about for the day, which is pretty cool.’’
There is also a digger competition with local contractors, Morrow said.
‘‘We are going to put some invitations out and see who is the best in the district.’’
It will give the 12-or so invited a chance to win bragging rights among their peers, he said.
Morrow said in the past few months the grounds been spruced up with new horse holding stalls built by Three Rivers Fencing, and the clearing of a hedge, at no charge, by contractor Ron Cross.
‘‘He opened up the hedge around the woolshed which has meant we can now have a bigger and better pet tent.’’
Morrow said the world famous’ pig racing, which includes pig racing commentary and a celebrity announcer, will have first race at 11am.
There will be five races throughout the day.
The last race at 3pm and will also coincide with a scavenger hunt for the children, run by Mayfield School.
There will be live entertainment with two bands playing, and there will be bouncy castles and magician Elgregoe to entertain the kids.
The tractor pull, run by Tractor Pull New Zealand (TPNZ) and with major sponsor Diesel Performance System, is part of a nationwide circuit and will run throughout the day.
The finals take place from 5pm to 6pm.
Competitors will compete in up to three classes in the tractor pull: pre-1985, standard and the ever popular modified class, where the grunty customised tractors are a real crowd favourite.
Up for grabs during the tractor pull event is a special contractors cup, so competing contractors can win bragging rights over their peers.
- * Mayfield A&P Show at the Mayfield showgrounds, 2018 Arundel Rakaia Gorge Rd, Mayfield on Saturday, from 9am – 5pm. Tickets are available on the day at the gate. Adult entry is $15 and children are free. More details on the Mayfield A&P Association Facebook page.
