That's "Agricultural & Pastoral" so you know. And it's kind of a big deal around these parts. A much-anticipated, all-day affair on the sport fields in the middle of town, the A&P show draws people from far and wide throughout Central Otago. Think county fair, writ large.
You've got all your latest and greatest tractors and other farm implements on display. You've got your sheep-shearing competition. You've got your equestrian dressage displays with all it's pageantry. You've got your prize-winning pumpkin proudly showing off it's blue ribbon beside the champion cucumber and the most regal rhubarb you've ever seen. You've got your fresh berry ice cream sundaes and even corny dogs (not Fletcher's, but not bad). You've got your grand parade of all the best bulls, sheep, alpacas, and llamas. You've got your dog trials, where the best sheep dogs from around the region showcase their abilities to usher a six-pack of woolly sheep through, around, and into several gates and pens. I was hoping beyond hope to see a James Cromwell-esque gentleman enter his trained porcine pet in the competition, but no dice.
However, the highlight of the afternoon was, without question, The Jack Russell Terrier Derby! The idea of the race is to lead the pack of pooches around a track by means of a dead rabbit dragged behind a horse and rider, with the first little JRT to cross the finish line taking the blue ribbon. The reality is far more chaotic, and heaps more entertaining. Picture if you will fifty or so little fuzzy balls of pure energy barely able to be restrained by their owners until the report of the starter's pistol signals the start of the "race." When the gun goes off, most, if not all, our little racers immediately dart toward our recently departed rabbit playing the lure, and it looks like we've got an actual race on our hands. That lasts all of two seconds. All the little Jacks, as a breed more than a little ADHD ("oh look, something shiny!") quickly lose interest in their supposed quarry, and any semblance of an organized race devolves at warp speed into a general melee of Jack Russell chaos. None of our tiny racers crossed the finish line so there was no winner this year--not an uncommon occurrence I understand. Greyhounds these are not. But good times were had by all.
The day was unfortunately slightly marred by a little technological tragedy. I had recently filled my digital camera's memory card to capacity, so before heading out this morning, I inserted a fresh one. When I tried to take my first shot of the day, my camera beeped and angrily displayed a message telling me "Memory Card Error--Card Locked." I have no idea what that means or how to fix it. So, a great day, filled with heaps of really fantastic pictures, will just have to be a great day filled with heaps of really fantastic memories. And you know...
..."That'll do, pig. That'll do."
Cheers!
Bonus points if you can point out precisely how many alliterations I used in this post.
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I give you credit for 18. Off to watch the Duke Devils do some damage with loads of loud-mouthed Longhorns. Just 2 there by my counting.
ReplyDeleteDid another read and give you a recount. Many more than a mere 18 even w/ the single point per string. Took a turn at points per word and Steven now scores ninety four. Tempted to try again cause odds are there's a hundered but must opt out. Yes...Blue Devils won. The Longhorns I'm sure are out drowning their sorrows w/ draught while the Duke Dork is now home and wading through words in a web-post.
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