A & P show a hit

There was no way wind was going to spoil the 102nd Stratford A&P Show over the weekend.

Around 15,000 people walked through the gates over the weekend - similar numbers to last year's show.

``Although there was bad weather on Saturday with the wind, we still had the same crowd numbers we had at last year's show,'' says Stratford A&P Show secretary Christine Hughes.

``The whole thing ran really smoothly. The worst thing I heard was a cut finger.'' However, Christine couldn't believe the number of cellphones lost over the weekend.

 Spectators were treated to a hot Sunday and there was no shortage of ice creams and cold drinks being consumed - shade was a rare find.

The Ramsey Roundwood Lumberjack Show duo of world champion speed climber Stirling Hart and eight time current world champion speed climber Brian Bartow were  among the crowd favourites with their thrills, explosions and their speed climbing.

As it has been for the past 20 years, the McDonald's farm barn was a huge hit with the crowd, especially families. With kittens, puppies, ponies and bunny rabbits to play with, cuddle and pat, children had parents in there for hours.

Christine says the calibre of competing stock was outstanding.

``The livestock were of an extremely high standard and they were marvellous looking animals.''