Showing Down South - Showtime 25

This is how they do animal showing in the wild south - wild highland bulls, wild beards and kilts. It kicked my Royal New Zealand Show Day off with a grin I can tell you. It seemed to me that the two most popular places on show day opening were the cattle ring and the City Farmyard - no surprise in regards to the latter given the cold weather and the farmyard's indoor location. It was baby everything - all fur and feathers as kids gathered and chatted around rabbits, puppies, piglets, lambs, chickens and ducklings.

www.theshow.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

Hat Parade - Showtime 24

I was surprised to discover that I actually enjoyed photographing hats at the New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting at Addington last Tuesday. I used to wear a hat from time to time many years ago but you'd have to hold me down to get one on my head these days. That aside, there was just something about all that colour and texture and over-the-top decoration that lured me in. And as always, I opted for the fragmented approach - a little glimpse of feathers against a vibrant blue sky, a mass of curls, a blurry glass of champagne in the background, the corner of a race programme barging into the photo frame, or the hint of the crowd in the background. For me, that's more interesting than a conventional literal portrait of a person in a hat. I'm skipping attendance at the Addington races today. For a start it's freezing cold again and blowing a gale. Instead, I'll be heading off to the Canterbury Jockey Club's NZ Cup meeting at Riccarton Racecourse tomorrow - the gallops...and of course, another parade of hats. www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

Mellow Yellow - Showtime 22

Two Sunny Yellow Moments

At Addington Raceway

NZ Trotting Cup. Nov. 10. 2009

www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

More From Addington - Showtime 21

I just can't help myself - I have to bring you some more photographs from the New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting at Addington, which was held on Tuesday.

A colourful crowd scene above

And more of the crazy hats below.

www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

Show Business - Showtime 20

It’s been many years since I attended an A& P Show – that most venerable of New Zealand agricultural and pastoral traditions – but the minute I stepped onto the showgrounds at Wigram, here in Christchurch for the 2009 Royal New Zealand Show this morning, it was like I’d never been away. I worked fulltime as an agricultural journalist in the Wairarapa many moons ago and I should have known that not a lot about A&P Shows would have changed. It took me all of an hour to establish that all the old favourites have turned up for what is now New Zealand’s largest agricultural and pastoral show – the horses (3,595 of them), the multi-breeds of cattle (877 in total), a diverse range of sheep (1,103 of those), and everything else from poultry and pigeons to goats, alpacas, pigs and llamas. And that’s before you get anywhere near the farm machinery, the wood chopping, the food demonstrations, the sideshows and all the retail outlets.

Sadly, it was a bitterly cold morning for the show’s opening but that wasn’t stopping anyone. The cute-as-a-button miniature Shetland ponies were wearing their coloured covers as they waited for their turn in the ring; the cattle breeders were putting on an awesome display of huge animals; and the City Farmyard was doing a roaring trade as young (and old) visitors came in to swoon over ducklings, chickens, lambs, piglets, calves and bunnies. Roosters were crowing their hearts out; ducks and pigeons were ruffling their feathers; and animal pens across the showgrounds were already displaying the first of their prize sashes.

I amused myself prowling around the stables, delighting in the horsey-talk of the stable signage. I ducked and dived between a steady stream of cattle beasts being led to and from the show ring. I chatted with the Army boys as they set up for their lunchtime band performance. I tasted food samples in the Food & Wine Pavilion, ducked into tents between rain showers and I photographed wood choppers. It was sunny by the time I left in the early afternoon hours and the crowds had begun to swarm into the grounds. They have a busy schedule of events and performances over the next two days and in that time over 500 volunteers including 196 judges and 247 stewards, will be coming to the end of an impressive 22,000 hours of voluntary service in the year that’s required to bring the show together. www.theshow.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

Horse Business - Showtime 19

Yesterday's New Zealand Trotting Cup Meeting at Addington Raceway was a first for me and I have to confess I was MUCH more interested in the crowds than I was in the horses. I never went near a betting slip, I hardly saw a race; but I am pleased with this shot from the first race - horses flying through the air, all hooves off the ground. And this shot of one of the earlier winners, with the television cameraman studiously photographing something entirely different. (A man after my own heart I think)

And then the main race - the NZ$1-million New Zealand Cup Race, which was ultimately won by the favourite, North Canterbury-trained Monkey King - that's him nearest left...his rider, Methven's Ricky May with the bright blue striped sleeve....charging down the final straight. I know virtually nothing about horse racing but I have to say, there's quite an adrenalin buzz when the crowds start screaming and cheering and jumping up and down. I really needed another set of hands to photograph the crowd, especially during the final race. In winning the race, Monkey King set the second-fastest winning time in cup history - no wonder I couldn't keep up with him! And no offence to the horses and their owners, trainers, riders but I still think the crowds are more interesting. With strict drinking rules in place for this year's meeting, the mood was a little less'exuberant' and drunken that I had anticipated but nonetheless, dress people up, gather them in huge numbers and give them alcohol and you're guaranteed a priceless show of human behaviour. That's what I was there for and I wasn't disappointed. www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

A Pictorial Addington - Showtime 18

The Winning Hat

NZ Trotting Cup, Addington 2009

BUT

The Real Winner on the Day

PINK

And Then Came the Body Paint Crowd

AND

Blokes in Hats

Put on a Fine Show

It goes without saying that I was a little obsessed by hats on the day! So if it's information about the horses you're wanting, may I direct you to the official website - www.addington.co.nz

My Favourite Addington Pix - Showtime 17

The Guy Who Couldn't Have Cared Less

and

Three Race Day Beauties

New Zealand Cup Day

Addington Raceway

November 10, 2009

The Signs of Racing - Showtime 16

Despite Saturday's oversight (missing the first NZ Cup and Show event at Riccarton Park Raceway), I am developing quite a likely for those cute little sheds they sell the tickets from and the assorted signs that give added colour to the race day experience. I snapped these out at Riccarton Racecourse last Saturday - in blissful ignorance of the pending race day event. However, today is the New Zealand Trotting Cup Day at Addington Raceway and I WILL be there for that! And I hope to feature some swanky photos from the event here tomorrow. www.nzcupandshow.co.nz www.riccartonpark.co.nz www.addington.co.nz

Scratched from Race One - Showtime 15

You can tell I’ve never been to the races…..I missed the first New Zealand Cup Meeting at Riccarton Park Raceway on Saturday….. because I never knew it was on. Great start! Even more ridiculous is the fact that I was actually AT Riccarton Park Raceway early on Saturday morning because I had been out at the airport and thought I’d just swing by to see what might be happening. There were men fussing about with marquees and traffic wardens wandering about the place (but no traffic) and still it never dawned on me….though at the time I did think they were making a devilishly early start to the November 14th NZ Cup Day meeting. Ho hum!

So that was my non-experience of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas. Let’s hope I can do better and actually get myself there on Saturday November 14th, for the Christchurch Casino NZ Cup Day. I’ll be foregoing the second meeting - Wednesday’s Ladies’ Day - as I’ll be going to the opening of the Royal New Zealand Show that day. Well….that’s the plan but after yesterday’s debacle I’m the first to admit that anything could happen between now and Wednesday.

And in a classic case of Dumb Meets Dumber I never even twigged when I saw all the horses at the stables. I just sat there wondering why they were bringing them a week early! BUT I think you'll agree though, that everything was looking spick and span and deliciously green for the first NZ Cup and Show Week event - and they did have a beautiful day for it. www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

It's a Sign - Showtime 14

It's just a few days now - Tuesday, November 10th actually - before the New Zealand Trotting Cup Day kicks off at Addington Raceway. As one of the key events of NZ Cup and Show Week, it attracts huge crowds - most of whom will know ten times more than me about racing and what goes on. When I was out at Addington a few weeks back I picked up a small booklet called Racing 101 - I thought it might give me a few tips on form - for both the horses and myself. It tells me how I should pick a winner and how I should place a bet (should I succumb to a wild and impulsive gamble). Thankfully, it also provides a list of 'important tips for new punters' and 'a guide to racing terms.' I feel like SUCH a beginner, so knowing that The Jump is where the race starts and that it's NOT an actual jump (as in a fence or a hedge), could save me a few red-faced moments. I suppose if I were cunning I would have arranged to take an expert with me but I don't think my media pass includes 'guests.' So it's going to be trial by fire for me. But I'm up for it. From my experience, all of life is a gamble, so I should be in my element - and who knows, I might even beat the odds and pass myself off as someone who knows what they're even doing there. www.nzcupandshow.co.nz www.addington.co.nz

Taking Part in History - Showtime 13

It’s not long now until the eagerly-awaited New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 10th. I’ve never been to a trotting cup meeting so I’m looking forward to it; and it will be interesting not only from a race point-of-view but for the whole ‘cultural experience’ of race day. It’s a tradition here in Christchurch – a tradition that goes right back to 1899, when the inaugural race meeting was held at Addington, although the grandstand itself was not completed until 1900. A series of fires – in 1916, 1926, 1953 and 1961 - caused ongoing disruption but the ‘spirit of the race’ has never paled. Since 1981, there have been significant improvements and additions including the building of the Stewards’ and Members’ Stand in 1990. I took these photographs of the stands when I was out at the Raceway a week or so ago. I’m looking forward to taking the same shots again on race day, when thousands of people pour in for the frivolities. www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

No Parking - Showtime 12

Always a sucker for a sign, it stood to reason I would have to photograph this terrific 'linking of horseshoes' at Addington Raceway the other day. I'd gone out to get a behind-the-scenes peek into the Events Centre kitchens in the lead-up to the New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 10th (scroll down earlier post below) but as you can see, I got distracted along the way. www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow

Meet the People - 44 [Showtime - 10 ]

Another in the Series Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things – Paul Goodwin is General Manager of Catering and Facilities at Christchurch’s Addington Events Centre and from today on, he’ll be working crazy hours in the lead-up to the New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday, November 10th. NZ Cup Day is the pinnacle of harness racing in New Zealand and it attracts around 25,000 people, all of whom require food and drink. It’s Paul’s job to oversee the large team making that happen. Luckily Paul trained as a chef and he’s spent over thirty years in hotel and hospitality management. Combine that with the fact that this is his 11th Cup event and you get the feeling everything is under control.

The fashion marquee is already erected in the car park for instance and Paul has a firm idea of just what’s required to feed the crowds. “We start preparing for the November event in February,” says Paul. “It’s important to make sure we have the marquees booked, plus all the extra catering equipment that we’ll require. The corporate menus have to be organised and by the time we hit August, everything is ramped up and we’re looking at how many staff we’ll require on the day, the security numbers (140 this year), health and safety issues – all the basic groundwork that needs to be done to meet our obligations…. all this, while we still cater to the many other public events that happen at the Events Centre. From today on it’s total madness.” On top of getting ready for the Cup on the 10th, Paul is also overseeing preparations for two other horse racing meetings, two greyhound race meetings and up to fifteen other functions.”

Paul in front of the two huge containers that will hold extra food outside the kitchens on Cup Day Up to six large marquees are raised for the Cup Day and in addition to that, there are twelve main function rooms, seven corporate suites, 25 bars, 12-14 food outlets within the buildings and another eight outside. The centre’s kitchens will be cooking over 2 tonne of hot chips and over 2,000 pies. Over 80 kilograms of whitebait will be consumed along with 30 large salmon, 40 legs of lamb, 100 kilograms of crayfish and over 5,000 chocolate-dipped strawberries. Corporate menus will include everything from chargrilled king prawns and Moroccan spiced chicken to hot smoked salmon fillets and prime roast sirloin; and the public will be able to enjoy everything from a $2 hotdog to a $50 seafood buffet. Food preparation will start on the Saturday before Cup Day with 25 kitchen staff working 12 hour days. Then on Cup Day, 55 chefs will be on duty to keep the food rolling out. Paul may have been doing this for eleven years but he says it doesn’t get any easier. “You do understand the process better though and I’m not as daunted by the enormity of the task as I used to be. But you’ve always got to be one step ahead and I’m lucky to have a terrific core of staff working with me,” he says. “You do get the odd problem but we aim to cover every contingency. By the time we get to the end of the day – and that’s usually a 17-hour day for the management team – there’s always relief in knowing we have another one under the belt.” “And even though we’re surrounded by all this food, I hardly eat anything on Cup Day. I normally only have a sandwich at around 8pm. We run on adrenalin for much of the day.” And of course it doesn’t end there – just three days later, Paul and his team are doing the same thing all over again for the smaller Show Day race meeting on Friday, November 13th – running on adrenalin and keeping the crowds ‘fed and watered.’ I can’t wait to experience it all for myself. www.addington.co.nz http://www.nzcupandshow.co.nz/