A&P Lifestyle Show looking forward to looking back

Thousands of spectators and competitors are expected at the 149th A&P Show on January 23 and 24.

Show secretary Marjorie Blythen says tradition is at the heart of the event, but the A&P Society is planning a number of changes as the show evolves.Te Radar will again compere the event and A&P staples, the Puhoi Axemen, will be in full swing following the Puhoi Wood Chopping Carnival (see story lift-out p3). But, for the first time, there will be a mule and donkey competition and new sideshows, including mini jeeps and an obstacle course, and new music acts.

It is also the first time in decades that the show hasn’t been held on Auckland Anniversary Weekend, which is on February 1 next year.

“I think it will be a good thing,” Marjorie says. “Usually we are competing with so many other events during that weekend, like the Mahurangi Regatta.”

The A&P Society is starting to plan for the 150th show in 2017, with a retrospective exhibition in the works.

“We are hunting for lost relics and memorabilia from past shows.”

Relics from the show have turned up in some usual places – a bulldozer driver at a rubbish dump in Napier once found a Warkworth A&P Show trophy.

“He grew up at the Sandspit campground and knew all about the show and he drove up and dropped the trophy off to us,” Marjorie says.

The A&P Society is also working with Warkworth & Districts Museum to put together exhibits and A&P patron Ian Ferguson is planning a book for the anniversary.

Schedules available at Mahurangi Matters and warkworthaandpshow.com