Shaye Roskam and her belgian blue Axl Rose. Photo: Dean Kozanic
A scorching day in the Garden City brought masses of people to the second day of the New Zealand Agricultural Show.
About 40,000 squeezed into the Christchurch Showgrounds on Thursday to take a peek at animals big and small, as the event marked its 160th anniversary.
Among the family favourites on show were sheep shearing, woodchopping and dog trials.
"It doesn't get any bigger" - supreme pig award winner William Millar
Canterbury A&P Association general manager Tracy Ahern said it was the second year the event was free for kids aged 16 and under.
"Last year we had 125,000 people overall through the gates. It's a bumper year this year, we're certainly hoping to beat that."
Ahern said excitement levels were high with farm animals coming to town, competing for pats and prizes.
She said more than 3000 animals were on show.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
"There's prize money, there are different sponsor prizes, but mostly people want that number one ribbon."
Swine groups turned up dressed to win for the pig competitions on Thursday with their top hogs.
The Stine Swine society were stoked to take home the famed supreme pig award. Group member William Millar said they had been breeding pigs for about eight years and this was their first big win.
"It doesn't get any bigger, so we'll take this home and enjoy it tonight and start again for next year really," he said.
A belgian blue bull made an appearance for the first time in the beef category. Axle Rose came all the way from Waikato with 16-year-old Shaye Roskam.
Roskam said he was two years old and weighed 900kg, and won a range of prizes including coming second in the interbreeds bull class.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
"I think he walks really nice, and he's got a really good temperament as well."
Cantabrians will be able to catch the A&P show for one more day on Friday, before it wraps up for another year.