Ag 03june

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By Michelle Nelson Farm advisor John Tavendale and retired farmer and JP George Ward are the latest Mid Canterbury recipients of Queen’s Birthday Honours. Mr Tavendale admitted to being “slightly dumbfounded” by the announcement he would be adding the title of Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) to an already impressive list of credentials, while Mr Ward receives a Queen’s Service Medal for services to agriculture and the community. The Guardian will carry his story tomorrow. Mr Tavendale was nominated for the award for his services to agribusiness, and described in the honours list biography as “one of New Zealand’s preeminent and most sought-after farm advisors”. “It was somewhat of a surprise really – it’s nice to be recognised both for my own work and those who I’ve been associated with over a number of years,” Mr Tavendale said. Arriving in Mid Canterbury from Lincoln College (now Lincoln University) in 1967, the district is now well and truly home to Mr Tavendale and his wife Lynley, and the place they

To see more or purchase photos raised their four children. With 45 years in the agribusiness industry, 25 of those running his own company, JB Tavendale, he has witnessed the impact of major technological advancement in the sector. Mr Tavendale has focused his business on providing consultancy and governance on hill and high country rangeland farming, and is involved in the management of large scale properties, stretching from Southland to the Wairarapa. The intensive of high country farming is one the stand-out changes he has been part of, along with development of efficient irrigation systems on the Mid Canterbury Plains.

Currently chairman of EA Networks, Mr Tavendale also heads up the network’s collaboration with the Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Scheme. However, his agricultural footprint has by no means been contained to New Zealand soils and he has provided consultancy services to projects across the globe, including the development of livestock export in South America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Australia. He has chaired the New Zealand Society of Farm Management, and was made a fellow in recognition of his services to farm management. Based on an irrigated block at Winchmore, the Tavendales, in partnership with son James, grow blackcurrants, supplying 10 per cent of the country’s crop. At the marketing end of the industry Mr Tavendale is also chair of the New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative. The Tavendale family also crop arable crops, grow winter feed for dairy support grazing, and run trading sheep on the home property and have interests in a dairy farm. • Full honours list P6 • George Ward’s story in tomorrow’s Guardian

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Aimee Kingsbury cheers on her horse in Race 8 in Ashburton’s Harness Jewels on Saturday.

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By Sue Newman The action was on the track, in the stands and on the concourse at the weekend as thousands of racegoers packed into Ashburton for the Harness Jewels carnival. Day one of the event, where the country’s top two, three and four-year-olds competed for huge stakes saw a crowd estimated to top 6000, turn out at the Ashburton Racecourse in balmy early winter weather to enjoy a top class day’s racing. Action on track was hot and off track just as hot as racegoers relaxed into the day, wining, dining and punting the day away. Some came dressed to the nines, others dressed for comfort, but they all came intent on having a great day out. And the Jewels did not disappoint. People mixed, mingled, shared late morning champagne and settled in to watch the best New Zealand’s harness racing world had to offer. Records tumbled on the track and in the case of threeyear-old Border Control in the last of the day, were smashed when the gelding ran the mile in 1:50.62. And that was what the racing purists had come to see – the country’s best performing at their absolute best. And that’s what

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit John Tavendale.

photo kirsty clay 020613-KC-057

Philip Butcher gives a pre-emptive salute to the crowd as Charlemagne closes in on the win in the 5-Y-O ruby trot at the Harness Jewels yesterday. they got. While the odd runner blew its chances by breaking, race after race the 12 best in their age group were fighting to the line for stake money and a gold trophy. Several finishes were so tight the man upstairs had to play and replay video footage to make a call. But the day was also about socialising. Crowds packed into the two on-course marquees where it was possible to spend the entire day under canvas – eating, drinking, betting and viewing on screen, without stepping outside. The members’ area, the Davidson stand, was packed with anyone securing a viewing seat loathe to leave their prime spot. And it was the same in the public stands and undercover areas. For owners there were hugs, smiles (and sometimes tears) as

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To see more or purchase photos champagne corks popped to celebrate wins and for others there was bitter disappointment as horses tipped to win wiped out their chances mid-race. And the carnival continued yes-

terday. While the crowds were smaller the action on track for the three five-year-old Jewels races was just as hot. For many racing enthusiasts it was a long weekend, with the scene set on Friday night when owners of the leading stake horses were presented with driving colours. That evening also saw a warts and all look at the racing industry provided by Mark McNamarra, Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin. As the racing carnival wrapped up, the Ashburton Trotting Club was counting the success of the weekend in big gate takings and in its share of on and off-course turnover. The trotting club wasn’t the only winner, with the Jewels estimated to pour more than $3 million into the local economy. • See also P4, 11

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