Show Personalities Awards

The Ellesmere A & P Association and Show benefits significantly from many people helping, entering and supporting the many different aspects of Show day planning and organisation.  To recognise the input of the people who are key parts of the day, the A & P Association awards people each year for their major contributions.  This year has been no different with three people being recognised.

This year Tom Rathgen was named the Bayleys Matson and Allan Outstanding Young Achievers Award recipient. Tom is a highly accomplished fencer; having competed regionally and nationally and notably winning the NZ Young Farmer Fencing Competition in 2024.  He leads a fencing team within a well-respected and established family business in not only Ellesmere but Canterbury – Rathgen Fencing Limited.  For a young man, he already has a wealth of experience in fencing, farming, competing, volunteering, teaching and sharing his skills with others.  Tom’s not afraid to extend himself and face challenges head on – taking pride in his work and what he can contribute to his community.  He is a keen educator, teaching fencing to enthusiastic students at Ellesmere College, and has taken the opportunity this year to spearhead the new competition at the Ellesmere A & P Show 2024 – the ‘Down to the Wire’ Fencing Competition.  This competition showcased not only adults but also the keen young fencers that Tom has been teaching at the College.  Tom certainly has a bright future ahead of him.

The Chris Abbott Memorial Trophy for Long Service Show Day Supporter was awarded to Wayne Boon.  Wayne has been a long serving steward in the cattle section.  Being very dependable, he is always present for the Show’s Friday set up and Monday pack up.  With also being an Ellesmere Lions Club member he fronts up again early on Show Day Saturday to help manage people entering the showgrounds.

Keith Gilbert was named Personality of the 2024 Show and received the trophy kindly donated by A & P McIlraith.  This award is for a prominent personality who has shown commitment to the Ellesmere A & P Association over a considerable time.  Keith is a long serving steward, clocking up over 50 years in the Sheep section being mostly affiliated with Corriedales. He has also been a great supporter of the wool competition; entering many fleeces over several decades.  His success at this show is only part of his story, with Keith having won the best overall fleece at both the Canterbury A & P Show and the Wanaka Show.

The Ellesmere A & P Association are extremely grateful for the dedicated service and time the award winners have given to making the Show the event it is today.     

The Association also extends a massive thank you and appreciation to the many sponsors and supporters who without, the show could not occur each year.

The Ellesmere A & P Association and Show benefits significantly from many people helping, entering and supporting the many different aspects of Show day planning and organisation. To recognise the input of the people who are key parts of the day, the A & P Association awards people each year for their major contributions. This year has been no different with three people being recognised.

This year Richard Turner was named the Bayleys Matson and Allan Outstanding Young Achievers Award recipient. On finishing school, Richard attended Lincoln University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. After completing his degree he wanted to get back in touch with having a physical role and worked for Quigley Contracting in Ashburton and Mid Canterbury. From there he worked his way through the dairy industry within a very short time frame and is now the Operations Manager for a major dairy farm system at Rakaia Island Ltd. Richard possesses excellent leadership skills and shows a maturity beyond his years being only still in his mid-twenties. He demonstrates strong community awareness with a bright outlook on the future of farming and community leadership.

The Chris Abbott Memorial Trophy for Long Service Show Day Supporter was awarded to Alisdair ‘Speed’ McIlraith. Speed has been a long term exhibitor in the sheep and lamb classes.  A previous General Committee member, past president of the show (1998), he also became an A & P Association Patron in 2020. Along with his wife Paula (first female President), they have been exhibiting at the event for 52 years. His daughter Tracy is also carrying on the family tradition and is currently the Junior Vice President of the Show. In amongst this dedicated commitment to the Association, Speed has also managed to make time for sheep judging elsewhere in New Zealand and Australia (Melbourne and Perth). His keen interest in such events has also taken him to events around the world such as the Edinburgh Show (Scotland), and Canada’s Calgary Stampede and Orange State Fair. With his larger than life personality, Speed epitomises the essence of the quintessential Show Day character.

Jo Jermyn Benny was named Personality of the 2023 Show and received the trophy kindly donated by A & P McIlraith. This award is for a prominent personality who has shown commitment to the Ellesmere A & P Association over a considerable time. Jo comes from a family very involved with Shows and was a natural supporter of her husband Andrew who had the task as President of leading the Association during the COVID era, being tasked with the President’s role for two years instead of just the one. Her most notable achievement though has been penning the latest chapter/s of the Associations 150th book. This was a tremendous undertaking while also supporting Andrew through the Presidency years. Jo also helped to organising the re-publications of earlier historical books written for previous Association anniversaries, culminating in a fantastic new edition covering all 150 years. Coupled with this Jo is also an excellent supporter of the Ellesmere Historical Society, being not only the organisation’s secretary but also an avid contributor to the Society events, tours and displays – including those at the Show.

The Ellesmere A & P Association are extremely grateful for the dedicated service and time the award winners have given to making the Show the event it is today.