Doug Stalker has been voted the new president of the Upper Clutha A&P Society, as preparations for the 80th Wanaka Show are underway.

Doug is a helicopter pilot and fencer who has spent the past two years as senior vice president and the two years before that as junior vice president. He is joined by Grant Ruddenklau as the new senior vice president and Mike Scurr as the new junior vice president. Doug replaces Tarras farmer Robbie Gibson, who has held the president’s role for the past two years.

"It’s an honour and a privilege to be elected president,” Doug said. "What makes it pleasurable is having a good, solid, enthusiastic team around you – including the show committee, our sponsors and our many volunteers – all of which help put on a hugely popular, major annual event for Wanaka.”

Doug has been involved in the Wanaka Show for most of his life, having competed in equestrian events as a child and teenager, and had parents who were heavily involved at committee level. He has also spent more than 10 years in charge of the cattle section of the show.

Doug acknowledged Robbie’s contribution over the past two years: "The Wanaka Show has evolved significantly in recent years and Robbie certainly helped move it along. He has been instrumental in securing corporate sponsorship for the show and will continue to help with this. We’re a not-for-profit society so it’s essential that we gain sponsorship to help deliver an event of national significance.”

Preparations are underway for the 80th annual show which will be held on March 10 - 11, 2017. Next year will be a busy one for the society, as it will also host the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) conference in Wanaka and the RAS National Golden Fleece Exhibition on June 23 to 24.

PHOTO: Supplied