Show Season Well Underway

he weather has been very kind and with the show season well underway Field and Rural Life reporters have been busy covering the finest events Rural Britain has to offer.

A quick step back in time to the 5th Le Mans 24 Hour Classic motor racing.  This event is well on its way to become a ‘classic’ itself amongst major historic motor racing events as it draws together those amazing cars that have driven into the Le Mans 24 Hours history book between 1923 and 1979.  These timeless classics were divided in six eras: 1923 – 1939 (Grid One);  1949 – 1956 (Grid Two);  1957 – 1961 (Grid Three);  1962 – 1965 (Grid Four); 1966 – 1967 (Grid Five); 1972 – 1979 (Grid Six). Amongst the star studded line up was an Aston Martin LM (1931), a Ferrari 250 GT Bedinetta (1960), a Ford GT 40 from the mid 1960 and the unforgettable Porsche 917 from the early 1970.  A parade of European Clubs on the long circuit and an auction of collectors' cars and automobilia were not to be missed.

All the vehicles were, without doubt, stunning!! Special thanks to Phil Stott of Phil Stott Motorsport Ltd for help and advice over the weekend.



The Royal Welsh Show held over four days at Llanelwedd attracted 231,346 visitors.  From rabbits to bulls, from robots to JCB Dancing Diggers, from the Kings Troops to the Quack Pack, the excitement, entertainment, tears and laughter just kept on coming.  But one of the major highlights of the show has to be the World Sheep Shearing Championships. On the Wednesday, the final day of both the show and the Golden Shears World Championships, the atmosphere in the purpose built shearing pavilion was comparable only to being in the Millennium Stadium for a rugby international! Commentators Huw Condron and Bill Jones agreed that they had never seen such a packed pavilion, a sentiment similarly echoed by top New Zealand commentator Koro Mullins as he, too, commented on the size of the crowd. The audience participation was nothing short of deafening at times, drowning out even the sound of the Norwegians’ bells, as the annual hair, or should it be wool, raising Wales v. New Zealand Test began.  World Champion Cam Ferguson of New Zealand beat Welsh Gareth Daniel and fellow countryman David Fagan won his race against Welsh Hywel Jones, resulting in New Zealand winning the test.  The Chairman of the Royal Welsh board, David Lewis, described the show as a fantastic success.

Celebrating the 65th anniversary of the end of WW II and now in its 28th year, The War and Peace show once more showcased the World’s largest Military Spectacular at The Hop Farm in Kent between 21st and 25th July.  Remembering veterans of Arnhem Operation Market Garden, Normandy D-Day 1944, the Battle of Britain, and the Evacuation from Dunkerque, Rex Cadman and his team inspired and educated both young and old with thrilling tank action, helicopter flights, wartime cookery demonstrations and trade stands.  Even a 1940s fashion show with many vintage items on sale.  The party atmosphere was completed with jazz, swing and irresistible jive music to get your feet twinkling.  Refreshments were available, 40s style of course!  So many of the exhibits with re-enactors offered valuable insights as to what took place during WW2.  A good family day out.



CLA Game Fair took place at Ragley Hall Warwickshire with 144,000 visitors passing through the gates one of whom was Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Minister, who has a farming background, praised the organisation for its work on improving rural economy.  The Conservative MP who represents Meriden, only a 40-minute drive from at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire, spent two hours walking around the site, accompanied by CLA President William Worsley.  Gunmakers Row saw the finest guns on offer WATSON Brothers with a stunning pair of guns, the NEW owner a guitar LEGEND!!!There was a very fine Arts and Craft display.   The sporting and wildlife artist, Teresa Davis, launched her new collection and bronze sculptor, Hamish Mackie, showcased a selection of his inspirational animal and figurative works.  The National Gamekeepers Organisation was very busy as always and it was great to meet up with Louise Stimson and Michael Dickinson, wonderful show highlight for next year.



The New Forest & Hampshire County Show took place again at the end of July in New Park, Brockenhurst to celebrate a range of traditional country pursuits, crafts, produce and entertainment.  Show jumping, as always, was a major feature at the show and many international classes took place over the three days.  Livestock competitions encompassed pigs, cattle and sheep along with poultry, rabbits, cage birds, and honey bees. Fifteen year old Toby Wonnacott helps his father with their 250 strong dairy herd and all those early morning starts have obviously paid off as Toby entered the ring with a splendid beast from their herd and came away with a very respectable second place.  The pigs have made a welcome return after a very long break from the show ring, thanks to Pete Clark.  However it looks as if the days of the sheep are numbered as more room is needed to accommodate them!  For once the rain held off and record crowds turned out for the show.  Our thanks to Jackie Neylon for looking after Field and Rural Life.



The Longines Royal International Horse Show 2010 (Longines being the official partner and timekeeper of the show) took place at Hickstead Showground and lived up to all expectations last weekend. Under a sunny sky, the enthusiastic crowd was treated to many memorable performances. The prestigious Longines King Georges V Gold Cup was won by Tim Stockdale from Great Britain, (Fresh Direct Kalico Bay), with the British Robert Smith (Talan) and Kevin Staut (Le Prestige St Lois) from France in second and third place respectively. Points won during the Longines Royal International Horse Show in Hickstead count towards the total score for the 2010 Longines Press Award for Elegance.  The winner is announced at the final international show-jumping competition of the season in Dublin on 8 August 2010. The top scorers at the Longines Royal International Horse Show were: Women: Ellen Whitaker (Great Britain) Men: Robert Smith (Great Britain) After seven events, the following riders lead the intermediate global ranking of the 2010 Longines  Press Award for Elegance: Women: Pénélope Leprevost (France)  Men: McLain Ward (USA).