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14 & 15 July: Bedfordshire County Show
| Published: 11th July 2012 12:56 |
Event: Bedfordshire County Show
Date: 14 -15 July
Time: 9.30am -6pm
Location: Old Warden Park
Description: Bedfordshire County Show has a wealth of attractions and fantastic entertainment for all the family, including animal shows, clay pigeon shooting, archery, falconry, funfair, dog show ,crafts, ‘Have-a-go area' and 300 stalls selling products. The new Food Hall showcases the very best in local, regional and national produce along with food demonstrations and tastings.
Cost: Adult £9, Senior £8 Child (5-16) £4.50, Family (2+2) £22.50
Tel no / website: 07850 195622 http://www.bedfordshirecountyshow.co.uk/
Held in the beautiful grounds of Shuttleworth the Bedfordshire Country Show is a show case of town meets country. Attracting more than 15,000 visitors a year the Bedfordshire County Show combines entertainment and fun with the opportunity to try different sports and activities. The show boasts a wealth of attractions designed to cater for the whole family. Organisers of the show are now busy planning for an action packed event for 2012.
As ever a busy main ring schedule will aim to deliver exciting and thrilling acts as well as show casing some of Bedfordshire's local acts. Country lovers will get their chance to try their hand at clay shooting, archery, falconry, air rifles, have a go at the gun dog scurry and much more.
Food lovers looking for tasty treats won't be disappointed with our NEW food hall which show cases the very best in local, regional and national produce. Visit the craft fair, enter your family furry friend in our dog show, take a walk around the vast selection of trade stands, watch the donkey and Shetland pony show, take the kids on the fun fair plus much more.
Entry into The Bedfordshire County Show also includes FREE admission into The Bird of Prey Centre
The Main Arena
The Main arena opens at 10.30am and finishes at 5.00pm, throughout the day you will be entertained by various acts.
The 2012 Main Arena Line up includes:
Cyril the Squirrel and Around-About Terrier Racing
Cyril the Squirrel and his racing terriers has established itself as one of the leading terrier racing display teams in the country today. These great little dogs will have you in fits of laughter with their crazy antics. They race over their jumps and are sometimes ridden by little jockeys, members of the audience are encouraged to take part with their own dogs too, even the kids have a chance to participate and race against one of the terriers.
David Seamark Sheepdog Demonstration
David will be presenting two entertaining shows working up to five dogs with sheep and geese, portraying the skills and ability of the working dog and he invites children into the arena to assist him with his performance. A fantastic display demonstrating the skill of these amazing animals.
Essex Dog Display Team
Back by popular demand the Essex Dog display team are back again this year, working with many different breeds of dogs, the team produce an action packed and entertaining display, coupled with superb commentary, these happy dogs will leave you spell bound. The central feature of the display is a 100ft by 8ft high ramp which the dogs negotiate at high speed through hoops of fire, also on the ramp a unique demonstration of dogs negotiating human obstacles.
Syers Shires
A superb display of Shire Horses, see these gentle giants in action, a real family entertaining display.
Marching Band (Saturday Only)
The English School of Falconry
See an amazing team of birds of prey in action, from American Bald Eagles to owls, hawks, and falcons. Watch in amazement as they bring the birds close over your heads, as well as inviting some of the audience to participate in the display.
Shetland & Pony Show
The Donkey Breed Society is the British Society for everyone whose love and interest in the donkey.
Founded in 1967, the Donkey Breed Society seeks to encourage a fuller and more active life for those donkeys who are much loved family pets or companions to other animals, and has worked to achieve this on behalf of all donkeys for 43 years.
A donkey is not just an ornament for your paddock and remember a busy donkey is invariably a happier donkey, donkeys are related to horses and ponies, which are naturally native to lush grasslands, prairies and steppes. However, donkeys are adapted to the marginal desert land, so their food needs are less and their coats are not too weatherproof!
Due to their physical characteristics, particularly at the shoulder, donkeys are slower and less powerful than horses, although they do have an initial turn of speed over a short distance.
Donkeys can be very long lived. Donkeys of 60 years old have been recorded, but normally a 40 year old donkey is looked on as being elderly. You can appreciate why we refer to ‘donkey's years' as being a long time (although this may also owe something to the length of donkey's ears, a play on words). Of course ‘donkey work' is always demanding and arduous. It's not clear where the expression ‘talking the hind legs off a donkey' comes from, though!
One of the favourite pastimes for the donkey owners is to bring their animals along to a show and parade them before a judge who decides which one best fits the criteria as shown in the schedule.
Sunday 15th July will see a host of donkeys of all shapes and sizes competing at the Bedfordshire County Show for rosettes and prizes from 10.30am.
Shetland Pony Show
Small ponies have existed in the Shetland Isles for over 2000 years. Various excavations on the island have revealed the bones of small ponies that existed during the Bronze Age and it is thought that ponies have been in domestic use since that time.
For centuries the pony cultivated the land, carried the peat from the scatholds and seaweed for the fields, and when roads were introduced in the mid 19th. Century took on another role of transporting their owners around the islands
When in 1847 children were banned from the coal pits the Shetland pony colts became in great demand and many had to exchange their freedom of the hills for the darkness of the mines.
Today the Shetland pony no longer has the hardworking life of it's ancestors, as nowadays the main employment is all about pleasure as perhaps a child's riding pony or carriage driving whilst many of their owners show the ponies in hand in breed classes. All of the Shetland Ponies here today are registered with the Shetland Pony Stud book society formed in 1890, details of which can be found on the website;
www.shetlandponystudbooksociety.co.uk
The Shetland Pony show here today, whilst affiliated to the Stud Book Society is being organised and run by one of the many Shetland pony groups that has been formed throughout the UK over the years and has always been a feature at this event, ever popular with the children and parents alike.
The PARKLANDS SHETLAND PONY SHOW GROUP was started by enthusiasts and supporters comparatively recently, back in 2001. It has become in a very short space of time a main feature for enthusiast's in the Shetland pony competition calendar with sixteen in hand breed classes. Details about the group may be obtained from the secretary Mrs. Christine Boyle on 01462 454045 or e-mail: TooHoots@hotmail.co.uk
Field Sports Village
The Field Sports Village will host all different types of field sports. During the course of the show there will be many professional coaches on hand to give advice, tutor and answer any questions you may have.
There are many country sports available that you will be able to try yourselves, have a lesson in shooting, learn about the ancient art of falconry or perhaps you need help in bringing your dog under control. For the expert and the beginner there is something for everyone.
Traditional Country Sports
- Air Rifles
- Clay Shooting
- Falconry
- Archery
- Ferreting
- Hounds
- Fishing
- Gun Dog Events
- Air Rifles - Midshires Marksmen
Airguns have become a popular sport and pastime and is highly regarded in country life and pursuits. Not only popular with target ranges and competitions, but also used as a way of effective pest control. MidShires Marksmen are a medium sized friendly airgun club located just outside Sandy. We meet on Saturdays from 9.30am to 2.00 pm and Wednesday evenings 5.00 to dusk from April to October weather permitting. We have 4 BASC/ATEO coaches available and offer the very best in tuition, coaching and advice in target sports and our Airgun Range is no exception. At Shuttleworth we will have experienced air gunners to offer tuition and coaching at all levels of air gunning so come and visit our Airgun Range that offers "Have a Go" sessions to all. We aim to introduce both young and old, whatever their strengths or weaknesses, to the safe enjoyment of air gunning.
With qualified coaches, and the latest equipment, you can be sure that if it's your first go, or you just need some help or advice, that it will hit the spot!
Have a look at our website http://www.midshiresmarksmen.co.uk/
Clay Shooting - Sporting Targets
Sporting Targets is based in Risley, Bedfordshire, they have clay pigeon shooting facilities and a welcoming atmosphere, Sporting Targets is the place to go for a thoroughly enjoyable day's clay pigeon shooting. You don't need any experience to try the exciting sport of Clay Shooting, just a desire to enjoy developing a new skill in a relaxed and welcoming environment. We understand that someone new to shooting may feel wary about coming along to try clays for the first time, which is why we are always here to provide relaxed, friendly advice every step of the way. As a new shooter, the practicalities and procedures of using a gun will be carefully explained to you by one of our competent instructors - from how to stand safely advice and, of course, how to hit the target!
http://www.sportingtargets.co.uk/
Falconry
The English School of Falconry is a family run business based at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park. They will be at the show both days with a display of many different species of Eagles, Owls, Hawks and Falcons, & performing two breath taking flying displays in the Main Arena each day. The falconers will be on hand to give advice to any one new into the sport, provide information and to promote one of the oldest of our country sports.
http://www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk/
Archery
Come and try Archery at the show, we provide an opportunity for you to try our sport with one to one tuition provided by our experienced members and coaches all for £2.00 a go! Dunstable Bowmen is an Archery Club affiliated to GNAS. Our members give up their time to promote our sport to everyone. We visit four main venues a year including Stockwood Park Country Fair, Leighton Buzzard May Day Fayre, Liscombe House Garden Fair and the Bedfordshire County Show. We also run a 2 hour have a go session in September. Our outdoor venue is at the London Gliding Club and we have an indoor venue in Dunstable. Our club members shoot Recurve, Long Bow, Compound and Traditional Bows and compete in club, county and national competitions. However fun days, BBQ's and days out are all part of our social activities.
http://www.dunstablebowmen.org.uk/
Hounds
This very traditional country pursuit is strongly represented at the field sports area. Over the two days there will various packs of hounds. Both Foot packs and Mounted packs will appear in the arena and children and other members of the public will have the opportunity to meet the hounds. The hounds will be accompanied by their hunt staff who will be able to talk and answer questions.
Gun Dogs
Once again the Working Gundog Company will be attending this years show as well as full range of Gundog training products for sale they will be running their 'Gundog Pick Up Scurry'. Each entrant will be asked to retrieve 2 dummies against the clock, fastest time wins! Bring your Gundog along and have a go, prizes each day for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. If you have any problems regarding training your dog or just need advice then we are also thrilled to welcome along Jim Gale - 'A' Panel Field Trial Judge, Gundog Handler and Trainer to our stand with his Gundog Advice Clinic. Jim Gale, friends and members of the Utility Gundog Society will be demonstrating gun dog training in the field sports arena. Jim has been training gundogs for over thirty years and spends most of his spare time competing and judging tests and field trials all over the British Isles and Europe.
So if you own a Gundog or are thinking about owning one or want to know what is involved in training and keeping one fit and active, come along and see us, we look forward to meeting you there.
The Gundog Scurry is sponsored by Su-Bridge Pet Supplies Ltd - http://www.su-bridge.co.uk/
Carriage Driving
Saturday 14th July will see a superb display of horse and carriage driving from British Driving Society members far and wide. All competing in different classes throughout the day and hoping to qualify for the National Championships in October.
The BDS is the national governing body for carriage drivers and encourages all forms of activities not only showing, but also rallies ,training, long distance driving etc. See http://www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk/ for more details.
The local Area Commissioner, Linda Swain will be on hand to answer any questions
Dog Show
Canine Partners is a registered charity that assists people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs, whose well-being is a key consideration. The Charity is working closely with the uniformed services to provide assistance dogs to those injured while on active duty.
More than 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, and a significant number of those would benefit from a canine partner. The dogs are carefully matched to the applicant's needs and lifestyle, no matter how challenging. They are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. The Charity aims to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities including members of HM Armed Forces and is working closely with the Forces charity Help for Heroes who have funded several partnerships of injured ex-servicemen and women with canine partners.
These life transforming dogs also provide psychological and social benefits including increased independence, confidence and self-esteem plus companionship and a sense of security.
Canine Partners has 12 puppy satellites around the country, and Lorraine Lotan runs the Bedford group. Lorraine said "Bedford Canine Partners was established in 2006 and since then we have trained almost 60 puppies here. Beazley was our first pup to qualify as an assistance dog and has been with his disabled partner Brian ever since.
The Companion Dog (held under Kennel Club Regulations) show will be open for registration from 10.00am with judging from 1.00pm, registration and all classes are free of charge. For more information please contact Jim Devlin 07758 192991, email jim.devlin2@ntlworld.com
The dog show is kindly sponsored by Jollyes Petfood Superstore, Bedford.
Downloads (click on the link to download the pdf)
Crafts & Foods
Craft Fair
Visit our giant craft marquee of over 100ft, inside you'll find something of interest for every one from scarves, bags, knitwear, jewellery, candles, glass figurines, books, & photos to delicious treats ranging from fudge, cream teas, cheeses, dried fruits and nuts, pork pies and curries.
There will also be demonstrations going on through the day which will include making jewellery and glass beads. You may also like to know your future and visit the palm reader.
To book a tradestand in the craft marquee please contact : Peter Fox 01142 879671 or visit http://www.craftpeople2000.co.uk/
Food Fair
For all you foodies, the food fair guarantees to tantalize your taste buds, there will be something for every one, whether you're looking to try new things, stock up your larder or to sample some traditional ales. The food fair will house many different types of food and drink, from olives, cheeses, traditional ales and liquors, pies, chutneys and jams, meats and fish, home made sausages and burgers, and much more.
To book a trade stand in the food hall please contact: Peter Fox 01142 879671 or visit http://www.craftpeople2000.co.uk/
(images and content by kind permission of Bedfordshire County Show)
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