OUTDOOR pursuits and all the fun of the rural fair were enjoyed at the Hampshire Country Show near Romsey on May 25, 1998.

Champion axemen hacked at speed in the woodmen display while ferrets Tiss, Maxine, Summer and Pepper

left their traps for a seriously competitive dash.

Antique mechanical threshing machines and other steam engines clattered away side-by-side as the audience tried their hand at fly fishing, catapulting, archery or one of the other many displays and demonstration.

For the fourth year in succession, record crowds flocked to the Broadlands estate for what was said to have been one of Britain’s

best and biggest celebrations of the countryside.

Speaking with the Daily Echo at the time, the events commercial director, Lyndon Short, said the steam engine attraction together with scores of craft stalls attracted more than 15,000 visitors to the two-day event.

He added: “We have an excellent relationship with the managers of the estate and with their help we have again seen numbers increase.”OUTDOOR pursuits and all the fun of the rural fair were enjoyed at the Hampshire Country Show near Romsey on May 25, 1998.