It’s showtime in the New Forest! (From Daily Echo)

Come along to the New Forest Show

8:35am Tuesday 28th July 2009 in New Forest By Echo Reporter

IT’S here.

The New Forest and Hampshire County Show begins today with about 100,000 people set to head for the showground at New Park, between Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst, over the next three days.

A country show on a grand scale, the main focus is on farming, equestrian events and country pursuits.

But it also takes in crafts, cooking, cars, countryside issues and 1,001 other entertainments, exhibits and events.

Show society chairman Geoff Morgan said: “I think there will be something for everyone at this year’s show. We have a very busy programme as usual.

“We have already sold an enormous number of tickets, but we are hoping desperately for young people to come along. There is so much for them to learn here.

“The weather forecast is not too bad but it could change. We have got measures to take if that happens, but we will never cancel – the show will go on.”

The west ring is the centre of equestrian events on all three days with competitions starting at 8.30am and continuing until the early evening.

Classes range from decorous side-saddle riding, through course building demos to the helter skelter of scurry racing and the tension of the New Park Events Ltd Stakes, and an International Trial starting at 3.30pm on Thursday.

There are also four Horse of the Year Show qualifying events, two today and two on Thursday.

HOW TO GET THERE

The east ring today features the thrills and spills of the Pony Club Mounted Games followed by the Hunter Championship.

Heavy horses take centre stage when they pull gleaming drays and other commercial wagons around the east ring in the Ringwood Brewery-sponsored musical drive.

After that, at 1pm, there is one of the main attractions – the rush and roar of the Jamie Squibb motorbike stunt display team. If you miss this display there’s a chance to see it again at 3pm today, at 1pm and 4.45pm tomorrow, and at 2.30pm and 4.45pm on Thursday.

One of the highlights of the east ring tomorrow will be the grand parade at 3pm.

Championships And on Thursday, the biggest crowd-pleasers look like being the coaching and multiples which includes the horn-blowing championship, heavy horse championship and the supreme harness championship.

Show rings one and two and the north ring have full programmes of equestrian events.

There are three days of competition in the cattle and sheep lines.

Country pursuits will take pride of place in the Dudley Forwood Arena, though there will also be a parade of Labrador rescue dogs and a sniffer dog display.

Archive Forest film dating from the early 1950s will be shown by New Forest Moviola.

The Forest Fun Factory will feature magic shows, bellydancing, circus workshop and summer fun with the stars of Bournemouth’s Adventure Wonderland, dancing displays from the Milton Academy and a game show parade.

Other attractions include the scent and blossom-filled flower marquee, the honey and bee show, rabbit and caged bird tents, art pavilion, Women’s Institute marquee, blacksmiths competitions, Forest Corner – which this year includes a replica of Beaulieu Road pony sale yard – and numerous trade stands.

A new feature this year will be the Land Army display, harking back to the war years when women worked in the fields to provide food for the nation.

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