COMMEMORATIVE DVD SET TO SELL AT 2012 SHOW
The 2012 show is already set to wow the crowds, celebrating not only the last show to be held at the Corbridge show ground, but also the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
In honour of past shows, a DVD has been compiled with historical footage and facts and is to be sold on the show ground this year.
Bank holiday Monday, 4th June, 2012 will be the only time the footage, which exists as part of a two part DVD will be physically sold. There are plans for stalls and walking sales people in order for visitors to purchase the products. There will also be a discount for the purchase of both DVDs.
DVD orders will also be taken for those who can not attend the show or miss the opportunity to purchase whilst on the show ground.
Orders and sales begin on the 1st May, 2012 and requests for order forms will be accepted via email to info@northcountyshow.co.uk or via the office phone on 01434 604216.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY SHOW 30 MAY 2011
Despite the gale force winds playing havoc with the set up of the marquee on the Sunday prior to the show on bank holiday Monday 30th May every thing ran very smoothly. The forecast for the day was very poor but the rain and wind stayed away and by 5pm the sun had come out and the crowds could enjoy the parachute display.
The 2011 was the 30th anniversary of Tynedale Agricultural Society holding the show at Tynedale Park, Corbridge. Thousands of spectators and exhibitors travelled the length and breadth of the country to see everything from mean monster trucks mashing cars in the main arena to the awesome Black Knights Parachute display team leaping into the main arena. The heart of the show remains firmly with agriculture and showcases farming and agricultural at its best, as well as providing all the fun of the fair.
The traffic queues were much shorter that usual and the cooler weather than previous years was more pleasant for both the animals and those wondering around the show looking at all of the trade stands both inside and out.
The sheep section provided the winner of the champion of champions contest for a third consecutive year. Gordon Gray’s Texel gimmer – Ettrick Lady Kate - beat the beef champion into second place after winning the supreme champion title in her own section.
The gimmer, based in Selkirk, was descried as “really classy” by champion of champion judge Michael Aynsley, this years new sponsors of the Champion of Champion section was the Northern Farmer.
Mr Gray said the gimmer ‘had the x-factor, she’s got character in abundance’. Sheep secretary Jackie Raine who runs the section with her husband Robert and assisted by her daughter Rachel and son James, said “We had a lot of excellent sheep but the blackies that were here were excellent, There was not a bad sheep on the field”
Surprisingly no males won any of the sheep section championship classes this year. It is unusual for the females to win they’ve got to be outstanding’ said Mrs Raine. Increasing interest in the Zwartble sheep resulted in big classes for the breed this year, often dismissed as a hobby sheep they are increasing being used as crosses to produce fat lambs.
John Thorburn, who runs the 100-strong Holmlea Flock based near Annan won the Zwartble reserve champion and won the ewe lamb, adult tup and ewe classes for the breed.
In the cattle section, the overall dairy championship went to Stephen Annan of Southwaite, Carlisle. The senior Holstein cow was judged the winner and described by fellow competitors Cameron Batey of North Acomb as “a real good dairy cow with power”
Mr Annan said “we bought her from Philip Oliver two years ago and we’re delighted that she’s made champion today, She’s a good balanced cow with a good udder”.
It was a case of brotherly rivalry in the beef inter-breed at the show. David and Fraser Cormack showing a Limousin heifer and Aberdeen Angus cow respectively, tied on points when the beef judges all voted in the interbreed final. The limousine took the title, with three top scores from the six judges
Describing the 22-month-old Dynamite Ella as ‘the best thing we have ever bred” David and his partner Gaynor McDowell, from Annan, were delighted with their win, especially as the heifer is a daughter of Greenhill Viper, the bull with which they won the Northumberland Interbreed last year. The Limousins were again successful in the inter-bred groups with the commercial champion ‘Just 4 Play’ got some glory in leading the second placed group of three.
The sheep shearing section saw entries rocket, with competitors from across the UK and New Zealand travelling to Tynedale. Five times world champion David Fagan, came from his Kiwi homeland to test his skills for the first time at Northumberland County Show. He said “I’ve been competing in sheep shearing classes since 1983 but this is my first visit to this part of the world. I can’t get over how busy and well supported this show is. I’m just here for a bit of fun, but in a normal days work the guys in New Zealand will shear around 400 sheep in a day. From May until July we Kiwi’s come and work in the UK and while we’re here we’ll take part in the a competition nearly every week.
Making a welcome return to the fur and feather marquee this year was the guinea pigs or cavies with more than 80 entries.
After 47 years of exhibiting the Brophy brothers from Whickham at last had cause to celebrate when their Black Dutch adult rabbit was crowned best in show. Other winners of the long eared variety included a Netherland Dwarf rabbit owned by Rob Newton of Rothbury which was judged best dwarf in show.
Classes in the alpaca section reached capacity with 80 entries, Chief Steward Melanie Douglas “ we had a slow start with entries but in the end we had to turn animals away” if we had the space and a bigger area on the show field we would have been able to run a section nearly twice as big”
In the goat section two-year-old Ramside Tamsin and eight-year-old Ramside Tamarind owned by Stephen Stanger from Durham took first and third place in the British Alpine milkers class.
A busy dog section, run on the Corbridge Cricket Field a smooth coat Chihuahua scooped the prize for the best of breed among others.
Chief Steward of the Stick Dressing section Wilf Laidler welcomed over 200 entries to the 19 different stick classes. He said “although that’s a little down on previous years, as we usually see somewhere in the region of 250 entries, we feel stick dressing is still going strong and we are signing up new members all the time”.
In the Industrial Section or also known as the Competitive Home Craft Section - a piece of knitting by Kirkwhelpington Mary Brody was chosen as best exhibitor in the handicraft section, while caramel shortbread made by Martin Guerreo from Gilsland helped him secure the Moffit Silver Rosebowl for the most points in the cookery section for the second year in a row.
Something of a first this year was the introduction of the girls in the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling classes, the classes were introduced in recognition of the growth in popularity of traditional North Country style wrestling among woman. Peter Hunter the Chief Steward said “This is the biggest wrestling meeting in the North-East and we’re pleased to introduce the girls’ classes in recognition of the fact that so many girls now enjoy the sport. A lot of girls turned up last year and we had no classes for them, so we felt it was important to include them this time.
The main arena was buzzing with action packed entertainment with North Northumberland Dog Display team showing their agility ability with an action packed full display. The monster trucks Big Pete and the Grim Reaper drew cheers and amazement from spectators of all ages as they ploughed over cars at high speeds, crushing them to a pulp. Each truck weighting 7½ tones the mega machines staged a grand finale when a return to the showfield saw them pulling a car apart.
Entries for this year’s Equine Section remained on a level with 2010, despite the rising cost of diesel which has impacted other similar events. The weather was less glorious than last year, but stayed dry for most of the day, and without the strong gales which caused havoc with the setting up on the Sunday.
The Hunter Breeding section provided virtually a clean-sweep for Mr & Mrs W&G Moran when they won both Yearling and Two Year Old classes, and took the runner up spot in the Three Year Olds. They went on to stand Champion and Reserve for the section with Lush Lashes and Look Again. Judge, Miss K Redfearn of Wooler remarked “Both horses were a lovely stamp, and showed a lot of quality”. In the Ridden Hunters, Clair Angus and Castlelandboy won the Smalls class, and the Championship, whilst in the Workers, Philippa Nixon got off to s great start with her new ride Dunloughan Whirlwind by beating a large field to take the Novice Working Hunter title.
The Working Hunter Pony Section Championship went to Pebbly Limited Edition and Alex Mundell, with Storm Straker and Black September as Reserves. Whilst in the M&M Workers, Lindisfarne Grouse and Danielle Grant were worthy Champions, particularly as this pony had already shown his versatility and quality by being well placed in the non-native workers earlier that morning.
The Heritage Ridden Mountain & Moorland Classes showed a particularly strong entry this year, and the honours in this section went to Mrs Sara Burdess’ fabulous Welsh Section D, Glanceridin Fflach, ridden by Will Murray. In a close run contest, with several qualifiers taking the Judge’s eye, they also went on to take the overall Lighthorse Championship for 2011. For the second year running, Gail Brown took the Side Saddle Championship and went on to stand Reserve Lighthorse Champion riding her own More Majestic. Many will be hoping that “third time lucky” proves true for this popular partnership in 2012
Lighthorse Secretary’s Julia Storey and Mel Wardle said they were extremely pleased with the way the show ran overall, and will be working on further improvements for 2012.
Tynedale Agricultural Society also presented long service awards to George Carr and Nigel Arthur. Mr Carr, has worked for Mr Michael Loyd at Threepwood Hall Haydon Bridge for 30 years.
Mr Arthur has worked for the Spencer family for 30 years at the farms at Frankham Fourstones and Whitchester, Heddon on the Wall.
