News

Show announces brand new venue

AFTER 30 years of hosting Northumberland County Show at Corbridge, Tynedale Agricultural Society is relocating the event to a new base in the Tyne Valley.

A 105 acre site at Bywell near Stocksfield will become the home of the show in 2013, offering much needed room to grow, along with ample capacity to cope with the crowds in excess of 25,000 people, which the countryside showcase regularly attracts.

Bank Holiday Monday, June 4, 2012, will mark the end of an era in the history of the show as Corbridge’s Tynedale Park prepares to welcome thousands of exhibitors and hundreds of trade stands for the final time. Next year’s show-goers will be helping to draw to a close some 64 years since the Show was first held in Corbridge.

1948 was the first year that the now defunct Tyneside Agricultural Society chose Tynedale Park, home of Tynedale RFC, as the site to hold what was dubbed “the greatest show around” according to historic records.

The Tyneside Society continued to hold shows at Corbridge until 1969, when members organised a two-day event which left limited resources overstretched and led to the demise of the organisation.

Tynedale Agricultural Society was formed in 1981 to take up the reins and have been holding shows in Corbridge since 1982.

The 31 acres of land available as show field, along with the surrounding 40 acres used for car parking, have served the event well through the years.

With a diverse and dynamic committee at the helm ready to ring the changes, Tynedale Agricultural Society members are excited by the opportunities a new site will bring.

Current Vice Chairman of the show, Chris Chomse, will take on the role as chairman in time for the first show at Bywell. He said:
“Bywell is such a lovely setting, which in itself will create a great atmosphere. We will all have a tremendous amount of work to do in the next 18 months to put together the design, layouts and accesses; but Bywell offers us the room for expansion that we have been looking for. Many people have asked for new areas to incorporate things like show jumping and flying fishing, these are all things that we had no room for at Tynedale Park; but this move offers us the chance to expand and we can grow from the beginning and evolve over the coming years. Not only will each section have more space and the opportunity to create new attractions, but there will be the added advantage of much more parking, which has become a major issue at Corbridge. The extra parking will hopefully alleviate the congestion we create on the roads leading to the site.”

Meanwhile, the Newcastle to Carlisle services running on the busy Tyne Valley Railway line, will still remain a key component to the show’s success.

Chris added: “When looking for a new site one priority was always to be near a railway station. Travelling to and from the show by train is something the committee is keen to promote.  At Bywell, the Stocksfield station is close by and with public footpaths and a shuttle bus to be provided, it should work well for those many hundreds of people who do use the train service.”

Offering his seal of approval, owner of the new site, Lord Allendale said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the show is coming to Bywell and it will be a great opportunity for everyone involved.”

His son, Hon. Wenty Beaumont, added: “Fantastic news that the show is moving to Bywell and we are extremely pleased to be involved in what is such an important event for this area.”

Jonathan Landale of Land Factor who manages Allendale Estates said “this is a great opportunity for both Allendale Estates and The Northumberland County Show, we are looking forward to working closely with the Show Committee to make the first show at Bywell a huge success and hope to have the show at Bywell for many years to come.”

Show President John Woodman said: “The show committee feel very privileged to have been given this opportunity to move the show to Bywell in 2013. We are very fortunate to have such a great team of dedicated committee members who are all keen for this move to take place and can all see the benefits of the extra area for the show that the new venue will provide.”

David Carr, Chairman of the Tynedale Agricultural Society is looking forward to having more space for the many section at the show. “As I am the Cattle Section Chief Steward it will be nice to have a little more room to breath and not have everything so condensed”. Mr Carr also wished to thank Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge Cricket Club and Mr & Mrs Charles Beaumont for their many years of support of the show.

End

GOOD SHOW

Jane Pikett joins 25,000 happy visitors and some 5,000 animals at Northumberland County Show – the highlight of the agricultural and summer events calendar

IN all my many years of visiting Northumberland County Show I have never, until yesterday, taken a seat to watch the sheep shearing.

As I’ve wandered past the packed shearing tent and teetered on tip toe to peer above the heads of a crowd which is generally about 50-deep, I have wondered, to be honest, what the attraction is.

Well, now I know. Having spent half the morning rooted to a seat in the front row, I can report that this is as compelling competitive entertainment as any international football or rugby match, and then some.

The passion, commitment and skill required to succeed in this arena is in a class all of its own. It’s also serious stuff, as evidenced by the fact that this year the ten-time world record holder and many-time world champion, New Zealander David Fagan, was entered.
The shearers worked their way through more than 800 sheep, trucked in for the day from the Chipchase Estate near Hexham. There were triumphs, disasters and the odd un-cooperative beast to contend with in an arena which, with its heady mix of town and country folk sharing the passion of competition, perfectly conveys the magic of this Show.

This is an almost tangible magic, created when town and country come together to celebrate our rural life as we have done for generations.

This merging of cultures takes us all back to our roots, and there is something within every member of the crowd – town or country-based – which shares a pride in the agricultural highlight of the day; the Grand Parade of Champions and Champion of Champion judging.
The parade, led this year by two magnificent police horses, qualifies as the moment most likely to bring a tear to the eye of any townie and this year’s Champion of Champions – a Texel gimmer as beautiful as any which has ever graced this historic show ground – was a star with the crowd as much for her teddy bear looks as her superb breeding.

I studied one of the happy queues at one of the many catering vans and identified all forms of human life, from city slicker to cattle farmer, dog exhibitor to poultry enthusiast, alpaca farmer to competitive cake baker.

They rubbed shoulders as if they had been friends for years, brought together by their enthusiasm for a single event, rather like strangers at a wedding tend to bond over their shared delight for the happy couple.

Some 25,000 of them spent the day together in Corbridge this May Bank Holiday, thankful that the rain held off and the high winds that nearly destroyed two marquees the previous day were absent.

Never work with children and animals, they say. Herd several thousand animals and a similar number of children onto a very large field in Northumberland, and the potential for something to go awry is obvious.

Yet it went along, as it generally does, without a hitch; the dedicated voluntary committee of Northumberland County Show, most of them busy working farmers, able to sit back with a well-deserved pint as the visitors left and reflect on a job well done.

As the show chairman David Carr, a farmer who has lived and breathed this event all his life, says, there’s nothing quite like it.

“It’s hard to put it into words,” he says, “what this show means to all of us who take part, and the people who come year after year. The livestock this year has been absolutely magnificent, the entertainment first class. It’s a privilege to be involved.”
It’s worth noting that this voluntary committee put this thing together year in, year out for the love of it and the proceeds are given away each year to good causes. How many huge events like this can claim such a thing?

How many huge events can offer a fun fair, a working milking parlor, sheep shearing and horse shoeing displays on one field as monster trucks wreck old bangers to the delight of the crowds in the main arena?

I have a particular fascination for the tiny pony riders, immaculate in their jodhpurs, tweed jackets and riding hats, some of them so small it’s hard to believe they can walk properly, let alone stay atop a pony over jumps.

At the other end of the equine scale, the heavy horses remind us of our proud agricultural heritage, while the parade of the Tynedale Hounds results in an annual canine mugging by enthusiastic children. It’s a delightful sight.

The big attraction of the day in more ways than one this year was, for most, the big trucks. Monster truck Big Pete, the largest in Europe, and its sidekick The Grim Reaper, defy the laws of mechanics and science with their surprisingly graceful wrecking spree, leaping in the air and coming down to land on hapless old bangers a quarter of their size. It was magnificent entertainment, and warmly received.

Over the other side of the show field, the alpaca section charmed all-comers, as did the show guinea pigs, which get the award for the most glamorous exhibits on the field.
Their home, in the fur and feather tent, almost came a cropper in the high winds the previous day when a pole collapsed, taking part of the tent roof with it. Yet the crew from Fletcher’s Marquees was up on top of the tent, high winds and all, and had it fixed within 30 minutes.
As poultry section chief steward Vicky Pepys, says: “I have never seen anything so potentially disastrous dealt with so quickly and with such courage. In many ways, the attitude of that crew summed up the Show. It was magnificent to witness.”

Vicky’s poultry section was accorded regional status for the first time this year, guaranteeing fine plumage and high quality competition which resulted in a winning Yokohama which was deemed by one judge as the best he had ever seen.

The fact that a good number of visitors to the marquee don’t know what a Yokohama is matters not to most; with more than 170 birds on show, there was bound to be one or two to take every visitor’s fancy.

What the wonderful variety of this Show conveys more than anything else is that there is something for every generation – man, woman, child or beast – that can be brought to a big field in a sleepy Northumberland village once a year and everyone will find something to enjoy.

There is every dog you’ve ever loved or never encountered, competitive home crafts from enthusiastic bakers and makers, walking sticks and shepherds’ crooks exquisitely carved by men and women for whom the Show is their annual highlight.

There’s traditional Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling run by a former World Champion of the sport, wonderful local food stalls and demonstrations by the region’s best chefs, displays of bee keeping, falconry and dry-stone walling, bands and dancers, a kids’ funfair, 350 trade stands and more.

This year, there were 5,000 exhibitors on the show field who entered 800 classes, just as they and their predecessors have every year for some 125 years. Is there anything which better embraces our passion for our countryside?

I think not. Meanwhile, the committee is already planning next year’s event.
Northumberland County Show 2012 is at Tynedale Park, Corbridge on Bank Holiday Monday, June 4 2012.

Entries for this year’s Northumberland County Show 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.

Entries for this year’s British Blue classes at the Northumberland County Show are to be sponsored by the British Blue Cattle Society showing incentive scheme.

This year’s show to be held on Bank Holiday Monday May 30th is looking forward to renewed interest in the British Blue breed classes after last year’s had to be cancelled due to a small number of entries. The scheme encourages entries in the British Blue Breed classes at the show by offering £25 to the first entry and £10 to the second and third entries, to a maximum of £45 per exhibitor.

Given that the British Blue heifer “Solway View Bertie” from Kevin Watret was the Champion of Champions in 2007 and the popularity of the breed among beef producers in Northern England and the Scottish Borders, the Tynedale Agricultural Society with the help of the British Blue Cattle Society is looking forward to increased numbers this year, enabling the breed to hold its own classes.

The show is a shop window for Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep and Goats from farms in Northern England and the Scottish Borders and provides a first outing of the season for many exhibitors. Prize winners have gone on to win further awards at shows through the year.

British Blue Bull “Croftends Bruno” exhibited by J. B. Bowness was champion in the continental classes at last years Northumberland County Show and was then subsequently senior bull champion at the Royal Highland Show. Owner Brian Bowness said “it would be good to see the British Blue classes well supported at this popular agricultural event”.

John Fleming secretary of the British Blue Cattle Society said “It is encouraging to see the support that Northumberland County Show continues to enjoy from both sponsors and exhibitors and the society is looking forward to a great show of British Blue Cattle at this year’s event”.

Schedules for the show will be ready by 21st Feb and can be downloaded from the show website on www.northcountyshow.co.uk
With more than 300 trade stands, spectacular main arena events, and nationally renowned agricultural and equine sections, Northumberland County Show is the highlight of the agricultural year in the region and a major annual attraction.
This year’s main ring attractions include monster trucks ‘The Devil’ and ‘Big Pete’, back by popular demand.

The show also features a competitive light horse section and livestock classes for cattle, sheep, heavy horse, goat, alpaca, dogs, poultry, cavies, rabbits, stick dressing, competitive home crafts, and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.

Melanie takes charge of the world’s biggest horse breeds
at County Show

AT 5ft 5ins Melanie Teasdale stands a good 2ft shorter than her charges, but the newly appointed assistant steward at Northumberland County Show’s heavy horse section won’t be taking any nonsense.

“It’s my job to get all the horses and their handlers in the right place at the right time on the day, and with the average heavy horse weighing about a ton and standing up to 18 hands, you have to be pretty organised,” says Melanie.

Melanie is an experienced handler of Clydesdale and Shire horses and a long-standing supporter of the heavy horse section at Northumberland County Show – the largest annual attraction in the region, which was attended by more than 28,500 visitors last year.

“The heavy horses are always hugely popular with the visitors at the show, and it’s an honour to be appointed assistant steward for 2011, when we expect about 40 horses in hand and another in the dray classes,” said Melanie.
“They’re magnificent animals and it’s wonderful to see them all beautifully turned out for the big day.”

Melanie, 28, from Craghead, Stanley, Co Durham, will assist heavy horse section head steward Gawin Holmes, himself a prize-winning competitor in heavy horse turnout. In fact, Melanie used to be a groom for Gawin’s Shire and Clydesdale horses, which he stables at Beamish, Co Durham.

What many visitors to the show don’t know is that the magnificent breeds they see there – all of them once familiar sights in Britain’s fields and streets – are now endangered species.

The Clydesdale, Suffolk and Shire horses traditionally used on farms and for Co-op and brewery deliveries now depend for their future on the likes of Melanie, Gawin and the enthusiasts who show the horses nationwide.

“Shows like Northumberland are some of the few places to see these breeds, but entries were up last year, which shows that their popularity is growing, despite the fact that keeping horses like these is a very big commitment,” said Melanie.
“They have an amazing presence about them and they’re a major attraction on show day; people just seem to love them.”

Competing heavy horse teams from all over the UK will be at the show at Tynedale Park, Corbridge, on Bank Holiday Monday, May 30, 2011.

With more than 300 trade stands, spectacular main arena events, and nationally renowned agricultural and equine sections, Northumberland County Show is the highlight of the agricultural year in the region and a major annual attraction.
In addition to the heavy horses, next year’s main ring attractions include monster trucks ‘The Devil’ and ‘Big Pete’, back by popular demand.

The show field will also host numerous marquees and stands, plus a children’s funfair, live cookery demonstrations from leading chefs, bands and dancers, a working milking parlour and a shearing shed, bee-keeping displays, free parking and easy rail access.

The show also features a competitive light horse section and livestock classes for cattle, sheep, heavy horse, goat, alpaca, dogs, poultry, cavies, rabbits, stick dressing, competitive home crafts, and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.
Northumberland County Show 2011 is on Monday, May 30 at Tynedale Park, Corbridge.