By GEMMA SOMERVILLE gemma.somerville@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 10:54, Friday, 30 May 2008

RECORD breaking crowds left Corbridge bursting at the seams on Bank Holiday Monday for this year’s Northumberland County Show.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

Tynedale Park, home of Tynedale RFC, was awash with tents, trade stands and pens filled with everything from alpacas to Zwartbles while more than 25,000 people headed to the biggest event on the county’s farming calendar.

Queues of traffic brought Corbridge and its surrounding villages to a standstill as cars waited patiently to form neat rows in fields and open spaces as far as the eye could see.

Meanwhile extra stops were organised for train services on the Tyne Valley line, as carriages swelled to capacity with eager visitors, young and old.

Both man and beast made this year’s event one to remember – an impressive improvement on 2007 when a bird flu outbreak and unsettled weather threatened to cause havoc for organisers of the event.

And in his second year as chairman, the youngest in the show’s 27-year history, Thomas Harrison from Mickley believes the event can get even bigger and better.

He said: “This year we have new additions to the committee – Anthony Cro-zier as president and Mel Blakey and Julia Lamb as the two new light horse secretaries.

“They have been brilliant and new people always bring new ideas and a fresh outlook on things along with them.”

Already Stocksfield farmer Anthony had introduced a new addition for this year in the shape of an interactive milking demonstration which proved extremely popular.

Thomas added: “The tourism benefits of the show are priceless for the area, but none of it could happen without the hard work and dedication of the relatively small team behind it.

“The committee members take time off work and devote a huge amount of time to making sure each year is a success and is hopefully bigger and better than the last.”

With visitor numbers up almost 4,000 on last year, there is no doubt 2008 has been a resounding success.

Wowing the crowds in the main arena with performances throughout the day were the Rockin’ Horse Equestrian Stunt Team, made up of four riders originating from the Russian Cossack school of tricks and stunt riding.

With 20 years of experience of performing worldwide, the riders were introduced to their Corbridge crowd by a seemingly part man, part machine on stilts, before performing nail biting stunts and tricks which drew gasps from the audience.

Testing the trust between man and horse to the limit, the riders galloped through fire in a stampede before climbing under the belly of the horse at full speed and performing tricks while standing on two horses side by side.

Hardly having the chance to draw breath, the crowds were then introduced to the skills of the UK's number one freestyle motocross display team, the Bolddog Lings.

Leaving their seats and performing full body rotations while flying 35 feet in mid-air, the duo even found the time to commentate during their tricks!

However the grand finale was once again hampered as bad weather in the south of the country prevented take off for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The ever-changing wind speed and direction also halted the RAF Falcons parachute display team from showing the Corbridge crowds their stuff.

Meanwhile, entries into the show’s industrial section have enjoyed a welcome boost thanks to the efforts of some of Tynedale’s schools.

Secretary Lesley Rowell said: “Hexham’s Sele First School submitted 40 entries to the children’s classes after holding a competition which the whole school took part in.

“It think they had about 400 pieces of work from the children from which they chose the best 40. It’s great to get local schools involved.”

Mary Brody from Kirkwhelpington enjoyed a hat-trick this year by clocking up most points in the cookery section for the third year in a row, while Wooler’s Jenny Marshall took home the silver salver for the most points in the handicraft classes.

Double success met Dane Love, who travelled down to Corbridge from Cumnock in Ayrshire to take part in the stick dressing. He took home trophies for best stick in show and most points in the section.

Elsewhere four-legged friends brought success in all forms when nine-year-old Lucy Campbell from Barrasford won best pet in the children’s section with her black, mini lop-eared rabbit, Sooty. Horsley’s Vivienne Hogg was named side saddle champion for the second year in a row in the equine section, with 19-year-old Millwalk Havana.

Over 750 canines turned out to compete in the dog classes this year, bringing the total entries to around 1,000 across the section as a whole, an increase on last year.

Secretary Joy Cunningham described the area as a “stronghold for gun dogs and terriers”.

She said: “The crowds have been very good. It was absolutely packed in the morning. A lot of people have been coming to visit with their own dogs and wandering around.”

Weimaraner Gunalt Privateart at Raystans took home the best in show title, much to the delight of owners Charles and Christine Rayner from Sedgefield, who have competed in the show regularly in the past and came close with another dog when they took home reserve best in show last year.

Dog lovers were treated to more canine capers in the main arena with a parade of hounds from the Braes of Derwent Hunt and later seven gentle giants took centre stage for the heavy horse turnout.

With a smaller stage of their own, but drawing a considerable crowd during performances, were 15 dancers from the Clann na nGael Irish Dancing Academy.

Among them were Lydia (7) and Owen (6) Howdon from Fourstones and 12-year-old Kayleigh and Callum (8) Jewitt from Bellingham.

Other nearby action attractions included the Kielder Water and Forest Park Mountain Bike Display Team, doing 20-minute routines throughout the day to promote the new bike trails at Kielder Water and Forest Park and in Hamsterley Forest, County Durham.

First published at 13:27, Thursday, 29 May 2008
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk