This year’s unpredictable summer may not prove as amenable, but there is enough fun and activity packed into the 157th show to ensure it is a success whatever the weather.
The show will roll into Slaley on Saturday, August 13. It began in 1845, as the Slaley and Hexhamshire Floral and Horticultural Society Show.
In 1902, it was renamed as the Slaley, Flower, Butter and Poultry Show, and 14 years later moved from the original location at the Stanegarth Garden to its present home at Townhead.
The show retains its ethos as a traditional exhibition of produce, livestock and the skilled craftsmanship of the local community.
The number and types of classes has snowballed over time and the show now attracts thousands of entries every year in competitive classes for horses and ponies, sheep, dogs and ferrets, horticulture, cooking and crafts, photography, children’s work, floral art, wood carving and turning and farmers’ classes.
And for the first time, this year it will feature Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling competitions
Show chairman Marge Rastall said: “My grandfather was part of the governing association in the last century, so I am delighted to see the wrestling here at Slaley”.
Returning for the first time in many years are the Mountain & Moorland pony competitions.
Usually the Fell Pony Society Breed Show is run by the Charlton family on the same weekend as Slaley Show.
The afternoon will be packed with entertainment as the Haydon Hunt hounds and terrier and ferret racing take to the show ring, as well as the
vintage tractors and exotic animals on display.
There is always lots for people to take part in at Slaley Show, including the traditional game of quoits.
And the tug of war competition is sure to be hotly contested as the local team, Whitley Chapel Young Farmers, won the national YF competition last year.
Show secretary Catherine Lincoln said: “It is great to see people coming back to the show year after year; we get visitors from all over the place.
“Keeping up the traditional side of things is a big part of the show, it’s one of the reasons that people keep coming back.”
The show will open at 7.30am for the staging of exhibits and most of the day’s attractions and events will begin at around 11am.
For more information visit: slaleyshow.org.uk/
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