FROM PRIZE BAKING TO PRIZE BULLS, SHOWSTOPPING SHEEP TO WINNING WATERCOLOURS – IT’S TIME TO SHOW OFF YOUR TALENT
AT THE GILLINGHAM &SHAFTESBURY SHOW
The famous annual Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show is planning even more exciting competitions this year for an even greater rural day out on 17 August.
From prize ponies and star sheep to champion cows, there’s over 500 competitions for livestock lovers and keen equestrians to enter. The equine schedule, sponsored by The BV Magazine, includes horse and pony classes for junior jockeys as young as three years old and veteran horses as old as fifteen or more. There’s also heavy horse classes, show jumping and driving. Entries are open now and close on 1st August.
Livestock is at the heart of this agricultural show and entries are now welcome for beef and dairy cattle, sheep and poultry farmers. Classes include rare and minority breeds so visitors to the show can expect to see some wonderful animals hoping to be awarded a coveted trophy. You can enter up until 18th July for a variety of classes.
Event organiser James Cox said: “Livestock winners will be featured in The Grand Parade, sponsored by Woolley&Wallis, which for the first time in 10 years, returns to the Gritchie Brewing Co Main Ring – a real chance for our four-legged champions to step into the spotlight.”
And if you can’t ride it or show it, you can make it, bake it or grow it with lots of horticulture, homecrafts and handicrafts competitions to enter.
Are you a super snapper with photos of our beautiful countryside? A brilliant baker? Is your treacle tart a triumph, your lemon drizzle a delight? Perhaps your home-grown flowers and vegetables are the envy of all? Maybe you’re a wonder at watercolours or potty about pottery?
Entries are now open in Horticulture, Homecrafts and Handicrafts with junior categories for creative children. There’s also a nod to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a class for five patriotic cupcakes. And for budding artists – a chance to design a front cover for next year’s horticultural programme schedule.
The horticulture section of the Show welcomes over 2,000 entries annually and the massive 80m long Marquee is not to be missed. From massive marrows to flawless flower displays – it’s a rural delight.
Event organiser James Cox said: “The three H’s – horticulture, homecrafts and handicrafts – are such an important element of The Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show. It shines a spotlight on the amazing creativity of our county, whether it’s brilliant photography or mouth-watering Victoria sponges. We are always blown away by how skilled and artistic the entries are. It just proves that the great pleasure of rural pastimes lives on.’’
Visit https://gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk/compete/ for competition class themes and more details.