With daredevil horsemen, more interactive activities than ever - not to mention 600 trade stands and a Food Hall filled to bursting, the New Forest Show simply gets better ever year, says Elizabeth Barnett
with the phenomenal success of last year’s show still ringing in his ears, Denis Dooley, secretary and friend of Hampshire Life, is determined to make the New Forest & Hampshire County Show 2013 yet another cracking event. This year the theme is ‘Get Involved’ and that is exactly what Denis is encouraging everyone to do.
Hampshire Life enjoys a long-standing and fruitful association with our premier show event and so, from 30th July to the 1st August, as we do every year, we will be in the grounds. To make it even more special, this year we will be giving readers the chance to win afternoon tea for two at the Montagu Arms Hotel so be sure to stop by our stand and enter the competition.
There is so much going on at the New Forest Show but one of the things that I think are outstanding are the interactive areas. Children cooing over newly-born piglets, would-be fishermen casting out a line or two in the countryside pursuits area or owners and their dogs tearing around one of the training pens make for great entertainment.
There will be many interactive events going on this year too with every section of the show offering some way that you can try your hand at Forest life. Show guests can cuddle a rabbit in the Show Farm, participate in the Tug o’ War against the tractor in Old Time Farming, learn to cook delicious game recipes in the Countryside Area or face your fears climbing the 80 foot poles that gives you a wonderful panoramic view of the showground and beyond into the New Forest. Visiting the show this year will be so much more than horse displays and shopping marquees.
Two people who will be totally immersed in show life are Sam Smith and Rob Maton when they arrive with their award-winning animals.
Sam’s Charolais cow Sandlea Ferrera has won the Reserve Breed Champion at the Romsey Agricultural and Horse Show for the last two years, and she is now looking for a win in the New Forest.
Sam is chair of the Cattle Committee at the show and her grandfather owns the herd, which is based in Tiptoe in the New Forest. Being involved in the show is really important and acts as a shop window for her family’s breed.
“I absolutely love showing Ferrera,” she says. “I first got in to it with my late mother and, since she sadly passed away in 1999, I have wanted to win at the New Forest to honour her memory.
“Although it’s incredibly hard work, showing is what gets me up in the morning and consumes an awful part of who I am and what I do.”
Despite working part-time as an estate agent, it’s clear to see Sam’s main passion are the cattle and being at the show means she can learn from her competitors.
Rob’s beautiful New Forest Pony, Mallards Wood Goddess, has won countless awards since 2002 at New Forest shows and at many other events - something of which the beam on his face suggests he is rightly proud.
He works full-time as a New Forest Agister (looking after its land and livestock) and also runs a small herd of ponies near Beaulieu with his family. He’s keen to point out that Mallards Wood Goddess is a forest-bred pony and says: “Showing Mallards Wood Goddess and promoting the fact that she is forest-bred, I hope, will really encourage other people to buy ponies from the forest, safe in the knowledge it can beat everything else.”
Rob says the show is a fantastic advert for the area.
“The New Forest Show is one of the hardest places to win and holds the most amount of kudos.
“As an Agister, we have a stand and welcome people who want to find out more about the forest and the ways in which you can enjoy it safely; it’s important to us that visitors have as much knowledge of the forest as possible to ensure they treat it in the right way and the show is a great way of getting that information across to the general public.”
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Shop ‘til you drop!
If you enjoy shopping then you really won’t be disappointed at this year’s show. With over 600 trade stands selling everything from cars and tractors to beautiful handmade craft items, New Park will be transformed into the largest and most diverse shopping centre in Hampshire.
Exhibitors to the show this year include Dorset Shepherd Huts, who are based just over the Hampshire border near Fordingbridge, popular clothing brand Joules, New Forest Farm Machinery, Balmer Lawn Group and for the first time, Shorefield Holidays Limited.
The Craft Marquee will be bursting at the seams with original paintings, jewellery and clothing, pottery, glassware and chic home accessories.
There will also be a huge range of food and drink products on offer in the Food Hall where you can try before you buy.
If you prefer to ‘buy local’ then visit the Local Food and Farming Area where all stand holders must be either a New Forest Marque or Hampshire Fare Member.
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The Devil’s Horsemen
The Devil’s Horsemen are an equine display team from Buckinghamshire who specialise is daring, dangerous and spectacular shows on horseback. This year the troupe will be displaying twice daily and are sure to bring packed crowds to the Main Ring.
Cossack Trick riding has developed from the incredible skill and bravery of the Mongolian Cavalry who fought across the Russian Steppe and were feared as the most successful cavalry in the world.
Now that same gymnastic ability, taste for danger and great horsemanship make the Cossack Trick Riding Troupe a unique spectacle not to be missed. They will also be performing their world-famous Roman chariot race; an activity as dangerous today as in the days of the demanding Emperors and The Circus Maximus. The charioteers and horses are specially trained but it is not uncommon to lose wheels and even charioteers, reaching speeds of up to 30mph, as they fight for the lead.
They will be performing two shows a day on all three show days, and each performance will include a Roman Chariot race and Cossack Trick riding.
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Ticket Price Reduction
The New Forest and Hampshire County Show are pleased to announce that ticket prices for 2013 are to be held at the 2012 rate for adults and senior citizens. Both children and families will now be able to enjoy cheaper prices with a child ticket falling by 40% from £8.50 to £5 and a family ticket from £46.50 to £43.00. Children under 5 will still be free and it is hoped that these revised prices will allow more people to come to the Show and get involved with the community’s largest event. On top of this, anyone visiting www.newforestshow.co.uk will be able to enjoy an additional 15% off tickets bought online until 11th July 2013.
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Getting Around
This year’s New Forest & Hampshire County Show will be running from July 30 to August 1 at The Showground, New Park, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, SO42 7QH. Starting at 8am every morning there will be a Shuttle Bus running to and from Brockenhurst railway station every 15 mins. With regular trains from Poole, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Southampton, Winchester and London Waterloo getting to and home from the New Forest Show couldn’t be easier!
For disabled visitors there is a very convenient disabled car park just a short distance from the Show ground. There will also be full parking facilities for general admission visitors within a short walk to the Show ground.
