Celebrating best of country life

The spectacle of immaculate horses and carriages will showcase the very best of country life at this year's Shropshire Game & Country Fair, being held at Chetwynd Park, Newport.

The annual event is due to run over the Bank Holiday weekend on Sunday and Monday, August 26 and 27.

A show of shire horses decorated in harness put to a dray, and also a shire mare and foal will be staged as part of Sunday's programme.

Light trade horses will also be in the ring giving displays with milk floats, and a wedding Victoria carriage. These will be judged for the best turned-out outfit.

And on Bank Holiday Monday, light horses will be driven to gigs of various types, dating back to the early 1900s. These will also be judged for best driving horse.

At the same time the outfits will be judged for the Concorde d' Elegance award, which is interpreted by the judge as looking at the competitors from an artistic angle - that is, which outfit would look good as a painting.

The overall idea of the two days - which includes the presence of Shires, Welsh Cobs, New Forest, Hackneys, Friesans and Shetlands - is to demonstrate how people travelled and worked with horses in years gone by.

Anyone interested in horses can take part in driving, but will need the correct tuition on handling driving horses.

The fair will provide fun for all the family through a host of other attractions. These include parachute and falconry displays, sports clay shooting, ferret and dog shows, archery and gundog advice centre.

A spokesman for the organisers said: "The event will premiere the very best of country life with a variety of attractive and entertaining demonstrations in the main arena to delight visitors young and old.

"The weekend offers the ideal opportunity for a get-together by country-minded people to enjoy the rural environment in a relaxed atmosphere.

"It's a good social event for friends and family, and a special occasion in the country pursuits calendar. With lots of quality trade stands there is plenty to see."

Tickets are priced £10 for adults, £4 for children and children under five go free.

The shows run between 10am and 6pm on each day and dogs on leads are welcome.

Additional information on tickets, parking and show day programme is available from the event website at www.countryfairs.info or by contacting 01588 672708.

By Ben Bentley

Pictured getting ready for the show are chainsaw wood carver Dave Bytheway from Peaton near Diddlebury and dog trainer Tony Evans