The 23rd Hurst Horse Show and Country Fayre

The highlight of the Village year is nearly upon us, if you haven't done it already, then please put 29 and 30 June firmly in your diaries.

The Hurst Horse Show and Country Fayre has grown from being a small one day gymkhana raising money for the village school, to the weekend that most of us know it as, raising funds not only for the school now, but for the many charities and organisations that all form a part of our village lives.

The Show is run and organised by a team of volunteers, who took over the reins from the original committee who stepped down after the 2000 show, many having served for 21 years. The village owes a huge vote of thanks to this stalwart group, for not only raising a huge sum of money for the various village charities, but also for creating such a wonderful village event.

We must also thank Mrs. Jo Walker-Robson for her kind permission to allow the Show to take place once again on her fields and we mustn't forget the parents and teachers at St. Nicholas School who put in a huge effort over the duration of the weekend.

Excitement mounts

The Show really is a combined effort and if we should ever wonder if it were worth all the fuss, just ask anyone who has had a school age child in the vicinity. They will tell you how the excitement starts to mount as soon as the first tent is erected; by the weekend of the Show, the atmosphere at the School is almost electric! So, parents beware, if you had something else in mind for the last weekend in June, you will have your children to answer to!

Last year, the horse and pony events had to be cancelled unfortunately, due to the foot and mouth outbreak. This year, we are really pleased to welcome back the Horse Show and lots more new events and amusements as well. New events scheduled for this year are:

• Static classic car display
• Animal Farm Corner
• Mobile skate board / BMX park

• Cake Stalls
• Appalachian Dancers, Line Dancing and our own Hurst Morris Dancers
• Arena displays
• Birds of prey
• Fancy dress competition
• Pet show (see entry form in this newsletter)
• Guess the make, model and year of the scrapped car competition (this one was hugely popular last year, with a great number of Dads poring over the metal cube for many an hour!)
• Show King and Queen parade
• Visits from our local Steam Traction Engine and the Fire Brigade
• Craft Stalls
• Penalty goal competition
• Beer and Refreshments Tent
• Horse and cart rides
• Pony rides
• An ever expanding Living Crafts Corner, this year featuring woodcarvers, saddler, blacksmith, wheelwright, potter, felt maker and beekeeper.

Terrier Racing

So as you can see, something for everyone and each day is capped off by the famous Terrier Racing, as always sporting a rather sad looking piece of road kill on the end of a rope, furiously pedalled in by Terry Bovis, with six dogs of various size, shape and pedigree (some very dubious!) in hot pursuit. This really is the highlight of the day, bring your faithful hound to the Show with you and he may win his supper!

If anyone is interested in helping with the show organisation, the more the merrier, please come along to any of the setting up evenings from Wednesday June 26 onwards.

We would value any help offered in both setting up and particularly taking down on the Sunday night, when most of the committee are ready to collapse in a heap! It is a great way to meet other folk from the village, and your help would be very much appreciated.

It is also possible to sponsor the Show, which is how a great deal of the funds are raised. Some sponsor financially, others in the form of gifts or services which can be raffled off. If you or your company would be interested in sponsoring this year's Show, please contact David Lochman on 0118 934 xxxx.

We look forward to welcoming everyone old and young to this year's Show. Come along to support us and let's make this the best show yet!

PS. Keep up to date with the latest news of the Show on our state of the art website.