The 24th Hurst Horse Show and Country Fayre

This year’s Hurst Horse Show & Country Fayre on 28 and 29 June has several new attractions as well as the traditional gymkhana, show classes and show-jumping on both days.

The Show and Country Fayre on the fields in School Road will once again be raising money for St. Nicholas School as well as the many charities and organisations that form an important part of our village lives. So bring granny, the kids, and your friends to enjoy a great day out and support a good cause at the same time.

It really is a combined effort by people living in the village, and if we should ever wonder if it were worth all the fuss, just ask anyone who has had a child at St. Nicholas School. 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 electric!

For the first time it will be possible to purchase Show tickets in advance at preferential rates, keep an eye on the village notice-boards for more details.

Ferret Racing

New events scheduled for this year include Ferret Racing and a Fly Fishing display. The Children’s Theatre Group is putting on a performance with extracts from their Variety Show.

Among the regular favourites are:

• Static classic car display
• Hurst FC penalty competition
• Archery with the HVS
• Our own Hurst Morris Group
• Arena displays
• Birds of Prey including owls
• Pet show
• Guess the make, model and year of the scrapped car competition
• The Sandhurst Beagles
• The Show Queen parade
• Visits from our local Steam Traction Engine and the Fire Brigade
• Craft Stalls
• Beer and Refreshments Tent
• Horse and cart rides, and pony rides
• Large bouncy castle and Gladiator Game

We welcome back the basket-weaver to the ever expanding Living Crafts Corner which this year features woodcarvers, a saddler, wheelwright, potter, the basket weaver, hurdle maker and bee-keeper.

Terrier Racing

There’s something for everyone and each day is capped off by the famous Terrier Racing. For the uninitiated, this entails several heats with dogs of various size, shape and pedigree (some very dubious!) in hot pursuit of something resembling a rabbit on a piece of string. This really is the highlight of the day, so bring your faithful hound to the Show with you (non-terriers are welcome too) and he may win his supper!

Strawberries and Cream

St. Nicholas Playgroup will be selling luscious strawberries and cream on Saturday – all the strawberries hand-picked by the children the day before, and then sold to raise funds for the group on Saturday.

The St. Nicholas School stalls will include bric a brac, pancakes and candyfloss, skittles, book stall, and children’s games.

Help wanted!

If anyone is interested in helping with the show please either contact us now, or come along to any of the setting up evenings from Wednesday 25 June onwards. We would value any help both setting up and particularly taking down on the Sunday night. It’s a great way to meet other folk from the village, a good excuse for a pint afterwards 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 people and organisations provide financial sponsorship, others in the form of gifts or services which can be raffled. If you or your company would be kind enough to sponsor this year’s Show, please contact David Lochman on 0118 934 xxxx or by email.

Thank you

We are, as ever, indebted to Mrs. Jo Walker-Robson and family for allowing the Show to take place on their fields once again, and we also mustn't forget the parents and staff at St. Nicholas School who put in a huge effort during the weekend.