G&S Show results

What a show! The G&S team makes it ‘the best ever’

The first full one-day show for the new G&S team was deemed a roaring success, report Laura Hitchcock and Rachael Rowe

It was a relief for everyone – organisers, volunteers, traders and visitors – to see such an enormous crowd back at the Turnpike Showground for the first proper one-day Gillingham & Shaftesbury agricultural show since 2019. The 2021 show had been planned through COVID lockdowns, and restrictions were only lifted the week before the show itself. It was, by necessity, a very different show from normal, held over two days. This year’s heatwave was a serious problem, causing lastminute changes as the hard ground threatened the safety of polo ponies and showjumpers. And then, in a swift change of fortunes, the rain became the problem instead, as the day before the show was washed out with torrential downpours and thunderstorms. But on the day, the weather gods were kind: the forecast thunderstorms never materialised, and in the end there couldn’t have been a more perfect setting. Right from the start, there was a vibrant buzz on the showground. Wherever you looked, there was something to see or an old friend to greet. While the livestock and pristine rows of tractors and farm machinery signal it is very much still an agricultural show,

Image: Courtenay Hitchcock there’s something about the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show that is a lot more. It’s the sense of community and passion for the countryside that make it an unmissable event in North Dorset’s August calendar.

It’s the people

The G&S Show spans the generations, from a weatherbeaten man giving a terse nod to a neighbour to an excited child leading a calf into the main ring for the first time. Small children in long white coats carefully led sheep around a ring, appearing overawed by the crowds and the rosettes. Others trotted ponies through their paces in the rings or helped parents feed animals. Children (and adults) sat captivated by Signature, the Dorset and Wiltshire signing choir, who kicked off events in the music area with modern songs ‘sung’ in sign language. Over in the marquees, perfectlyshaped vegetables competed alongside glorious dahlias in a riot of colours as inspirational flower arrangements filled the horticultural tent.

Fresh eggs sat on plates, this year unaccompanied by their feathered producers, thanks to Avian Flu. The new Wool Village was busy with sheep being shorn by experts and the public learning about the value of British wool.

Steam to ferrets

There was laughter and curiosity at the ferret racing, where spectators were constantly warned about the perils of picking up an animal. The furry creatures raced down drainpipes – it’s tails out first, not the nose, that wins. The speed at which the Shetland Pony Performance Display team hurtled around the main ring was quite a spectacle but highly entertaining. The Terrier Racing was unmissable, with some spectators not there for the dogs so much as for Harold Galpin’s commentary. There seemed to be someone working continuously on the steam engines, polishing and making sure the paintwork was gleaming. But what joy when they all rumbled into the main ring for a circuit or two.

The Grand Parade

The relaxed atmosphere of the day was juxtaposed at times with the strictest formality. Bowler hats in the judging ring, elegantly dressed ladies driving carriages, and pristine whitecoated families leading cattle in the main ring. Some things at the G&S Show have remained the same for years. The big news this year was that the Grand Parade made an important and oh-so-welcome reappearance, after a 15 year absence. It was eyes to the sky when the Lightning Bolts Army Parachute Display team landed in the middle of the show – the Dorset crowd feeling special pride as they learned the jump master is from Gillingham.

So. Much. Food

It’s at places like the G&S Show that you realise just how much

Image: Chris Robinson food is produced within the Blackmore Vale. The Gritchie Brewing Company Bar was popular, and there was a lot of interest in tasting the gin distillers’ botanicals. There were long queues at the hog roasts and ice cream stalls, selections from so many choices at the fudge stand, and the delicious aroma of curry. You could make a picnic from tasty salami, a mountain of regional cheeses, plus local bread and cakes. The great thing about the G&S Show is that you never know who you might meet as you make your way round. You may bump into old friends and colleagues while for generations of farming families it’s a chance to get together. For the first timer, there’s that affirmation that you’ll be marking the third Wednesday in August in the diary for next year’s show. And the year after ...

The BV produced the first ever official online G&S

Show magazine this year –crammed full of fascinating insider peeks into what goes on behind the show, and extraordinarily serious *cough* in-depth interviews with some of the organisers.

If you’ve not read it yet, you can do so here!

Image: Rachael Rowe

Image: Derrick Pannell Image: Chris Robinson

Image: Chris Robinson

Cattle classes

Les Bennett of Slades Hill, Templecome, scored a big success for local cattle farmers, taking the Supreme Dairy Championship with the any other dairy breed champion, Lilylane Magic Hawaii. Les also took the reserve championship with his Holstein championship and Holbuts Cup winner, Ciderhouse Springtime Rochele. Other local champions and cup winners included the Young Entry Dairy champion and Sandroyd Cup winner, Moonlight Stormy Victorious Nouvelle exhibited by Chloe Peach from Donhead St Andrew, the Young Entry Beef championship and Wilson Shield winner Harry Mitchell from Dorchester, who also took the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Cup. The Mitchell family took the Hereford championship and Lamb Cup with Vexour 1 Phantom. The Aberdeen Angus championship and Barclays Bank trophy went to Angus Neish of Maiden Bradley. The Longhorn championship went to Matt Horne from Overton near Basingstoke, but the Other Indigenous, Rare and Minority Breeds champion was a local winner, Long Ash Eunite exhibited by Sid Hollier from Dorchester. The Dexter championship went to Cannington Mason exhibited by J and M Bennett of Dulcote.

Local winners:

Young entry, dairy, and Tucker Cup –

Amos Craze Mell exhibited by Abigail Rudd. Moonlight Stormy Victorious Nouvelle, and championship, Chloe Peach, Donhead St Andrew.

Young entry, beef, and Sidney Perry Shield

– Templeton Lele 2nd, Miles Blakeney, Mere;

championship, Wilson Shield, and Gillingham &

Shaftesbury Cup – Harry Mitchell, Dorchester.

Holstein

Championship and Holbuts Cup, and cow – Ciderhouse Springtime Rochele, Les Bennett, Templecombe. Group – Brickyard Pumpkin, Charlotte Tuffin, Bagber.

Any other dairy breed

Championship, and heifer – Lilylane Magic Hawaii, Les Bennett. Cow – Je t’aime Double L Bijou, Richard Norman, Yeovil. Pair and group – Les Bennett.

Aberdeen Angus

Champion, heifer, pair – Angus Neish, Maiden Bradley.

Hereford

Champion, heifer, bull and pair – Mitchell family, Dorchester. Image: Courtenay Hitchcock

Calf – Baybridge I Flower 3rd, Les Gould, Shaftesbury.

British Blue

Cow – Dingvalley Nightingale, R.F & C.L Spiller, Yeovil; Bull – Dingvalley Pluto, Spiller.

Continental

Heifers – Brampton Ruby and Lewyd Silvia, Will Glover, Leigh; Pair and Beef Cattle pairs championship – Brampton Rainbow and Ruby, Glover.

Longhorn

Cow – Warns Olive, Alice Glover; bull and pair – Warns Romeo, Alice Glover.

Other Indigenous, Rare & Minority Breeds

Champion, cow – Long Ash Eunite, Sid Hollier, Dorchester; Calf – Lodge Farm Queenie, Andrew Smith, Wincanton; Heifer – Bayford Helen, Smith; Heifer – Long Ash Jelta, Hollier; Bull – Long Ash Gatsby, Hollier; Pair – Long Ash Hazelberry, Hollier.

Dexter

Champion, cow or heifer, bull – J & M Bennett, Dulcote; Heifer – Downs view Lexi, Miles Blakeney, Mere; Pair – Blakeney.

The big winnner in the sheep classes was Miss Ali Tory from Blandford St Mary who won the supreme sheep championship and the Arthur Cradock Cup. Ali also took the Hampshire Down championship and the Commercial and Shortwool championship. Other local successes included Trish Gray from Lower Chicksgrove who won the Fleece championship and the Wool Marketing Board Shield with her Shetland sheep and Tom Newth from Castle Cary who took the Commercial & Shortwool group of three championship and the Sheldon Jones Cup.

Local winners:

Young Handler Championship and John Menlove

Shield, and 12 years and under winner – Charlie Coombes; 6 yrs and under – Harriet Griffin, Hazelbury Bryan; 8 yrs and under – Elise Rochford, Wincanton.

Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset

Ram, ram lamb, ewe lamb, and group of 3 – Alexandria James, Shaftesbury; Ewe – Emma Crosfield, Gillingham.

Hampshire Down

Championship and Woolley & Wallis Cup, ram, ewe, ram lamb and ewe lamb – Ali Tory, Blandford St Mary.

Texel

Championship and Selway Cup, shearling ewe, ewe lamb, ram lamb – Witham Vale Texels, Frome.

Continental sheep

Championship and Mole Valley Farmers Cup, ewe, ewe lamb and group of three – Tom Newth, Castle Cary; Ram – Alistair Lyle, Yeovil.

Zwartble

Championship and Kathy Watt Cup and ewe lamb – John Case, Lower Odcombe; Group of 3 – Heather Vincent, Gillingham.

Jacob sheep

Group of 3 Liz Butler, Yeovil.

British Native Longwool

Championship, ewe – Miss JA Gamblin, Somerton; Ram – Malcolm Hunt, Wincanton.

Black Welsh Mountain

Championship and Glebe Heath Shield, ram, ewe, ram lamb and group of 3 – Mrs Rhian Rochford, Wincanton.

Dorset Down

Ram – Jenny Wyre, Salisbury.

Shetland sheep

Championship and John Maylam trophy, ram, group of 3 – Mr and Mrs David and Carolyn Gill, Chantmarle; Ewe, ewe lamb – Trish Gray, Lower Chicksgrove.

Greyface Dartmoor

championship and Valerie Pratt cup, shearling ram, shearling ewe, group of 3 and Hillside & Hearne Flock Shield – Christine Nugent, Mere; Ram lamb – Mr and Mrs JM & RB Gatrill, Wells; Ewe lamb – Mr and Mrs R & J Baker, Tisbury.

Image: Courtenay Hitchcock Image: Courtenay Hitchcock Image: Chris Robinson

Image: Rachael Rowe

The BV magazine, September ‘22

GILLLINGHAM & SHAFTESBURY SHOW

Primitive breeds

Ram – Keith Street, Salisbury; Ewe, group of 3 – Caroline Bulmer, Shepton Beauchamp.

Hill, Heath and Mountain

Breed

Championship, ram, ewe, ram lamb, group of 3 – Geoff Barnett, Bridport.

Downland breeds

Ram – Calvin Bent, Shaftesbury; Ram lamb – Paul Dunnings, Fifehead St Quintin.

Fleece classes

Shetland – Trish Gray; Down & Fine fleece – Jenny Wyre; Luster fleece – Darren and Sarah Rashley, East Coker. Pair of commercial sheep – Martin Jennings, Pitcombe.

Equestrian classes

Local winners:

Local Novice Ridden Hunter

and Vaughan Cup – William and Clare Gundry, Sturminster Newton. Small hunter and Dorset Lettings Cup – Brickell Danielle and Emma Fitzgerald, East Chinnock.

Leading rein and open

unaffiliated leading rein pony – Haffendens Winston and Imogen Groves, Bridport. First ridden – Finnlea Finders Keepers and Rosie Gundry, Sturminster Newton. Small breeds – Sharptor Kingpin and Jess Talbot, Martock. Ridden veteran – Happy Times and Mrs Mouse Berry, Gillingham. Open ridden cob – Poachers Moon and Josefine Board, Stoke sub Hamdon; Racehorse to riding horse – Josefine Board. Racehorse to

riding horse, to include small

jumps – Salcombe and Georgia Bennet, Frome.

Young horse breeding in hand, brood mare, and Dufosee Cup

– Carry On Tiffin and Sally Fox, Bournemouth.

Young horse breeding in hand, foal, and Wallis Cup, and Young Horse Breeding In Hand

Championship – Sir Sidney Ruff Diamond and Sally Fox.

Young horse breeding in hand, young horse, yearling, 2 & 3

year old – Baloo and Mrs Lucy Felton, Droop. In hand veteran – Pokeys Lane and Amy Edmeads, Todber. Large breeds, yearling – Popsters Power Ballad and Amy Baynton, Martock. Small breeds, 4 yrs or over – Sharptor blackthorn and Mrs Megan Bullen, Shaftesbury.

In hand

Youngstock – Stockford Little Image: Chris Robinson Superstar and Andrea Vickery, Dorchester. Coloured – Auzzie Boy and Mrs Teresa Elson, Dorchester. Race to riding horse – In The Tub and Tamsin Reynolds, Shaftesbury. Heavy horses – Donhead Hall Hickory and RJ Hiscock, Donhead St Mary.

Agricultural heavy horse

turnout – Holbeane Isaac & Res Gestice Valentina and Michael Yorke, West Hatch.

Trade heavy horse turnout

– Donhead Hall Liberty Bell & Donhead Hall Shenandoah and RJ Hiscock.