COUNTRY SPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA

PLANS are well underway for the 2007 South of England Autumn Show & Game Fair to be staged at the showground in Ardingly, West Sussex over the weekend of 6 and 7 October.
A celebration of the countryside, the event caters for hunting, shooting and fishing enthusiasts with a range of attractions including sporting equipment, casting displays and tutoring from the Salmon and Trout Association, coarse and fly fishing demonstrations, gundog trials, have-a-go archery and a clay pigeon shoot.
A colourful hunt display will take centre stage at the Show with a cavalcade of hunts on the Sunday, and the Kent and Surrey bloodhounds putting on a dramatic display on Saturday.
Saturday also sees a handy-dog competition, a spin-off of the popular handy-pony contest, for family pets to enter. Then, on Sunday, there will be a fun dog show. Canine displays include gun dogs, dog agility show, Gus Dermody and his sheepdogs, and terrier racing.
Lt Cmdr Hales, who runs the fly fishing in the angling area, promises a show to remember. “The Salmon and Trout Association will mount a fascinating display, and there will be a host of other stands for people to enjoy and find out about the joys of country sports,” he says.
Food will be firmly in the spotlight at the two-day show, with the importance on ‘keeping it local’. Last year’s show saw the introduction of a Game Fair, alongside the usual activities. It is a move very much in keeping with the agricultural society’s commitment to countryside values and proved so successful that it’s being increased this year.
“The Game Fair is set to become an unmissable event in the country calendar”, says the society director Deborah Barber, “Game is so healthy and can be sourced locally, so it’s not only fresh but a sustainable ingredient.”
Game will be at the centre of a Ready Steady Cook-style event being staged on Saturday 6 October when the High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex will pit their wits against each other in a fun competition aimed at promoting game and local produce.
The serious message behind the fun is the importance of supporting producers and buying and cooking local ingredients. There will be cookery demonstrations showing how to make the most of the food available on our doorstep. Many of the ingredients will be available to buy at the event.
In addition to the Game Fair, the show offers a wide range of seasonal attractions from the traditional to the quirky. Gardeners will have the opportunity to exhibit their prize-winning produce in a horticultural competition. Trade stands selling a wide variety of crafts, foods and gifts will provide a diverse retail opportunity and visitors will be entertained by country and steel bands and a children’s entertainer.

The Autumn Show and Game Fair is open from 9am to 5pm on both days (6 and 7 October, 2007). Car parking is free. The South of England Centre is on the B2028 between Turners Hill and Ardingly villages. Take Jn 10 off the M23. A family ticket, admitting two adults and two children, costs just £15. Individual adult entry is £6, children £3 and concessions £5.

For more details call the Society on 01444 892700 or visit www.seas.org.uk