Hadleigh Show 2008
Despite this being almost a week ago, I have been so busy this week that I have not yet had a chance to write up a full report. Well, here goes;
I had never been to the Hadleigh before - I had heard a lot of bad press about it, and been warned not to bother going, but I am glad that I did. The carparking was a bit farcical though - with lots of stewards in bowler hats stood on the side of the road, but no one actually helping to park - so we just kept driving and driving until we were almost out the other side of the showground! Then they had the great idea of parking the mares with foals as far away from the rings as possible. This would have been a good idea if the area was quiet - but no, we were parked right next to a rowdy stallion (and its owner). At one point I actually thought they were coming through the wall of the horsebox! Needless to say that Evy was quite wound up by all of this, so when we did arrive at the collecting ring for our class, she was jumpy and on her toes. This was not helped by the stallions being shown in the next ring, and resulted in some rather impressive airs above the ground as they were led past.
However, she behaved herself in the ring, and won her class, which was fantastic. Next stop the Suffolk show - so keep those fingers crossed!
After settling the horses back in the box with hay and water, we had a wander round the show. It strikes me that the Hadleigh is a very good rural event, with lots of stands appealing to those from various walks of life. The countryside ring was used to display things such as birds of prey, ferrets (not at the same time I hasten to add) sheepdog displays and so forth. There was a fabulous display put on by the local poultry club, with numerous pedigree birds on display for people to see and get advice about. I was particularly taken with the booted bantams, but was rapidly told that I was not allowed any - typical.
The livestock classes were very well attended, with some fantastic examples of pedigree breeding. One in particular that stuck in my mind was a rather spectacular longhorn bull (picture on my gallery page). The other half thought it would be hilariously funny to stand me next to a rather portly Charolais and see whose backside was bigger. One was not amused.
All in all (apart from the carparking fiasco, and the dodgey single tracked roads on which the showground was entered and departed via) the show was very well run. Check out the pictures on the gallery pages.