community yearbook 2018

ROYAL COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE SHOW Devil’s delight THE Devil’s Horsemen put on a stunning display of

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 25 January, 2018

horsemanship that saw the stunt riders race across the arena hanging off their mounts just inches from the ground. Some parts saw the riders hanging upside down and back to front as the horses galloped at speed, with their Cossack display of breathtak- ing acrobatics on horseback. But the exhilarating stunts were just the warm-up to the grand finale – a race around the arena standing on the backs of two horses. Spokeswoman for the Devil’s Horsemen, Sally-Anne Oultram, said: “The audience was incredible. We have really moved that audience today, we want them to go home and feel like they have had a great afternoon..” The Devil’s Horsemen are led by Gerard Naprous, who has more than 30 years experi-

Ponies are mane event A HIGH-speed dash over miniature fences, a blur of coloured silks, flying manes and tails and the roar of an expectant crowd – it can only be the Shet- land Pony Grand National. Rocco Dettori, son of legendary jockey Frankie way over two-and-a-half laps, incorporating 12 mini steeplechase fences. All the young riders who take part are aged between nine and 14 years, below five feet tall and have a keen interest in ponies.

Handler Devante Claridge with V enus Venus is a star of the show THE finale of the show was the Grand Parade of Livestock around the main arena, showcasing the best of the prize- winning livestock. Throughout the show, 400 cattle, 1,100 sheep and 200 pigs were shown from breeders the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Local breeders did well in the livestock compe- titions, with Bucklebury Farm and Deer Safari Park winning first place in the Mature Handler category and first in the calf born between April 1, 2016 and June 10, 2017 class, with their Holstein heifer Venus and her handler Devante Claridge. The farm park was also third in the pet goat class, with goats Gilly and Jigsaw, who were shown by their handlers Catherine Stone and Georgina Halsall. Manager of the Bucklebury Farm and Deer Safari Park, Elizabeth Hartley-Russell, said: “This was only the second time we had entered a class at the show, so it is relatively new for us. “We are very proud and elated and so proud of Devante for winning. “Everybody is talking about the animals they would like to bring back next year. “We are thinking of bringing one of our Berk- shire pigs next year.”

They have appeared in all series of the show and more than 80 horses featured in the series six episode The Battle of the Bastards , which featured the largest number of horses to appear in a TV show.

ence of working with animals in showbusiness. The stuntmen and their fabu- lous animals have travelled from Westeros to Chieveley, having starred in Game of Thrones.

It is not only a bit of fun for them, but also provides an opportunity to experience how jockeys train and prepare for races. The race was brought to life by BBC commentator, the late Raymond Brooks-Ward,

Dettori, and Lucy Aspell, the daughter of two-time Grand National winning jockey Leighton Aspell, were among the 17 riders competing in the race this year. Just like the real Grand National, ponies are paraded, jockeys mount and are led down to the start, before being sent on their THERE was no shortage of people queuing to meet the hounds after they paraded in the main arena. On display were foxhounds and draghounds and the local Vine and Craven foxhounds. A spokeswoman for the hunt, Christina Dunlop, said:“Next year is special for us as it’s the 50th anniversary of when the hunt was formed in 1968, by an amalgamation of the Craven Farmers’ Hunt and the Vine Hunt.”

Tasty offerings go down a treat WEST Berkshire is rich in fine local produce. The Kennet House Cake Meanwhile, Peter Congerton and his team at the Cook and Butcher in Thatcham

back in 1981, and raises money for a nominated charity. Hounds pull in crowds

Broadway were celebrating after scooping second in three categories: best local exhibitor, best exhibit and most attractive stand. He and his colleagues were run off their feet as customers queued to watch a traditional butcher at work, grab a bargain and get some great advice on cooking. The Cook and Butcher is also famed for its range of home- made saugages, including peanut butter and jelly flavour and orange marmalade.

Company, whose kitchen is in Kintbury, won the KSM Plate for best local exhibitor in the Food Hall. Proprietor Anna Adams said: “We use local produce wher- ever possible, such as organic flour from Doves Farm Foods (in Hungerford) and Sutton Estates free-range, organic eggs. Cake making and baking got a huge boost from the Bake Off television series, so our courses are particularly popular at the moment.”

The Cook and Butcher scooped three prizes

Four-year-old Darcy Smith makes friends with the hounds

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A GREAT FAMILY DAY OUT