The Cheshire Game and Country Fair

Date: 23rd-25th August

Location: Cheshire County Showground, Tabley, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0HJ

Website: www.livingheritagecountryshows.co.uk/show/cheshire-game-country-fair/47.php

Now entering it’s fifth year, the Cheshire Game and Country Fair goes from strength to strength and is set to be better than ever in 2014! The Game Fair is being held across three action packed days at the height of the English summer, and is known for a focus on country sports and pursuits that the whole family can enjoy. 

What is happening?

  • The Country Fair Main Arena will host a number of spectacular Falconry Display's throughout the Day featuring a number of different species from Hawks, Falcon's, Buzzards and Owl's to name a few.
  • Enjoy Simon Whitehead and His Pakefield Ferrets Display. Simon is a professional Ferreter and pest controller, he lives and works in Suffolk and promotes Ferrets and Ferreting all over the UK. You can listen to his enthusiastic and entertaining commentary in our arena!
  • Learn how to train that disobedient pup with Howard Kirby and the Mullenscote Gundog Clinic! The training Clinic here at the Cheshire Game and Country Fair Show is the perfect opportunity for you to come along and chat through any problems you might be having with your dog or bring your dogs along and we’ll show you some techniques to assist with any problem behaviours you might be experiencing. There’s even a Fantastic opportunity to come into our arena and be assessed for one of our Dog Handling awards, a successful assessment sees you going home with a Living Heritage Dog Training Certificate.
  • Eternally popular is The Craft Village, a craft fair within the framework of the main Fair Show.
  • Plus!  A specialist demonstration area has been included and shows working glassblowers, Blacksmiths, chainsaw carvers, and a children’s Make and Take Workshop, so that youngsters can experience some of the crafts on display.
  • The Angling Trust is on hand at the Country Fair to teach and demonstrate the skill of fishing, it’s practices and principles. Expert 'Have a Go' lessons are available for everyone to enjoy. Even at fairs without water visitors can still practice dry skill techniques in the fishing arena.

Why is it such a special event?

With so much to see and things to do (including a vast array of kid’s activities) you’ll be spoilt for choice at the Cheshire Game and Country Fair.

  • A special feature is the 8th English Open Chainsaw Carving Competition. Competitors arrive from across the globe to take part in a series of competitions -creating art with chainsaws. Carvers come from Croatia, Denmark, Equador, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the USA, along with home grown carvers from England, Scotland and Wales!  The two main competitions are the 'Classic' and the 'Combo', with 30 minute speed carvings taking place daily.
  • Enjoy Lumberjack sports at the Game Fair with The Clwyd Axemen! Their enjoyment in demonstrating logging skills is apparent to all, whilst racing each other with specialist axes and saws. The Axemen come from a large area, ranging from the Vale of Clwyd to the banks of Lake Tegid, Bala, with other axemen from abroad joining them occasionally.

What can we do there?

The Falconry Village

The vibrancy of the The Falconry Village just flies at you! A multitude of native and worldwide Birds of Prey gathered together, just waiting for their chance to fly! The village encompasses a flying arena, an indoor training arena, specialised stalls, static displays and resident expert falconers. The Falconry Village has two aims: firstly, to give visitors the thrill of spectacular flying displays, creating memories to last a lifetime! And secondly, to create a wonderful area where visitors meet the world of falconry, where they can enjoy and explore all aspects of the sport, including health, welfare and legal issues.

  • John Akerman - A special feature within the village is "Wings Out Of Africa" with John Akermen. It's a special feature giving birds from Africa an outing. The beautiful birds include an African Fish Eagle, a Peregrine Falcon, a White Headed Vulture and the star, Oscar, an awesome Cape Vulture. Oscar is a world rarity and thought to be the only one of his kind in the UK. With a wingspan of about 2.5 metres, Oscar makes an impressive sight in the village and main arena. 
  • Chris Neale - Chris has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has developed the Falconry Village into its present day form.  He flys the ever popular Maggie and Rocky, a pair of Harris Hawks. And Flower, the Saker falcon. Flower loves to stop the show as she disappears into the clouds, almost out of sight, on a warm thermal before she swoops back down to her lure. Spectacular!
  • The Owl Show is an interactive display showing nine beautiful owls, each one unique. It includes an informative talk about owl conservation, husbandry and legal issues. The talk also covers different species of owl and how one differs from the next.
  • Chrissie’s Owls is a small family run concern with a genuine love of owls. With the help of their daughter and family plus some very committed volunteers, they exhibit at craft and country shows throughout the year to help raise funds for their rescue work.
  • The Cheshire Hawking Club has over many years become an established Club with an ever increasing membership.

The Dog Zone

The ever popular Dog Zone is fun, fast and furious! Every dog and every owner is sure to find something to join in with, watch and thoroughly enjoy. Plus at this year’s Game Fair don’t forget Chase the Bunny! A fun arena event for every family’s pet dog! See if your dog has what it takes to catch the bunny and win a prize.

  • Is your dog the best at scurries? Enter them into the Living Heritage Gundog Multi-Scurry Challenge to find out! It's all about a timed retrieve over three courses with a chance to qualify for the finals with prizes to be won...
  • Trochry Gun Dogs are breeders and professional trainers of English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers. Shown in a simulated shooting environment and demonstrating what is expected from a working gundog along with the high standards of training that need to be achieved. The displays also demonstrate some of the basic techniques used in early training which also apply to dogs as pets.
  • Don’t miss the chance for your family's dog to shine! Enter your pet in the Fun Dog Show and with so many classes to choose from, there's bound to be something just right for you and your dog. There are rosettes for the winners and qualification to the final you could be going home proud of your pet.
  • The 2012 Lurcher racing season gives everyone the chance to take part and enjoy themselves in a friendly and warm atmosphere. Whether you are new to the Lurcher scene or a seasoned competitor, the events are a unique chance for all the family to become involved and to have a real chance of taking home a prize! The show schedule incorporates a wide range of classes, offering something for everyone.  The Bullcross championship is a brand new addition this year too. All the best in-show winners qualify for the prestigious championship finals at the end of the year, with some great prize money up for grabs. For those less ambitious or new to the sport the timed events are a chance to chart your progress throughout the season.  See if you can “Beat the Clock”.  The four fastest times of the day qualify for the final at the end of the year which has total prize money of £500.
  • Younger dogs have a chance to shine with Lurcher puppy racing, especially included for dogs under 12 months of age. Why not give your pup a run in a safe, controlled environment? It's ideal for learning and for having fun. 

Target Field Sports

Target Field Sports are traditionally associated with hunting and pest control, although nowadays, the sports are mostly done for fun.
  • The Starshot unit comes in at an impressive forty feet high and eighty feet wide. It’s great fun for both experienced and novice clay shooters who want to have a go. Spectators are drawn to the competitors’ attempts to shoot one clay in each numbered section followed by a simultaneous pair at the end. It really attracts quite a crowd! 
  • Field Archery is a modern version of an ancient art - meeting somewhere between golf and darts!
  • ACA is a Coaching and Entertainment group and offers show visitors the chance to use superbly built compound bows with sights, stabilisers and carbon fibre arrows. Targets include traditional circular faces, balloons and 3-D Field archery targets from Rinehart USA - including a realistic dinosaur. All bows are comfortable to draw and require no brute strength to enjoy accurate shooting fun. The stand is run by a fully qualified NFAS Coach who will be happy to offer advice and Field Archery Club access tips throughout the show.
  • Clay Pigeon Shooting is a thrilling experience, demanding calm concentration, a keen eye and quick reactions. Perfect your aim and shots and soon you will be notching up your 'kills'. Of course, these are not real birds and no one gets hurt, making it a great sport for all - young and old, men and women alike. Why not find out if you have what it takes on the 'Have a Go' stand and see if you can become a crack marksman in one of Britain's fastest growing sports.
  • Airgun target shooting (air gunning) is a popular sport and pastime, which is well regarded within country life and its pursuits. Living Heritage is hosting the Junior Airgun Training competitions at the Cheshire fair. Who knows, it may be time to become an ATEA junior hot shot? 

Angling

Angling is one of the most popular sports and pastimes. Its popularity has increased over the years and people of all ages and walks of life enjoy the many different types of fishing available in the UK today. Although most people fish purely for fun and relaxation, others take the sport more seriously and take part in competitions.

  • The Salmon and Trout Association is holding fly fishing demonstrations and competitions again this year at most fairs, along with their hugely popular 'Have a Go' sessions.
  • Fly Casting Demonstrations with Tim Gaunt-Baker and the Salmon and Trout Association. Tim has over 40 years Fly-fishing experience fishing around the world for a wide range of species. “I caught my first trout on a fly at the tender age of 5 and I have been hooked ever since” he says. Tim will be demonstrating all the fly-casting techniques with both single-handed and double handed rods, talking about fishing casts that catch fish, tying flies, and talking about the right equipment to use for the quarry you intend to fish for.
  • Peter Johnson appears at the fairs to demonstrate the age old art of split cane rod making. Fascinating to watch and enjoyable to listen to, Peter brings this skill to life. Whoever thought of splitting a piece of bamboo, planing and tapering the split pieces then rejoining them to make a multi-sided fishing rod?

Other Great Fair Show Features

  • Why not visit the walking stick stand, a firm favourite at all the Country Fairs. Beautifully crafted and painted walking sticks to admire and treasure. A true country skill, enjoyed by generations.
  • Tuck in to Food Glorious Food and buy a whole range of local and regional artisan products.  Producers and retailers are complemented by the Country Kitchen cookery demonstrations and the Piazza, a specialist catering area.
  • The Fine Food halls host a wide range of food and drink, cheeses, wines, real ales, meats, pastries, cakes, cider and Mediterranean fare from regional and national producers and retailers.
  • The Country Kitchen is a wonderfully rustic cookery demonstration area where chefs talk about and demonstrate how to cook a wide selection of dishes. Most are at the top of their profession and have been specially selected for their apparent skills.  Venison and alternative game are popular at shows, along with pasta, ice creams, yogurts, coffee and desserts plus everybody's favourite; Pimms!

Children’s Entertaiment

Children’s entertainment at the Country Fair is set to be better than ever! Special favourites can be found to enjoy, with bouncy castles, the chance to make a face and throw a pot, roundabouts and puppet shows and lots more besides. Exciting free Country sports sessions with experts from Falconry, fishing and dog handling introduces children to favourite country activities and gives them a skill for life. Children love the Make and Take stand where they can do a variety of activities, including throwing pots (without getting into trouble!) and making something to take home and treasure. From paint a pot and sand art to making a necklace!

Where it’s at!?

Gates open 10.00 am - close 6.00 pm

Admission Prices:

Adults £12.00
OAPs £11.00
Children £4.00  (under 5s go free)
Venue - Cheshire Showground, Cheshire County Showground, Tabley, Nr Knutsford, WA16 0HJ Top of page