Countryside Ring 2011

A regular demonstrator in our Main Ring for many years Ben will be showing off his fabulous raptors. These beautiful birds continue to hold the imagination. Ben has been working with and training birds of prey since the early 70's. He has a stand in the Living Working Countryside area of the Fair where you can have a close up look at his team. Ben also has a display in the Main Ring at 4.15pm.

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Nigel will be using his specialist Bavarian Mountain Hound to demonstrate its remarkable tracking abilities. A trail will be laid around the immediate environs of the Countryside Ring and you can watch the hound working.

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Martin is BASC South West Gun Dog trainer and has a wealth of experience. His training dates can be found on the BASC website. He has been training and working dogs for over 25 years and from small beginnings has become one of our local leading experts. He will show you the basics as well as more advanced training including the differences for different breeds of dogs. His dogs will be on hand to help Martin with his demonstrations.






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Master netsman and country character Brian returns after a successful first appearance last year. Once again he will be demonstrating the ancient art of long-netting. He learnt his craft from a renowned poacher - Obadiah Cole. Long Netting is one of the most traditional ways of controlling rabbits which cause untold damage to crops, trees and gardens. Considered by many to be the most efficient and humane ways of achieving this. Brian will use intrepid toy rabbits to put the nets to good use. Whether his terriers will co-operate is anyone's guess! Brian will be available throughout the day on his stand in the Living Working Countryside area to answer any questions and let you have a try at Long Netting yourself.

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Alan has worked in forestry for most of his adult life and has always had a passion for horses. After talking to other people involved in horse logging he decided it was the way forward for him. He had become self-employed and had woodland thinning contracts to fulfill. As he already had a horse it was logical to use it and bought some modern equipment rather than buying a tractor.

Whilst working at a trekking centre during the foot and mouth outbreak, when most woodland work ceased, he came across a cob who was getting very bored of trekking. As he was ideal for woodland work Alan trained him to harness and then to woodland work which he took to straight away and is now Alan's main working horse. He also has a mare who does some of the work but she has recently had some maternity leave having a foal at foot.

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Sponsor: The National Gamekeepers Organisation

Josh Theobold, Head Keeper at Lydney Park, Lord Bledisloe's Estate in Gloucestershire, has been kind enough to agree to demonstrate the preparation of a Deer carcass for the table. Apart from responsibility for a large game shoot, Josh also organises deer management as well as game and venison sales for the estate. The National Game Keepers Organisiation has a stand next to the Countryside Ring and they will have precision rifle builder Steve Bowers joining them there.

Sponsor: The National Union of Country Sports Workers

Ian Summerhill is a gunsmith and knife maker by trade and a passionate shot with a huge knowledge of guns and shooting. Today he presents A History of the Sporting Gun with his friend and colleague Den Kurle. Together they will take you through the history of this increasingly popular pursuit. Expect lots of noise as several guns from the past and present are fired.

This is a great opportunity for children to get in the ring and meet these charming animals and their owners. The goats wil have their carts already to go and you can ask the members of the harness Goat Society all about goat husbandry in this increasingly popular pursuit.

Judge: William Nunneley Esq.

This was a popular addition to Frampton Country Fair and is open to anyone who wants to have a go. There will be three calls initially to separate the men from the boys or girls! This will be followed by two more in the Final to determine the winner. All the calls will be demonstrated first by Nigel Bell, from The Wick and District Beagles, and after the competitors have finished our Judge will decide the winner. The first three calls are: Stopping the Hounds, Blowing the Hounds On and Gone Away. The final two calls are: Doubling The Horn and Going Home. We have three prizes on offer, all vouchers, which can be redeemed from The Hunting Stock Market - 1st - £50; 2nd - £30, 3rd - £20. Good Luck to all our entrants. Please feel free to bring your own Hunting Horn or we will have one for you to use.





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James Green, a stalwart member of BASC Southwest, has grown up in the countryside and will demonstrate woodpigeon decoying and wildfowling. He is an experienced wildfowler and will introduce you to the joys of winter wildfowling, decoys and calls. Expect a few bangs as guns are fired.

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With help from Wick & District Beagles & Chilmark & Clifton Foot Beagles, find out what the hounds actually do and everybody's role in trail hunting. The hounds will be in the ring for you to meet them.

Sponsored By: ACP Fuels (Gloucester) Ltd