Main Ring 2009

www.gonetoblazes.net/NLRC/Index.htm
The National Lurcher and Racing Club were formed in 1980 by a group of Lurcher enthusiasts from the West Midlands. The NL&RC has gone on to be the largest and arguably the most successful Lurcher Club in the world. Formed at a time when Lurchers had the reputation of being poachers' dogs and "untrained killers", the NL&RC takes great pride in the part that they have played in bringing Lurchers to be a recognised and respected member of the field sports fraternity.

Today Lurchers are often used for pest control, mostly on rabbits. They are a purpose-bred crossbreed and are very biddable, making excellent pets and are quite happy to live alongside other animals in the family home provided that they have been properly trained. To learn more, please see members of the Club after the Simulated Coursing, at the Lurcher Show Ring or the Lurcher Racing.

Sponsored By: The National Lurcher and Racing Club

The Pony Club is a charitable youth organisation with a membership of over 43,000 in the UK for all those young people who enjoy riding whether they have their own pony or not. Activities within the Pony Club cover all disciplines from Eventing, Show Jumping and Dressage, to Polo, Mounted Games, Tetrathalon and Hunting. More recently Polocrosse and Pony Racing have been added and this year Endurance Riding for members has been introduced. Joining the Pony Club offers fun, friendship, training, events and competitions.

The Berkeley Hunt branch of The Pony Club was established in 1930. Today they are delighted to present their Dressage Display Team of six riders who will perform the "CIC ** European Team Championship Dressage Test".

If you would like to obtain more information about the Pony Club please visit their stand today or use their website: www.pcuk.org/berkeley

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The parade of classic tractors and traction engines is a firm favourite with our visitors, many of which can remember similar machines in use on farms in our area. Those of you wanting a close-up view can see the static display of the tractors and engines near the Farmers' Market throughout the day. This year as a comparison we include the latest machinery from T H White Group who have a stand on the showground.

Sponsored By:

www.benlongfalconry.co.uk
This year Ben has trained a special hybrid falcon to fly up to 800ft to retrieve a lure from a purpose built balloon/kite. He is one of only a handful of people in the world who has been able to do this. WEATHER PERMITTING, Ben will demonstrate this beautiful bird's ability; this is a very rare opportunity to see such an incredible feat of flying. Ben Long has been flying raptors since the early 1970s, when he acquired a Kestrel as his first pupil. He has been professionally involved in the sport for more than 25 years, and has taught many people the art of falconry, as well as giving demonstrations and making equipment etc. Ben has a stand in our Living Working Countryside area with a wonderful collection of birds of prey on show.

Sponsored By:

www.welshaxemen.co.uk
This award winning team will demonstrate sculpture with chainsaws and the finished article will be presented to a lucky child in the audience. They will also simulate the felling of a tree and how it is cut up into lengths using only axes. The team are experts at the exciting event of chainsaw racing and today they will compete against each other. The spectacular finale of the event is the tree climb in which the axeman climbs a 12 foot pole using only an axe and three boards in order to cut away a log at the top.

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Teams from local hunts form a relay over a "figure-of-eight" course, with two teams competing against each other on the same course, but in different directions, meeting and crossing paths at, over or near the central hedge. Each team consists of two mounted members and two members negotiating the obstacles with a wheelbarrow. Great fun to watch!

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Despite the Government's ban on Hunting with Hounds, hunts throughout the country continue to keep within the law and meet regularly during the season to exercise their hounds and horses. We are very pleased to welcome the following packs:

Berkeley Foxhounds
Chilmark & Clifton Foot Beagles
Cotswold Vale Foxhounds
Devon & Somerset Staghounds
Leadon Vale Basset Hounds
Pentyrch Foxhounds
Three Counties Minkhounds
Wick & District Beagles

Sponsored By: Tree Management Tree Surgeons

Sponsors: Shawbury Vintners and Warres Port, with the assistance of the Larkhill Saddle Club, Druids Lodge Polo and Javelin Transport

In medieval times, mounted knights used both lance and sword in battle. They would have exercised their skill with these weapons in preparation for war or jousting. In the eighteenth century, during the times of the great Mogul Emperors, the Indian Cavalry used the lance to charge at elephants of the opposing forces, attempting to lance the sensitive feet of these great animals causing them to turn and stampede through their own forces. By the mid nineteenth century, cavalrymen of the British regiments stationed in India, including the land on the North West Frontier later to become Pakistan, indulged in the sport of wild pig-sticking with the spear. Back in camp, tent pegs would be driven into the ground for Skill at Arms practice for Tournaments.

The mounted troops also used lance and sword in surprise moonlit or dawn raids on enemy camps galloping amongst the tents, severing guy ropes with swords and drawing tent pegs from the ground with lances. This would collapse the tents and create confusion amongst the enemy.

The skillful art of Tent Pegging will be demonstrated by teams from the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, Countess of Mountbatten's Own Frontiersmen and Royal Logistic Corps. We hope there will also be an opportunity to watch representatives from Pakistan, with their spectacular flowing costumes and their zest for this traditional sport which is so important to their cultural past.


Sponsored By: Shawbury Vintners and Warres Port

www.ukskydiving.co.uk
www.silverstars.org.uk
Three people will jump to raise money for the Royal British Legion. Throughout the day you will be able to buy beer mats with the British Legion's logo on them for £1.00 each (or more if you wish). All you have to do is put your details on the back of the mat and it will be placed into the Main Ring just before the Parachutists jump. On landing each man will pick up the nearest mat to them and that person will win a prize! ALL the proceeds from the sale of the beer mats will be given to The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Formed in 1921, THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION is the UK's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served, or are currently serving, in the armed Forces, and their dependants. The Royal British Legion is probably best-known for its role as the nation's custodian of Remembrance and for the Poppy Appeal which is organised annually. Please support the work of THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL by taking part in the POPPY JUMP event at the show this afternoon.

Sponsored By: and

www.cotswoldcarthorse.org.uk
The Cotswold Cart Horse Society has been attending Frampton Country Fair for many years and is considered by many to be one of the highlights of the day. Prize-winners from the CCHS's Annual Show are displayed in the Main Ring and the Jim Wiggett Cup for the best entry from a CCHS member will be presented during the parade.

A very popular event to round off an action-packed day in the Main Ring. A series of heats leads to the grand final.

Sponsored By: ACP Fuels (Gloucester) Ltd