The 2022 show was blessed with good weather on both days, the sun shone, it was not too hot and didn’t rain…what more could one ask for?!
Normally the fields are still being combined during the show weekend, but this year’s harvest finished early, allowing more young (and older!) farmers to attend.
The run up to the show in the preceeding weeks saw an increasing amount of interest both from those wanting to exhibit a car, have a stand, enter their dog, a painting, a prize cabbage, flower arrangement, home made jam, wine, cake or similar. Nervous about the number of entries due to a difficult growing year, the organisers of the horticultural show needn’t have worried as there was pretty much a full marquee!
While on the whole we were able to accommodate most people, the limited spaces for the car show had filled up early on. The stands selling such a great variety of items were spread throughout the site, and again space was at a premium. The feeling among the stall holders was positive, and the fact that many asked if they could book for 2023 probably indicates that they did well.
Some people came each day, making use of the two day ticket, which gave access on both days or either.
The Manor gardens were opened up for the second year, which again proved a great success, with stalls, music and mummers plays taking place against the lovely background of the lake and trees. Among other offerings, teas and Pimms, cakes and ice cream ensured a quintessentially English summer atmosphere!
The focus on children and dogs provided much entertainment both in the arena and at the dog show. Many children and adults took part in the egg and spoon, sack and dog race, also the tug of war… old fashioned fun for all!
The Shire horses, bred by Peter Jackson from the village were much admired and his young great grand daughter stole the show as she rode around the arena. Peter sadly died just before the Show, but the display proved a fitting tribute to his life and work with these gentle beasts.
When not taking part in the arena events and dog show, many children took advantage of the bouncy castle, bungy trampoline and roundabout or had their faces painted by our two resident artists. One or two adults also ended up with decorated faces!
The animal marquee was crowded throughout both days and many thanks to Daisy Mays Farm in Stansted Mountfitchet, for bringing such a variety of animals. Tom Marsh also, who brought red poll cattle from The Hallingbury Herd, Dennis and Isobel Litjens and family, who manned the Alpaca stand.
Our vintage ploughing match has always attracted many entries and this year was no exception. The lack of rain this summer had made the ground very hard, with many deep cracks, as we saw on our lawns! It was touch and go whether the match could go ahead, even up to the week before the Show. Fortunately the rain came and allowed the ground to soften enough to be able get the ploughs in the soil. The subsequent site of so many tractors to-ing and fro-ing remains a classic memory of the Show!
We were again grateful firstly to Dunmow Fire Brigade for bringing their fire engine and secondly to Peter Sullivan for his vintage tender.
Riding a penny farthing along a tarmac road is hard enough, but round a grass field increases the wobbliness, but the experienced riders demonstrated how to do this safely and in style, much to the wonder of the spectators!
Thank you to William Farrugia for his excellent photography, also to Sally Freeman and Nicola French – you can see the full show gallery here
A big thank you to all our sponsors, to all the volunteers who helped before, during and after the Show, to Andy and Mel at Little Easton Manor, the landowners who let us use their fields, all those who exhibited, demonstrated and took part, Dunmow Young Farmers who ran the bar, SRC quarry for exhibiting and demonstrating two of their large yellow vehicles, Lodges Coaches, the two chaps from Uttlesford District Council who monitored the bins so well, the musicians, and a myriad of others who I hope will forgive us for not mentioning by name, but to whom our heartfelt thanks go out.
All the money raised by the Show goes to maintain the churches of the Five Parishes www.thefiveparishes.org.uk
There are number of other charities for whom the Show is also their main fund raiser of the year.
Finally, thank you to all who came this year, we hope you enjoyed it, if you weren’t able to, please do put next year’s dates in your diary:
