Game on for Driffield’s first fair

The inaugural event, next Saturday and Sunday, will play host to an exciting line-up of main ring entertainment ranging from birds of prey to gun dog demonstrations, lamb racing and stunt bike displays.

Around 7,000 visitors are expected to attend and there will be plenty for them to get involved in, including working gun dog tests, gun dog scurries, have-a-go clay pigeon shooting and a fun dog show.

Nicola Frankish, events manager at the showground, said: “It’s going to be a great, traditional day out for all the family.”

Visitors will also be able to handle owls, watch sheep dog demonstrations and have a go at archery.

There will also be a wide range of food, craft and game-related stalls to browse.

Organisers hope the event will escape the wet weather that blighted so many of the summer’s countryside events.

They included the Great Yorkshire Show, which had to be called off after torrential rain, as well as the Bingley, Sykehouse and North Yorkshire County Shows and the CLA Game Fair in Leicestershire. “So many events in the countryside have struggled because of the wet weather,” said Ms Frankish.

“It’s the one thing that seems to have dictated everything and it’s the one thing you can’t control.

“It’s a very risky game to be in and from an event manager’s point of view your heart just goes out to those organisers. But I think we’ve got to a point now where people are so fed up of the weather that people will just go out regardless, come rain or shine.”

She added: “We’re not going to let the weather beat us.”

The showground which hosted the 137th annual Driffield Show in July, has organised the fair as it expands its events programme.

Gates will open from 9am to 5pm and there is free parking at the showground.

Advance tickets cost £6 for adults, £5 for senior citizens and £2 for children, with family and weekend tickets also available.

They can be bought online at www.driffieldshowgroundevents.co.uk.

The showground will also host a farming conference on November 8 from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Speaking at the event will be Dr Liz Stockdale of Newcastle University; Ian Robertson, of the Glenside Group; Steve Townsend, of Crop Systems; Robert Plumb, of Soil Fertility Services Ltd; Philip Wright, of Wright Resolutions Ltd and Jeff Claydon, of Claydon Drills.

Delegate tickets cost £25 each and are also available from the website.