Thousands expected at Northumberland County Show
May 23 2009 by Richard Fletcher, The Journal
FROM Berwick to Blyth and from Ashington to Allendale, people are getting ready for one of the highlights of the social calendar – the Northumberland County Show.
An estimated 26,000 people will descend on Tynedale Park, Corbridge, on Monday to enjoy the many events that will pick out this year’s show as something a bit different.
As always, there will be the traditional events with cows, sheep, horses, goats and guinea pigs being brought along in their hundreds to enter the judging classes. But there are also several highlight events during the day that are sure to draw in large crowds.
One of the headlining acts will be the Kangaroo Kid, who is performing at the Northumberland County Show as his first event on returning to the UK after a four-year absence. Real name Matt Coulter, he last year broke his own record by jumping 14 four-wheel drive vehicles and also set a new world record by jumping four moving vehicles. Show organiser Gaynor Shotton said: “We’re the first event he’s doing in the UK since being away. I’d heard he was good and as soon as I heard he was available I booked him.”
It won’t all be standing and watching, however. Out of the 26,000 crowd, 1,000 will be called upon to help break the world record for the most number of legs run through by a dog.
On the agricultural side, a fully-working milk parlour will show people the process from cow to glass, sponsored by Natural England. There have also been bumper numbers for the animal judging, which starts at 8am, and shearers have come from as far away as the Scottish town of Oban to take part.
Mrs Shotton acknowledged that, being the only paid organiser, the show could not take place without the hard work of an army of volunteers, including chairman Thomas Harrison and president Anthony Crozier.
She said: “We thought, with the economic downturn, that we’d have a problem with the trade stands but we’ve had waiting lists. What people don’t realise is that it’s all set up by volunteers – without them it wouldn’t happen.”
