02/08/10…Thousands flock to Thame Show

THOUSANDS of people flocked to Thame Show on Saturday, the first time in its 123 year history, that it has been held on a weekend.

The warm weather and the new diary slot moved from september, meant that more families could attend and the extra attractions, like the human circus, this year aimed at them, proved a great crowd puller.

As well as the traditional country show favourites such as the livestock parades and showjumping, the main ring included a spectacular gun carriage race by girls and boys from The Volunteer Cadet Corps, from the Portsmouth naval bases of Dolphin, Sultan, Collingwood, Blockhouse and the Royal Marines. The equipment that the cadets used is the original 7lb muzzle loading field guns used in the late nineteenth century at the Battle of Ladysmith.

A fascinating display of sheepdog herding of ducks and cockerills caused much amusement and one of the highlights for children was the opportunity to meet the packs of hunting dogs after they had been put through their paces by the Master of the Hounds.

Entries for Domestic categories were well down, according to Chief Steward and Show Director, David Bretherton, though the reasons were probably, he thinks, because of the new categories of flowers and vegetable suitable for harvesting in July, rather than September, that entrants will need to get used to.

After meeting the Mayor or Thame, Adam Buckland and his wife Sinead, The Honoury President of the Show, Marie Jean Barnett, who lives at Towersey Manor, presented the Silverware to deserving winners such as The Countryman and the Countrywoman of The Year.

Whether the experiment to hold the show in July will become permanent, will no doubt be discussed by the Thame show committee at their next meeting, but going by the crowds and comments made by the visitors, it looks as though the Oxfordshire and Thame Show will become a permanent fixture in the Summer diary.