At Living Heritage Game and Country Shows you will find lots to see and lots to do. With three show arena with country sports and pursuits to keep you entertained all day. The Andy Singleton Arena is the largest show arena with fast and furious displays. The Countryside Arena has specialist displays and demonstrations such as falconry, fishing and ferreting. Both these arenas have selected country exhibitors and trade stands. The dedicated Dog Arena is situated in the “World of Dogs” section of the show. Everything for the dog lover from for you and your pet to watch and participate.
Horseboarding UK
Our horse boarders will be on their fifth heat of the 2019 championships. An exciting extreme sport, where a boarder is pulled at speeds of up to 31mph around a series of obstacles by a galloping horse. Sounds crazy? It may be – but it’s also incredibly skillful and great fun to watch. We have both Elite and Intermediate heats in the Andy Singleton Arena (Novice in the Countryside Arena) Expect thrills and spills and plenty of flying mud!
Where: Andy Singleton Arena, Countryside Arena
Scurry Trials and Driving
In their fifth heats of the British Championships; these teams of ponies with their skilled drivers work their way around an arena full of obstacles in the fastest possible time.
Where: Andy Singleton Arena
Chase The Bunny
A firm Living Heritage Favourite! If your dog loves to chase this could be their moment! Dogs are matched to general size and speed and race to chase the lure around the arena. Great fun to both take part in and to watch – especially when the dogs run in completely the opposite direction, or find a more interesting smell. Don’t worry: your dog won’t be the first and certainly won’t be the last!
Where: Dog Arena
Falconry
Watch these stunning birds of prey as they swoop and soar above the above your heads. Handled by some of the UK’s top falconers, under the leadership of Ben Long Falconry, you will learn how they are flown, used in sport, worked with dogs and you will enjoy out pageant of riders, birds and dogs, all in Tudor costume, and demonstrating falconry on horseback – just as it used to be done.
Again, you are welcome to meet the birds afterwards in the designated Falconry Marquee.
Where: Andy Singleton Arena, Countryside Arena
Gundogs and Falconry Display
Don’t miss the incredibly synergy of these gun dogs and birds of prey working together. Although the dog is a natural predator to the bird, with Paul Makepeace handling the dogs, and Ben Long handling the birds they work together as dogs and birds did in Tudor times.
Where: Andy Singleton Arena, Countryside Arena
Walk Up Shoot
Have you ever wondered exactly what happens on a shoot? This is your chance to find out. With their team of gun dogs in various stages of training, Paul Makepeace of Trochery Gundogs, and Aubrey Ladyman will be taking us through how the dogs are used at every stage, from beating with spaniels, flushing the birds out, through to pointing and retrieval in a variety of tricky situations. They will also be demonstrating how gun dogs – both Spaniels and Retrievers – are trained.
Where: Andy Singleton Arena, Countryside Arena, Dog Arena
Shire Horse Logging
An Interesting arena demonstration illustrating how timber was handled prior to the mechanised systems of work that are standard today. Indeed Shire Horses are still used today where terrain or ground conditions are to extreme to allow motorised access.
The displays are given by Tom & Jo Henfrey and son, the home of “Park Percherons”, Percherons are one of the oldest draft horses in the world originating in western France.
Tom & Jo Henfrey have been British Heavy Horse Driven Champions on many occasions with our pair and team . Having won numerous county shows over the last 40 years , and enjoy giving all kinds of demonstrations.
Where: Countryside Arena
Security Dog Display
In action the Steel City IGP Display Team. A Security Dog Display Team showing the technical skills and tatics used by both the dog and his owner.
Where: Countryside Arena, Dog Arena
Angling Demonstration
We may be lacking in water in the Countryside Arena, but our angling experts Peter Johnson and Barry Grantham will be welcoming young volunteers into the arena to learn about fly casting in this informative demonstration.
If this grabs your interest, head over to our angling marquee where you can book your own individual tuition in the beautiful Burghley House Lake, or ask any questions of our angling experts from Trout and Salmon Conservation UK or the Angling Trust.
Where: Andy Singleton Arena, Countryside Arena
On the Warren with Simon Whitehead
As ferreting is normally carried out in unsociable surroundings and often in solitude, Simon makes full use of the arena demonstration and static display to explain and illustrate why ferreting is fast becoming a more sought-after pastime in the countryside and towns of the UK.
The ferreter is the epitome of the organic and environmentally friendly hunter/gatherer and as such continues to educate about the merits of rabbit as a first class organic, free range meat for the table. A raconteur of some repute, Simon can display, demonstrate and educate his traditional craft that has not only survived the growth in technology but prospered, illustrating why the Pakefield Ferrets motto of “ensuring the tradition of ferreting IS continued for further generations” is long remembered after the final curtain.
Simon will also be in the Country Kitchen to illustrate the merits of rabbits as a sustainable wild food. From harvesting to field dressing, breaking them down to cooking a simple dish, Simon will illustrate why the rabbit is now becoming a much sought-after addition to our diets. Due to the demand for cementing the provenance of his rabbits, Simon is now taking people and groups out to show them the full circle. Harvesting rabbits in an organic manner, breaking them down and cooking them just metres from where they were harvested.
Where: Countryside Arena, Country Kitchen