New Forest Show shines on year’s hottest day and action steps up as storm threat fades

ENJOY today’s sunshine and keep loving “one of the best country shows in England” was the call from organisers of the New Forest Show this morning (Wednesday) as earlier threats of thunderstorms receded.

It’s a full day of fun and serious equestrian competition with some cloud bringing slightly cooler weather than Tuesday’s blistering 32C on the hottest day of the year.

That was too hot for animals’ comfort and welfare, and the opening day’s showring grand parade was scrapped as the thousands of spectators sought shade wherever they could and queued for ice creams and refreshments.

Changing weather patterns saw the Met Office yellow warning of thunderstorms from the early hours of Thursday’s final day of action change to another sunny day up to 28C with only a 50% chance of a wet spell in the afternoon.

And the show’s new president for the year, Hampshire deputy lieutenant and Ringwood farm director Hallam Mills, was full of enthusiasm for the full event to continue unhindered.

He said: “It is rated one of the best shows in England, if not the best – it’s a real Forest show with history and something for everyone and really needs more than one day to appreciate all it has to offer as it educates and delights.

“It is a great day out for the family for not very much money,” added the former verderer who is president of Hampshire Country Landowners Association, and director of the mixed dairy/arable/forestry commercial farm at Bisterne owned by his family since 1792.

Mr Mills had toured a third of the show in the morning, seeing antiques, crafts, countryside and blacksmiths stalls and displays, the heavy horses’ musical drive parading with glistening brasses and the high-flying somersaulting motorcycle stunt riders of the Bolddog FMX display team.

He said it was amazing how far some of the entrants had travelled including one heavy horse entry that had come from Perth in Scotland while another was off to compete in Canada soon after the Forest show was over.

Crowd participation keeping spectators amused included a tractor-pulling contest, but for much of the day all eyes were on the equestrian events involving more than 2,000 horses and riders including qualifiers for the Horse of the Year Show.

Today the equestrian interest steps up a notch with local riders battling it out over the jumps in the four show rings, ridden New Forest pony classes, leading classes, Horse of the Year Show qualifying including private driving, the hounds parade, tug of war and – weather permitting – that Grand Parade cancelled on Tuesday for the sake of the animals.

For more pictures and to buy images visit photos.iliffemedia.co.uk/p835627090