Henley Show… High Spirits Despite Overcast Weather

Henley show goers’ spirits could not be dampened despite unfavorable weather on Saturday. Donning wellies and riding boots, people of all ages attended the event which had something for everybody it seemed. With sheep show,  gundog and falconry displays scheduled on a loop throughout the day, as well as the exhibition of the horticultural and agricultural entries on display in various tents and pens, there was plenty of entertainment. Beautiful vintage Rolls Royces could be seen in the classic cars section whilst similarly great and elegant beasts competed in the horse jumping events.

The Berkshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers were out in force, weaving and giving felt making demonstrations using local wool. Hants and Berks Ferret Club racing proved quite the crowd drawer, as member Sue Nichells explained that ferrets are ‘like kittens that never grow up’, and the zeal they demonstrated on the race course certainly backed her argument. Meanwhile, the steaks were high in the cattle competitions, as livestock were judged on their length and body depth. 16 year old Jenny Lewis of Newbury entered her cow Biddlesden  Olympic Gold into the Heffer under 18 months section, coming in at third place, and explained the pre-show preparation of the cow as washing, leading and getting her used to standing.

Chickens and ducks at the show almost managed to enter the realms of the exotic, as their headgear and elaborate tail feathers were rightly cooed over by onlookers. Similarly in the horticultural tent, their was an element of the enchanted as ginormous leaks and Cinderella worthy pumpkins could be seen among a sea of Victoria sponges, all competing with various degrees of success. Even the ubiquity of the kitsch home ware  stalls and overpriced ‘hearty’ food vans couldn’t taint a family day out like this.