All the fun of the game fair

A RECORD turnout of more than 18,000 people enjoyed a sunny celebration of country life at the Westcountry Game Fair last weekend.

Organisers attribute the bumper crowd at the Bath and West Showground to a packed programme of family attractions and two days a fine spring weather. They also said the massive show of support reflects the popularity of country sports, traditional crafts and locally produced food.

Action from one of the stands at the ever-popular clay shoot. MM picture
A family and their assorted dogs make their way across the showground. Picture by Ian Sumner
Ready for the off at the lakeside gundog trials. Picture by Ian Sumner
Crowds gather around one of the indoor arenas. MM picture

A spokesman for the event said: "We were extremely lucky with the fantastic weather, and it was great to see that visitors were spending - many of our exhibiting companies even sold out.

"We are very grateful to all of the visitors who support the show year on year and were pleased to see many new faces at the event. It shows that countryside life is still going strong."

The fourteenth annual Westcountry Game Fair featured both indoor and outdoor arenas that hosted informative and entertaining demonstrations throughout Saturday and Sunday. Have-a-go attractions included shooting, archery, fishing and ferreting. The line-up also included falconry displays, gundog training and trials, food and craft halls, game cookery demonstrations, a smallholders' area, vintage tractors and machinery and countless trade stands.

"The Westcountry Game Fair is proof that countryside traditions are not only still going strong but the skills and knowledge of our countryside life are being passed down for future generations to continue enjoying all that rural life has to offer. The show's popularity was evident in both the increased volume of visitors and the vibrant atmosphere throughout the showground," the spokesman added.