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Bakewell Show draws the crowds
The colour and rhythm of Zambian dancers contrasted sharply with the splendour of traditional heavy horse turnouts when the gates opened on the 178th Bakewell Show this week.
Fine weather and an action-packed programme brought out the crowds in their thousands and car parks filled up quickly as show-goers got off to an early start.
Organisers were thrilled with the good turn-out.
"The crowds have come early – whether to beat the traffic or the showers," said show manager Janet Bailey.
"Times may be hard, but Bakewell Show seems to have benefited from the credit crunch as people look for good value days out.
"We've had a phenomenal response from traders too. We've had so many people applying for stands that we've been turning them away for weeks now. The economic downturn seems to be working in our favour."
VIP guests included the Duchess of Devonshire, who was judging the private driving competition, and cousins Alfie Rhodes (5), and Joe Greaves (12), both of Chatsworth, who were cheese judges for the day.
Visitors had plenty to see and do over the two-day event on Wednesday and Thursday.
Centre ring attractions included the Solent Eagles junior motorbike display team and Titan the giant robot.
Elsewhere in the showground, the Village Green had been expanded with exhibits including dog hair spinning, rope making and balloon sculpting as well as the usual ferrets, owls and birds of prey.
New this year was a Heavy Horse Village, where visitors could watch shire horses being prepared for showing.
Specialist food producers also had a new home, in the Agricultural Centre – moving over to make way for a new Farming, Food and Fun area. This featured attractions such as the Young Farmers' animal nursery, a dairy roadshow, cheese and meat competitions, and the popular sheep shearing show.
For the first time this year, some classes took place on the Tuesday. Horse of the Year Show qualifiers for hunters, riding horses and cobs drew early crowds despite the rain. But organisers were relieved when the skies cleared overnight in time for the official opening on Wednesday.
Other attractions included a 15-minute production of Oliver! by the Storybag Theatre Company, displays by the Barlow Hounds and Bakewell Band, and the daily grand parade of winners.
Picture parade from the show
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Weather for Chesterfield
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
