The Littleton & Harestock Show on Saturday September 2nd will be long remembered as the first show with rain for thirty years. The forecast on Saturday morning looked like a disaster, and plenty of people got wet setting up stalls and sideshows, but a benevolent gap in the weather hove into view about midday and lasted until mid-afternoon, thus persuading many visitors to attend. Although the attendance was down on last year’s record figures, the finances will be on the right side of the line.
The Show “season” began in fine summer weather on Thursday with the ever-popular Littleton Children’s Pet Show. Entries totalled 91, including 31 dogs. The best Dog in Show was Maisie, a Jack Russell terrier owned by Georgina, while the non-canine Best in Show was a Corn Snake, named Reggie and owned by Cameron Dadkhah.
Dawn on Saturday found the great white marquee and a fleet of gazeboes still securely anchored on the Recreation Ground, defying the gusts of rain and gale; soon hopeful competitors were bringing their flowers and cakes, tapestries and vegetables, art and jam, the while eying up the competition. Sure enough, visitors started thronging in to the Recreation Ground soon after midday to try their hand at numerous side-shows and purchase bargains from the stalls and the remarkable Craft Tent, before venturing into the Show Marquee to marvel at the quality and comment on the individual winners. Before long the W.I. teas were attracting crowds of customers, who found that the traditional quality fare was up to the usual high standard.
Meanwhile the model tanks of Mark 1 Tanks from Easton were exercising in the Arena, followed by the skills of the Lowland Search Dogs. Further excitement was provided by the gales demolishing the gazeboes of both the Bookstall and the Army Medical Services Band (V)*. There was, too, entertainment at the Winchester Model Railway and the Cookery Demonstrations by the Harestock Lodge Hotel.
While the profit will be reduced this year, it is hoped that a donation can be sent to this year’s charity, SNAPS (Special Needs Activities and Play Schemes).
The “season” was rounded off by an evening Barn Dance, run by Weeke PSA, and the Show Service on Sunday morning, run by Churches Together in North Winchester, by which time normal clement weather services had been resumed.
*( by kind permission of the Commander HQ 2nd Medical Brigade)
Michael Lupton
View pictures of the show and get more details on the show website:
(http://www.lhshow.co.uk/gallery/2006/)