AS one of Tynedale's popular village occasions gets ready to delight visitors once again, we looked back at the show through the years.
The 162nd Slaley Show will take place on Saturday, August 10 and involve various activities, family-friendly fun and competitive classes in produce, livestock and craftsmanship.
This year a gun dog scurry, a laser clay activity, a craft tent, Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling, beekeeping, vintage tractors and vehicles as well as steamrollers, lacemakers, weaving spinners and dyers will add to the attraction.
READ MORE: Crowds flock to Slaley Show
The show has always been about tradition and all-day entertainment and has been a highlight of the Tynedale agricultural show season for hundreds of years, bringing huge crowds to Northumberland.
The show has been cancelled 16 times over the years due to weather, war and disease, including the coronavirus outbreak, two foot and mouth outbreaks and two world wars.
Historical records show it started in 1845 as the Slaley and Hexhamshire Floral and Horticultural Society Show, where it began exhibiting only flowers, vegetables, bread and eggs with animals restricted to the best-dressed chickens, according to the official Slaley Show website.
It moved to its present location at Townhead Field in 1916.
Over the years, it has gradually introduced classes for sheep, calves, poultry, goats and alpacas whilst the Industrial Section, encompassing everything from baking to photography, knitting to stick dressing, has attracted more than 1,000 entries over the past several years.
Following the Covid pandemic in 2022, the show returned with a bang. Everything from vintage vehicles, a beagle parade, mounted fancy dress, equestrian events and more took place.
The headline main ring attraction this year is Gui Godts, known as The Belgian Bouncing Man, who describes himself as a ‘trick’ or ‘stunt’ rider who will be bringing up to five horses who regularly perform on film, TV productions, displays and events, alongside partner Emily Mitchell and a Red Fox Labrador called Cuppy.
The show welcomed more than 2,000 visitors last year, partly due to a new parking system with improved access in an adjacent field.
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