The Kent County Show 2015 will boast more than 150 different activities, workshops, displays and competitions on each of the three Show days.
Lucy Hegarty, Show Manager, said, “The Show itinerary has now been finalised and visitors will have a huge number of programmed items to choose from. Not to be missed on Friday is RAF Aerobatic Display Team, The Red Arrows. We are absolutely delighted to have this world-famous spectacle. The Squadron will be flying over the Showground at 2pm”.
Every area of the Show has something to watch, learn or take part in. The equine area has a full schedule of competitions starting at 7.30am and running through until early evening.
The Kent Showground has three dedicated Equine Rings, where the large number of horse and pony competitors will compete to win rosettes, trophies or to qualify for the national Horse of the Year Show. New to the area is the Heavy Horse Village where the Shire, Working and Metropolitan Police horses with be on view and stabled.
Not to be missed in the Equine Area is the Blacksmiths Forge with shoeing displays and competitions. The raised grandstand seating ensures that visitors are able to see this traditional craft first-hand.
The Astor Ring is the main display arena and will host exciting displays, show jumping and the Grand Parade of Livestock. The ring programme starts on Friday at 8.30am with the popular Working Hunter classes. This is followed by the Parade of Coakham Bloodhounds and then the first of the show jumping competitions.
On all three Show days the Biggin Hill Heritage Spitfire will be flying over the Showground, as well as the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch Activity Ride and The Grand Parade of Livestock taking centre stage in the Astor Ring. On Saturday and Sunday the Stow Caledonian Pipe Band will be performing as well as playing for the Closing Ceremony on Sunday evening.
The new Members Area will sit between the Main Astor Ring and the Countryside Ring giving Kent County Agricultural Society Members prime access and perfect viewing platforms to each ring.
Kevin Attwood, Chairman, said “The new Maidstone Exhibition Hall is a wonderful addition to the Kent Showground and provides first-class facilities for our Members. This extensive area has exclusive catering, restroom facilities and space for our Members to fully enjoy their experience at the Kent County Show.”
The Countryside Area is popular with visitors who take the opportunity to see traditional displays such as falconry, working dogs, terrier racing, dog and duck display and a special display by HM Prison Services. Returning for a second year is the Husqvarna UK Pole Climbing Championships. This amazing display saw big crowds watching both the heats and finals each day in 2014. The area also boasts the entertaining and highly amusing Sheep Show which has delighted visitors to the Kent County Show for a number of years. Also back by popular demand is the ferret racing.
Lucy Hegarty, Show Manager, confirmed, “The Kent County Show has listened carefully to our visitors and now has more entertainment, displays and activities to make it a real value for money day out. We try very hard to give our visitors a unique experience and returning visitors find something new to watch each year, as well as returning to see their favourite displays.”
The Kent County Show also has its wonderful woodland area, which houses a full range of displays and activities. Hosted within Murrain Wood, there will be wood carving demonstrations, working horses, a climbing wall, rural crafts and a unique opportunity for visitors to learn woodland survival skills. Next to the Woodland Area is the Kent Beekeepers Association. Beekeeping demonstrations take place throughout the Show, with experts on hand to explain the habits and benefits that these creatures bring to the countryside and their role in pollination and food production. The new Horticultural Marquee hosts Gardening Questiontime Roadshow, flower workshops and expert demonstrations.
The ever popular Heritage Ring has a full agenda with different vehicles being displayed in the ring throughout the day. Once a day, these magnificent vintage vehicles make the journey through the Show to parade in the Astor Ring, giving visitors a nostalgic reminder of days gone by. The livestock competitions start at 8.30am each morning and visitors can watch the cattle, sheep and goats being judged. The experienced commentators explaining what the judges are looking for and what each of the breed characteristics are, it is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to find out more about their favourite farm-yard animals.
Kent Young Farmers have a packed schedule of competitions where young people, ranging from 10 to 26 years old, show their livestock with many coming from schools around the county. This area also includes the wonderful Fur and Feather Marquee and Kent Poultry Club marquee where visitors can walk through the area and see chickens, ducks and rabbits. Why Farming Matters in Kent display will have a number of cookery demonstrations throughout the Show in the Cookery Theatre. Local chefs will be sharing tips about local produce and seasonality. In addition the whole Agricultural Area will be hosting shearing displays and Bob Hoggs Lamb National.
Back by popular demand is Titan the Robot who will be making appearances at the Main Entrance and outside the Maidstone Exhibition Hall. New this year will be free donkey rides, the Mole Show and Circus Whizz who will be running a number of workshops. Fun for the all the family, visitors can learn how to juggle balls, spin plates or balance on pedal-gos and stilts.
A timetable with locations are available to download from the Kent County Show website. The Kent County Show site also has a ‘Plan Your Day’, which is an invaluable tool for visitors who are able to see the full list of activities day by day.
