Leicester County moves to harder ground

The two-day Leicester County Show moves to a new venue for 2006, after adverse weather conditions have caused difficulties for the past two years.

The show — which this year runs from 30 April-1 May — will now be held on a 75-acre site at Melton Mowbray Airfield, which offers increased space, hard standing for vehicles and overnight stabling.

“I’m enthusiastic about the move, and I think competitors are, too,” said show administrator Andrew Hardy-Smith. “The number of entries that have come in is already significantly higher than at the same time last year. People who haven’t entered the show for the past year or two are now coming back.”

The move to hard standing should avoid access problems encountered in previous years. Despite the addition of temporary tracking in 2005, every horsebox still had to be towed on and off the site.

The new venue means there is room for an extra ring, and the size of the other rings and collecting areas will be increased.

Mr Hardy-Smith added: “The new site is in a more agricultural area, where there is a lot of horses and hunting. The showground itself is on old pasture and it seems ideal.”

Tim and Christie Fairburn, who won the supreme hunter championship and working hunter at last year’s show, are pleased about the impending move.

“We did have second thoughts about entering last year because of the ground,” said Christie. “But because it’s moved for this year, we’re planning to go again. It’s always a good show.”

Entries close on 17 March. For more information (tel: 01509 646786) or visit: www.leicestershireshow.co.uk