Press Releases

The Wales & Border Counties Game & Country Fair…

“Fantastic Fun For All The Family!’

The Glanusk Park and Estate (in the private ownership of the Legge-Bourke family) in the beautiful countryside of the Usk Valley, Crickhowell, South Wales is the venue for the ultimate showcase and entertainment event of its kind in Wales and the Border counties...the 2010 Wales & Border Counties Game & Country Fair, being held on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th June.
It is South Wales Favourite Countryside Event!

The two-day family-fun weekend will showcase some superb entertainment events and is home to a popular and prestigious Country Fair. The fair highlights a highly-entertaining range of country leisure pursuits, and features continuous arena events such as displays of falcons and hounds. There are also British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) gundog, gun safety demonstrations, and coaching, Fly-casting demonstrations, and a mini countryside arena, which gives people an opportunity to talk to experts and get hands-on experience in many aspects of country leisure pursuits.

New for 2010...

‘The Man Who Flies with Eagles’…
Jonathan Marshall has been featured on many TV wildlife programmes and has been responsible for some fantastic camera work when the flight of birds of prey has been captured in stunning detail. Many viewers have seen Jonathan fly his hang glider over the UK countryside accompanied by his Golden Eagle! Eagles, Hawks and Falcons. At Glanusk Park visitors will be able to see a hawk stoop from over 3000ft as it is released from an aircraft flying overhead!  There will also be plenty of audience participation. Eagles pass within inches of the crowd and Falcons dive at incredible speeds. One of the highlights is a Peregrine falcon who is trained to fly through Jonathan’s legs, reaching speeds of over 100mph!!! Jonathan will also be flying one of his falcons alongside one of his Arab horses during his arena display and this is a spectacle that is guaranteed to be a real highlight. Delighted crowds will be able to enjoy a top falconry flying demonstration and get to meet the birds up close.

The two-day event includes a major exhibition by BASC the national representative body for sporting shooting. They play a prominent role with a 100-ft marquee showing all aspects of their objectives (To promote and protect sporting and shooting and the well-being of the countryside throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.  Representing their members' interests by providing a voice for sporting shooting which includes wildfowling, game, and rough shooting, deer stalking, target shooting and air gunning, pigeon shooting and pest control, gun dogs, promoting practical habitat conservation, training and the setting of standards and undertaking appropriate research.) and including for example game rearing, and conservation. Indeed everything from antique guns to pheasant rearing and much more.       

There are also major exhibitions by national countryside organisations (such as primarily BASC and also the Welsh Hawking Club, and the Salmon & Trout Association for example). The event is a unique mix of working demonstrations and informative features including a Shooting School, FREE Fly Casting Tuition with Derek Turner (AAPGAI), and stick dressing.

One of the delights of the Country Fair are the fun “Have-A-Go!” events where anyone can literally have a go at archery, airgunning, muzzle loaders, dog agility, Novelty Dog Show, a Terriers & Lurchers Show (Sunday) and Ferret Shows (Sunday). For shooting enthusiasts there is a Sporting Clay Shoot, (Trophy Pool). Celebrating all aspects of country life the County Fair offers a unique mix of arena entertainment. To complete the family-fun weekend there are helicopter flights, an Antique and Collectors Fair, a Craft Fair, and children’s Quad Bikes, Bouncy Castle and amusements.       

A spokesman for the organisers said: - “The event will premier the very best of  Wales and the Border Counties and feature a variety of attractive and entertaining demonstrations in the main arena. The Dog Agility and Novelty Dog Show also promises to be a popular event. The weekend offers the ideal opportunity for a get-together by country-minded people to enjoy the rural environment in a relaxed atmosphere.  It’s a good social event for friends and family, and a special occasion in the country- pursuits calendar”.

With over 150 top-quality Trade Stands there is plenty to see.  Additional information on tickets, parking and show day facilities is available from the event websites: www.countryfairs.info  and www.basc.org.uk or by telephoning (01588) 672708, or BASC (01686) 688861.  * No need to book tickets in advance just arrive on the day! 

For press information call the Show Office on 01588 672708.
Images available on request from 01743 359312.