TEESDALE’S biggest agricultural show has been safeguarded after a farming family agreed to allow it to continue on home turf.
Eggleston Show, which attracts thousands of people and hundreds of competitors each September, was faced with some uncertainty after its spell at West Barnley Farm came to an end last year.
Now Peter and Susan Addison have agreed that it can be held at their Hayberries Farm within sight of the event’s namesake village. The couple, who farm on the edge of Eggleston between Mickleton and Romaldkirk, were approached by the show committee and said they were glad to offer their fields for the 2018 event. Mr Addison said: “We were asked and we just didn’t want to see the show stopped. It’s not Eggleston but it’s not far away.”
The couple, who run a sheep farm are regular contestants at the traditional show with their Dutch breed, Zwartbles, often scooping prizes for their animals.
Mr Addison joked: “I would rather be winning trophies than presenting trophies.”
Organisers are hopeful the new grounds off the B6277 will offer plenty of parking and ample space for horses, sheep and cattle classes.
Chairman Peter Stubbs said: “To get a good showfield is very rare now – it’s what makes a show.
“If you get a good site you are halfway there, so we are absolutely over the moon about getting as good a site as this one.
“The best thing is it’s local – we have got a good road with plenty of access off it.”
Recent decades have seen Eggleston Show move from its home every few years.
It was held at West Barnley Farm, in Eggleston, from 2012 until last year and at Streatlam Farm, near Barnard Castle, before then.
Organisers had been delighted that it had “come home” in 2012 and were keen to secure it for the area again after the owner of West
Barnley Farm decided it could no longer continue on his land.
With a new site secured at Hayberries, preparation is already underway for the 143rd show on the third Saturday in September.
The hunt has been on to find a new show secretary to replace Roy Oxby who stepped down after last year’s edition.
Alan Gent has stepped into the breach for the time being but he added that applicants would still be very much welcome to come aboard the committee.
Mr Stubbs was pleased the show would go ahead as he said restarting shows once they missed a year was very difficult.
The show committee has also been bolstered by the arrival of Michelle Clough as new horse secretary who’ll ease the workload of Freda Longstaff.
