Hampshire Country Sports Day to go ahead 13th September at Bereleigh Estate

Those who love the countryside will be delighted to hear that the much loved Hampshire Country Sports Day, will be going ahead at Bereleigh Estate, East Meon, near Petersfield, on Sunday 13th September. The event, run in aid of the Countryside Alliance, will have a full programme of events, held in the large open spaces in the beautiful grounds at Bereleigh Estate where visitors can enjoy the attractions in the open air, with plenty of room for social distancing.

With so many events cancelled this summer, the show organisers have found a way to comply with government guidelines while running this popular show. The result will be a show on a socially distanced scale but with all the atmosphere and fun for which the show is renowned. Tickets will be sold online in advance from the show website. All visitors will be asked to follow the latest social distancing government guidelines so everyone can enjoy their visit. There will be a one-way system in place at the event and numbers will be monitored in each area of the showground with the organisers managing any queues to ensure social distancing is maintained. Hand sanitizers will be available at the show ground and all visitors will be asked to maintain their own personal hand hygiene to protect everyone. Face masks must be worn when entering indoor trade stands.

Main arena attractions include gun dog training demos, falconry from Xtreme Falconry, a fishing demo by Gilly Bate & Beaky Allesch–Taylor and talks by Chris Green the Countryman on wildfowling and the history of the shotgun. There will also be the annual inter-hunt relay heats and final which are always crowd pleasers, as rival teams race to build fences and then jump them on foot and on horseback as they compete for the Russell Brown Memorial Trophy.

The dog shows are always hugely popular with Hampshire Country Sports Day visitors. The terrier and lurcher show includes simulated coursing and straight racing, while the family dog show has 12 classes to enter including best puppy, dog with the waggiest tail, best child handler (£2 entry per class). The much-loved Sealyham Terriers will also be there to entertain all.

In other areas of the show there will be a clay shooting competition running from 9.30am to 3.30pm and there will also be a hound display and parade. There will also be a variety of stalls offering the best in Hampshire countryside gifts, clothing, arts and crafts, country sports equipment and food and drink.

Show Chairman Bill Tyrwhitt-Drake said: 'We're so pleased that we're able to go ahead with this year's show and we've had a fabulous response from companies wanting to bring their stalls to the show. We've been working hard behind the scenes to make sure that our show is as safe as possible, while following the latest government guidelines, with a number of measures in place to ensure visitors are kept as safe as possible. We look forward to welcoming anyone who wants a good day out in beautiful countryside, enjoying the best that Hampshire has to offer.'

Gates open at 9.30am and the main ring events start at 10 am, with the main programme running until 17.30. Entry costs: £13 for adults; under 14s go free. Visit the show website or call 01380 831 68 or 07974 141 933 for more info.