It's showtime

At the end of August you can hardly miss the signs for local shows happening around our area. Almost every village holds some sort of local event, all based around a classic template of classes for sheep, produce, handicrafts, and some sort of entertainment in a "main ring"
They're always a bit of good fun to go around, and usually we try and enter things in our local show but this year time got away from me and I didn't manage to rustle together any entries, must try harder for next year. 

I did however manage to pop in to one of the other shows.

The classes at our local shows are eclectic, and varied... 
Best Silage, and best sod of meadow in particular always make me smile. 

I'm also rather partial to the tallest nettle competition.

And who can resist the charms of the oddest shaped vegetable class.

Somehow, these Dahlias have survived the ravages of a truly dreadful summer, wet and wind have left most of our flower flattened.

The children's classes have a huge number of entries, and you can be judged on everything from decorated cupcakes, to the way you write an address on an envelope.

Add in the most catastrophic falconry displays I've ever seen, and you have a cracking afternoon out. Three falcons, none of whom did what they were meant to do. One disappeared in to the trees on one side of the show ground, the other did one circuit and found a tree in the opposite direction to the first missing bird. The final bird ran around the arena stubbornly refusing to fly after the lure, and when it finally did take flight made it as far as the roof of the marquee.