Vintage Agricultural Show is to return by popular demand

Organisers had said the inaugural event last year at La Haye du Puits, Castel, which drew a large crowd, was intended to be a one-off.

‘But we had such good feedback from so many people and they said they wanted us to do it again,’ said Ron Le Cras, co-organiser with Jim Jamouneau and Rodney Dyke.

This year’s event will have a new venue in Les Paysans, St Peter’s. The site was the home of the West Show until 1984.

The West Show was first held there in 1948. From 1954 to 1958 it moved to its current site at L’Eree before reverting back to Les Paysans - the home of Longue Rocque

‘’We are really grateful for the support from the de Lisle family, who own the land, and the farming tenant, David Cowley, as without it, it would not be happening,’ said Mr Le Cras.

The main theme of the Vintage Agricultural Show will again be a working display of farming implements and methods from days gone by and two teams of shire horses will be doing ploughing demonstrations.

‘We are not in competition with any other show and this is a vintage agricultural one and not a country show,’ said Mr Le Cras. ‘We are trying to do something different.’

For this year the show is being broadened to include tractors and farm implements up to and including the mid 1960s.

The organisers said they were aware there was a lot of equipment in Guernsey that dated from that time.

Sheep racing will feature for the first time and the animal tent will be bigger than last year.

Three traction engines will be coming from the UK plus one from Jersey.

A reaper/binder will be used to harvest the eight vergees of winter barley that is currently growing on the site.

A fairground organ, a steam lorry, classic cars, military vehicles, a further display of static tractors, and children’s entertainment will be among the other attractions on offer.

The show will be taking place on the weekend of 20 and 21 July, opening at 11am on both days.

‘On the Saturday night we’ll have City Limits playing in the beer tent so we’ll go on until 11.45pm, but on the Sunday we’ll finish at 7pm,’ said Mr Le Cras.

The organising team is keen to attract sponsorship.

‘If anybody would like to come in with not a large amount of money and part sponsor a tent we will happily display a banner for them in return,’ said Mr Le Cras.

They would also like to hear from anyone who might be interested in volunteering their services for the weekend for a range of tasks that will need doing.

n Interested parties can contact Mr Le Cras on 07781 142599, Mr Jamouneau on 07781 434718, or Mr Dyke on 07781 163289