Hurst Show

This year’s Hurst Show and Country Fayre was a real scorcher with top temperatures as well as top entertainment and stalls.

Following last year’s Guinness World Records (GWR) hobbyhorse record attempt, the show, over 40 years old, staged a local records rebellion on June 24th and 25th.

There was a large turnout of hobbyhorse fans for last year’s attempt, but GWR refused to recognise it. So this year the show rebelled against that decision by staging its own record-making events, sponsored, fittingly, by Rebellion Beer of Marlow.

The challenges included hobbyhorse jumping and scoring football penalties. You could hook plastic ducks and guess the identity of a crushed car. You could also vote for your favourite classic vehicle, name a cuddly dog soft toy, post a selfie with a committee member, and estimate the number of bottle caps in a jar at the bar with prizes for each competition.

By collecting stamps for the attempts children could claim a small prize and adults were entered into a prize draw to win a Rebellion Beer membership and a brewery tour.

All the usual Hurst Show favourite attractions were back with arena events including hobbyhorse jumping and a fun dog show, children’s activities and bouncy castle, craft stalls, classic vehicle show, live music, a tea and cake tent, bar and BBQ.

The Hurst Show is a very special non-commercial event, with all profits raised going to local causes including Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, Just Around the Corner (JAC), and Berkshire Search & Rescue Dogs, as well as Hurst organisations such as St Nicholas Primary School, PreSchool, St. Nicholas Church, 1st Hurst Air Scouts, and Hurst Guides.

Helen Duncombe and Elaine Timmins were manning the Alexander Devine Hospice stand. Elaine said: “We have had a great turnout and everyone locally is very supportive of us as we are very visible in the village so they make a beeline for our stall.”

Hurst Bowling Club were also in at- tendance, trying the raise funds for the club. After a storm destroyed their toilet block last year it has been rebuilt and Linda Bowes said far from making the rest of the building look tired, the new block is making it look ‘exhausted’.

She added that the club is over 100 years old with its youngest member aged 11 and its oldest in their 80s –and that they would welcome new members.

The My Wokingham team also visited Carlo Crescenzo at the Artisan Loaf Maker stand who are based in Winnersh and purchased some delicious olive sourdough for lunch.

Vikki Randles, head of the marketing team, said they were delighted with the weekend. “We weren’t sure how the hot weather would affect numbers, but it meant there was a steady stream of visitors all day and it felt very relaxed.”

The event changed locations three years ago, meaning it extends across three sites in the village but feedback from visitors has been very positive. “We have to get roads closed and marshall the sites to make everything safe but it makes for a really nice feeling throughout the village.”

This means a lot of work for organisers, and she said they were only just starting to feel human again by about Wednesday. “We start planning in January and it is a lot of work for the core committee of about 20 people, but we could not do it without our extra volunteers so a big thank you goes out to everyone involved.”

The show has been running now for more than 40 years and Vikki added: “We try to make it non-commercial so everyone can just have fun and raise money for our chosen charities. It really is all about bringing the village and the wider community together.”