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Rattery Annual Garden Show & Sports

Always the 1st Saturday in August where young and old can celebrate their first fruits and other skills and where everyone can have a run in the races. Schedules are available from the Post Office and Church House Inn.
New Committee members are always welcome. Email Sally Tresidder tresiddersally@gmail.com

2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2023 | 2025 | 2026

2026

Download Day Programme 2026 (PDF)

Download Show Programme and Schedule 2026 (PDF)

Download Entry Form 2026 (PDF)

2025

2023

Chairperson’s Report

Fantastic. We as a village should celebrate our successes last Saturday at our village show.

Despite the strong winds, we held it together as did our marquee and did not let the elements spoil our day. The races were hotly contested and the long race to the top of the hill and back daunted none. Congratulations to Sissy Freeman on coming in first against a hardened running field. 

All the stalls were busy with eager enthusiasm from attendees who were throwing wellies against the wind or with it and then took out their frustrations on the crock smash stall or took a turn on the hoopla or coconut shy. Once their energies were sated, they could go to the marquee and chance a win on the tombola or buy an ice cream whilst sitting down and resting in the chill out area unless you wanted your face painted!!

For the classic car enthusiast Mr Jim Thompson organised some memorable classic cars for us to enjoy some nostalgia in the car park. For the thirsty our horse box bar kindly provided by Will Edwards of the Church House Inn was managed by Phil Barrington and Bill Tagg who kept the spirits’ flowing.

If all the excitement in the field with the races so well attended by many athletes of all ages proved too much of an exertion, then a slower pace in the village hall where the many exhibits now fully judged by our esteemed judges could be perused or relax in the seated area to enjoy the tea and cake refreshments provided by Tony and Jane Winterton and their many helpers.

Our gate numbers may have suffered this year- down by 80 adult persons – due probably from worries about how the weather may affect the running of the show. Ice cream sales were down but probably made up for by the teas and cakes which were completely sold out. The lamb roast was also a big hit with many who said how well the product tasted thanks to the hard work of Mark and Deborah Daymond who cooked it in their barn at the farm and then transported to our event to serve from their own gazebo.

No event happens just by magic, it takes a lot of planning and willing helpers to bring it all to fruition along with sponsors and donations and not forgetting our public who endorse and support us on the day. I would like to mention a few stand out persons of this year by name but please don’t feel offended those that always help and are greatly appreciated if they are not mentioned by name because without their support, we would not have a Rattery Garden Show & Sport event.

I would like to give a big thank you to Mark Freeman for a job well done in his first year as show secretary looking after all the exhibits and prizes and coordinating all the ensuing duties necessary to give us a well organised hall and slick presentation of prize giving.
Another stand out this year are Tony and Jane Winterton who organised our hall refreshments, this being their first ever show, to new levels, thank you. Also a big thank you to our newest judges from the village judging their first show for us. Namely Emma Freeman and Ceri Shields with our seasoned judge Steph Bradley.

A very big thank you to the unsung heroes such as those of you who manned the gates and stalls, set up marquees and race field and hall tables, have supplied and maintained sound systems and field accoutrements, to those in the background silently keeping things moving and to those storing floats and other necessities out of season. To the printing of our schedules and flyers, posters and many other relatable. Not forgetting my committee and volunteers from near and far, to Richard Haigh for all the prep work and guidance given to Mark, to Barbara Storey who kept my never ending messages on track as well as finding our new judges I also give a very big thank you. 

I have been very honoured and fortunate to serve our village as the committee chairman of Rattery Garden show & Sports for the last six years and as vice chair for some years previously. Unfortunately due to pressures upon my health I am needing to step down from the chair at the next AGM.

As the outgoing chairman I wish to thank all those who have supported me and who continue to make our show the success it is year on year.

Andy Burdge
Committee Chair

2019

Last Saturday saw the 72nd annual Rattery Village Day and Sports, and as usual the village was blessed with a really gorgeous sunny afternoon.

The show was formally opened by the Reverend Professor Gina Radford, our very new Rattery parish vicar. Reverend Gina only took over her post in June, so the opening of the show gave parishioners an opportunity to meet her informally.

The event was supported not only by the residents of Rattery and neighbouring parishes, but also from far and wide including a party from Wales, proudly flying their national flag; and one lady all the way from California!

The day was a traditional mixture of a produce show and races for all ages. The show had a total of 116 competition classes including fruit and vegetables; flowers and floral arranging; a huge variety of home baking and preserve making; arts and crafts in various media; photography and special classes for children. The variety meant that everyone could find a class to enter.

Events on the running field were entered by young and old alike – both human and dogs! Great co-ordination was shown in events like the three legged race, whilst on a more serious side, the strenuous Open Cross Country race was won by 17 year-old Leo Donoghue, from a field of some thirty or so competitors, ranging from extremely fit 60 somethings to tiny tots!

Earlier this year the village very sadly lost Ken Bovey, who for very many years had been a highly successful exhibitor of vegetables and flowers. The show committee was therefore delighted to introduce this year a new trophy in Ken’s memory generously provided by his family. The first winner of the Ken Bovey Memorial Cup was aptly Ben Chadwick, who admits to having learned a great deal from Ken, who was his horticultural mentor.

Last year was the first time the show included a magnificent array of ancient vehicles, and following its popularity this was repeated this year. A collection of tractors drew great interest, not only from members of the farming community, but youngsters who may very well turn out to be the farmers of the future. In addition to tractors Jim Thompson once again rallied his friends together to produce a magnificent display of old cars, the star of the show being a bright red American Chevrolet C1 Corvette dating to 1953.

The Chair of the show committee, Andy Burdge said

“This was another very successful year, all the planning paid off and even with a temporary electricity problem we coped with ice cream freezer and PA system failures. A huge thanks must go out to all of the volunteers and helpers who made the show and sports run smoothly. We hope that everyone had a really enjoyable day.” 

Everyone will be most welcome to the Rattery Garden Show and Sports next year. Make a note in your diary, if you have one for 2020 already; it will be on Saturday 1st August.

Written by Heather Burdge

2018

Chairperson’s Report

A very big thank you to everyone who contributed to this years Rattery Garden Show and Sports 71st year. Especially to all the committee and volunteers who gave of their time and hard work preceding, during or after the event. Also a special thanks to our new helpers who helped tired stall holders to have a break during their busy day. 

Great to see new faces helping with erecting and dismantling the marquee. Namely Nick, Robert Hatt, Robert and Martin Carol, Mike and Heather with our seasoned team of Bill and Val and Richard. Equally grateful to all regular helpers plus Phil Barrington, Robert and Martin on Thursday evening setting out the sports track etc. Thanks to Peter Smerdon for supplying wooden stakes for spectator/ athlete zones and mowing grass for the track events and stall holders. Many thanks to Anthony Coaker for driving the tractor with post driver attachment and family for placing stakes with Colin who also removed them at show end.

Also a big thank you to Peter Smerdon for supplying straw bales and setting out the cross country race. To Anthony Coaker for the Obstacle race and all involved with Setting up stalls, bbq’s , bar, hall exhibits, gazebo’s, bunting, signage, cordage, litter bins and countless other jobs done by our great team of volunteers. 

The Hall was managed superbly as always by Richard Haigh and Alison Samuels who arranged with their stewards all the exhibits for the many classes which were up on any previous year. A big thank you to Angela Smerdon and her team for all the refreshments available throughout the day. 

Also our judges and their stewards who spend several hours debating and categorising the many exhibits and awarding the relevant prizes to successful entrants. Thank you to our five new judges namely Margaret Macbean, Margaret Burdge – domestic classes, Mr Pook for flowers, Vicki Archer for art and handicrafts and Steph Bradley for the children’s section. Also our regular judges Brian Griffiths and Jo for produce, Vicki Pearce for flower arrangements. We trust that they are available for judging for us next year.

In the reserve car park, we thank Jim Thompson for bringing three classic cars and to Gordon Raymont and team for bringing three vintage tractors and a land rover. The Marquee was stationed in the sports field this year and worked very well there. A big thank you to Will and his team for supplying beers, ciders, wines and soft drinks all day and donating kegs of alcohol as well as prizes for the dog races. Adjoining the marquee, the lamb roast was run and supplied by Mark and Deborah Daymen and family which was eaten to the last morsel along with pork sausages.

The stalls run by Linda – face painting, Jan and Alan – Ice Creams with help from Kelly, Raffle – Joy, Rachel and Tony, Coconut Shy- Don and Craig, Crock Smash – Bill and Phil and Robert, Welly Wanging – Miles and Ben, Hoopla – Heather and Ben. Thanks guys and gals for all your hard work in the relentless heat.

Ian Samuels and Anthony Coaker and Peter Smerdon as race officials and commentator Ken Creber managing the PA System. Also, to Peter for organising the parade of vintage vehicles. Not forgetting the gate and car parking ably managed by John, Phillip and Mike. Thank you to our Treasurers Lin and Buz for all their hard work in managing the shows financial affairs on the day and beyond. Thank you to Mark and Deborah, Mark and Janet Causey and Tom Foreward for use of their fields to run our show and to all those who kindly donated prizes and donations. 

A sad note to the proceedings was announced on opening the show. The loss of Alan Gautry to whom we dedicated this years show. Alan was a stalwart helper with our show and in many aspects of the village hall. In his memory a park bench with an inscription donated by the hall and show committees has been placed outside the hall entrance. This was unveiled by Kay his wife and daughter Kelly. Further news reached us that Ken Bovey who has exhibited in our show for more than sixty years since aged seven had a nasty fall which resulted in a broken hip, friends helped display his entries and Ken won again with his excellent vegetables. Chrissy Sparkes who was unable to steward in the handicrafts this year due to illness did grace us with her presence for an hour or so. We wish these and others with afflictions and loss our very best wishes.

A special thank you to Bill, Val, Richard, Alison and Peter for getting me through my first year as chairperson.

The last big thanks go to our own villagers and visitors from far and wide and also those holidaying here. Your support and enthusiasm in taking part makes our efforts worthwhile.

Report by Andy Burdge 2018 Chairperson and Secretary of The Rattery Garden Show and Sports

2017

Chairperson’s Report

We also had 3 vintage tractors sited on the field for everybody to view and even have their photographs taken on. During the interval Gordon, John and Julian paraded them round the field for all to see. Many thanks to them for bringing them to the show, we hope we can expand this feature next year.

With the weather being so nice, we actually sold out of ice creams, and a huge thankyou to Alan & Jan who looked great in their 1940’s ice cream seller’s outfits.

All our side stalls were very busy during the afternoon, especially the Human Fruit Machine. And a very big thankyou goes to Terry and all of his volunteers who manned it.

Thank also to the ladies, Joy, Dot and Sue (not in the photo) who tempted you to part with your cash for the wonderful raffle prizes, hope you were lucky.

During the morning the judges, with the help of their stewards did a fantastic job in judging all the wonderful vegetable entries, flowers, flower arranging, cakes, jams, baking, handicrafts, art and photography. There were more exhibits this year, making it even more difficult for the judges to pick the eventual winners and runners up.

Thank you to all the judges and stewards for their hard work, and well done to all who won and entered, we wouldn’t have a show without you, and if you didn’t win this year, there is always next year!

I have to say a massive thankyou to Angela and all of her team,(who are always too busy selling and preparing wonderful cakes, sandwiches and cups of tea to see any of the show themselves), for their fantastic work during the day and beforehand. You too also looked superb in your outfits.
I have so many more thankyous to add, and they are:
Richard – show secretary. Philip, Ian and John – gate and car park. Mark, Deborah, Jess and Wayne – lamb roast. Ken Creber – PA and music. Will and Sarah – their brewery and Tim and Dawn for donating their Bulkamore Cider. Rachel and Tony – teas. Janet, Mark and Daniel – Sheep.
Pete – PA commentary. Tom Forward – use of field for cross country race. Linda and Joy – face painting. Sandy, James and Scott – Welly wanging. Heather – Hoopla. Andy & Phil – Crockery Smash. And of course, my wife Val Hook-a-duck.
Special thanks to Buz and Lin for all their hard work, before, during and after the show.
And last but not least you the public. THANK YOU ALL for making it such a great 70th village show. Hope to see you all again next year.

Mr Tony Coaker – opening speech.
Good afternoon everyone, welcome to our 70th Garden Show & Sports. 70 years!! What an incredible achievement, still to be going strong after all that time.

The original committee, being secretary Miss Jean Armstrong who lived at the Firs just along the road from here, the chairman Mr Frank Pidgeon of White Oxon Farm and Treasurer Mr Tom Madge of Westmead, they could not have imagined it would have lasted this long.

1947, I remember that year well, I was 12 years old. January started off as one of the coldest snowiest winters of my lifetime. Summer came, hot and dry, and with it a plague of cabbage white butterflies, their offspring munching their way through everyone’s cabbage and green crops. But someone had the foresight to include in the show schedule a class in the children’s section, for the greatest number of cabbage white butterflies caught and destroyed. So, I and two of my young friends decided to see how many we could catch. But on the show morning my two friends decided to pool their catches together to try and beat me. But I still won 1st prize with my 1050. But of course, that was 70 years ago.
Originally the Garden Show & Sports were two separate events. The garden show being held in the old village hall and the sports in the field where Garden Park and Garden Close now stand. After a short time, the two were combined and a marquee was hired and erected in the field with the sports. This continued until 1980 when planning permission was granted for the building of Garden Close. Garden Park was built in 1949-50 but, this did not affect the sports track. So, a new venue was found here in this field. The last year a marquee had to be hired was in 1995. Its hire cost was £777.00 which 22 years ago was a lot of money, which had to be raised through the year by the village, a lot of hard work.

With the building of the New Hall the financial future of the garden show was guaranteed as the hall hire is now a mere fraction of the cost of the old marquee. So here we are today, lovely weather as usual, only once in the 70 year’s was the garden show cancelled due to wet weather, that was in the mid 1960’s. There are a lot of sideshows and sports for you to enjoy and inside the hall fantastic exhibits. There are refreshments and a lamb roast as well. So, with that have a wonderful afternoon, I know declare the 70th garden show and sports open.
Thankyou.

2016

Chairperson’s Report

Before you read this year’s report of the garden show and sports, I would like to start by thanking the committee and volunteers for all the extraordinary hard work and effort they put into this year’s show. Also, not forgetting the guys on the gate Philip, Ian and John. Buz and Lin our treasurers were unavailable this year, so a big thank you goes to Mike & Carol, who stood in as acting treasurers and did a great job.

Now to the show, as usual the show is held on the 1st Saturday in August. Once again we were blessed with a dry day, sunshine during the morning whilst members of the committee and volunteers were busy putting side stalls and gazebo’s together. Angela Smerdon and her team were in the kitchen preparing for the afternoons refreshments. THEY ALL DESERVE A BIG HAND, WELL DONE!

The show opened at 2pm, with the sports programme under starters orders at 2.30, with Pete presiding over the load speaker, he got the races underway. Kids and adults were raring to go! During the break in the human races, the now annual dog race was held. This year there was a prize for the winning dog, (sponsored by Will & Sarah from the Church House Inn), thanks Will & Sarah. After a false start by (TEAL), the race was run with the usual antics from the dogs and for the second year in a row it was won by Nellie and cheered on by the proud owner Richard Haigh. (probably should be handicapped next year)!

After all that fun, the second half of the race card resumed and ended with the final race, the cross country, so many entrants this year. Well done to all who won, and also to all who participated in many of the races. We had many side stalls on the field, Mark and Deborah served up the lamb roast which many people enjoyed during the afternoon, thanks to them. The Crockery Smash and Coconut Shy stalls were refurbished this year, with both doing a roaring trade. Also, punters trying to guess the weight of the lamb and the name of the ewe. Thanks, Daniel for bringing them along. 

There was a new addition to the side stalls this year it was the Human Fruit Machine, sadly no photograph! Well done to Terry and all his helpers, it was great fun.
The raffle was run by our 3 good ladies, and there were some very nice prizes to be won, thank you to Barbara, Joy and Valerie for your hard work in selling the tickets. 
During the morning in the main hall, the various judges were going about their work, judging all the different categories, i.e. flowers, vegetable’s, art & crafts, photography, baking and many more. Thank you to the judges Janet, Geraldine, Mary, Brian, Joe and Harry.

Next year’s show will be its 70th year, so we will have to celebrate the anniversary in some way. (Planning will start soon)!

One last thankyou goes to all who came and raced, entered their vegetable’s, flowers, baking, etc. and those who just came and supported the show, you made it a great success, thank you. Hope to see you all again next year.

Bill Tagg (Chairperson).