Chatsworth Country Fair 2014, Derbyshire UK

[tpa]

Any else going to be at Chatsworth tomorrow, Sunday? The Spitfire and Hurricane display is well worth watching, I saw it from a nearby hillside today. Not just a fly past, 10 minutes of aerobatics.

[tpa]

If there was anyone else there, I didn't see them. Not surprising really, they were expecting over 100,000 visitors over the 3 days and I think a lot of them were there on Sunday. I suspect the show accounts for at least half of their £4m annual operating costs. There is really too much to see in one day, though I did my best. The background: The only Scottish elements are the band competition: and the Highland Dancing: for which the competition was held on Saturday. There were demos on the Sunday but they were not good at running to schedule so I didn't see much. As previously I suspect mine was the only kilt not related to those two events or the solo piping. The "Grand Ring" kicked off with the Mounted Games competitions between teams from different counties of England: followed by the opening ceremony with some spectators dropping in: and the Band and Bugles of the Rifles playing and marching around at 140 paces to the minute. Then we had the Royal Signals Motorcycle display Team: The White Helmets with one nearly needing his: They also did their jumping through fire thing, but the smoke was blowing towards me.

[tpa]

Then we moved on to a different sort of rider with a mock jousting competition: followed by Charlotte Hill's birds of Prey: . at this point the camera decides to start playing up and refusing to take all the unrepeatable shots. Then came a WW1 Commemoration Parade followed by The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Spitfire and Hurricane: for which I misjudged the optimum viewing point. The next event I saw was he Scurry driving competition to which there seems to be no age restriction, the youngest driver being 9: Wandering around the area there were many craft displays including dry stone walling: though you don't see many looking like that around here. There were activities to get involved in including Archery: air rifle, crossbow, laser clay pigeon, catapult and muzzle loader shooting.

[tpa]

There were doggy events: gundog pickup and gundog scurry which involved one retrieve from the river. There were lurchers and ferrets, a horse driving competition carriage driving food and cookery demos, including some free samples, nearly 70 rural craft stalls, over 70 food related stalls and 250 trade stalls.

There was lots for kids, young and some not so young bubbles on land and some on water. There were also some unique choices of clothing: There were vintage military, car and lorry displays this one from my local town and, if you felt so inclined you could also do a bit of fishing. Finally there were the massed bands, 14 in all This is a video of the second of two waves arriving: I had to leave before the end on a food errand for the evening meal, so missed the hot air balloons if it was not too windy.

[grizzbass]

It's not like being there (if I was I'd have my daughter son-in-law and grandkids in tow)but it is great to see the pictures of a beautiful place filled with great adventures. well shot. thanks for sharing.

[tulloch]

Wow! What a lot going on. And Spits & Hurricanes! Amazing.

[Ron Abbott]

The last photo.....one of the RAF pipe bands nearest the camera?

[tpa]

The last photo.....one of the RAF pipe bands nearest the camera?

Yes, regretably I did not note which one. If you listen to the video you may be able to identify them from the commentary.

[rtown]

Thanks very much for sharing the great photos.