KINGTON SHOW ATTRACTIONS
THE REGIMENTAL BAND OF THE ROYAL WELSH
The Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh has a versatility of style and repertoire, which is both unique and highly popular whether on parade as a marching band or on the concert platform. Their playing and marching portrays that musical quality for which the band is renowned throughout Wales. The band is the last surviving all-brass band within British Army Music.
On a number of occasions the band have played for the Royal Family. On 1st March 2006 they performed at the historic opening of the new Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff Bay in front of Her Majesty The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. They have also made many television appearances ranging from the spiritual series 'Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol' (S4C) and the 'Codi Canu' (S4C) search for a choir to perform at the Wales v England rugby match, to performing during the opening sequence of the 2005 Royal Variety Show.
The band has continued to play at many major sporting events, in particular during the Six Nation championship matches at the world-famous Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Their presence here has been greatly appreciated across the world.
The Band has also travelled extensively abroad, to such countries as Belgium, Germany, and France and, on two occasions to Canada; first in 1995 and more recently in 2004. The Band and Drums next tour will take place in November 2007 when they will be visiting Australia and performing in the fantastic Sydney Opera House, amongst other venues.
Many of the Band's engagements are enhanced by the presence of The Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh. Their inimitable style and expertise always adds the final polish to any performance. The Band and Drums are very active in supporting the service charities, and pride themselves on supporting all the varying service units within Wales, as well as in a variety of activities both civil and commercial representing their Regiment, the Army and the people of Wales.
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Major Denis Burton MMus FLCM ARCM psm
Major Burton enlisted into the army as a trombonist and he quickly established himself as the principal in the Staff Band of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He was selected for the Bandmaster course and passed out as top student, winning six first prizes including the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal.
His appointments as Bandmaster were to The Second Battalion the Light Infantry, The Light Infantry Salamanca Band and in The Training Development Team at Kneller Hall. As Director of Music he was to lead the Band of the Royal Lancers, the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers and as Chief Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. His final appointment in regular service was as Director of Music, Grenadier Guards achieving world-class standards of excellence in performance and high profile state ceremonial.
His career has certainly been ubiquitous with service and performances throughout the World. As well as touring extensively throughout Europe, he has also toured North, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Australia. He is the composer of five army regimental marches and has compositions and arrangements published by companies in the United Kingdom and Europe. He has been a lecturer and course leader for the London College of Music and is the president of a number of musical groups.
Although not a Welshman, he is happy and proud to live in the principality and have the opportunity to be the first Director of Music of the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh.
WYE VALLEY AXEMEN
We have been raising money for different charities for a number of years, by giving wood chopping demonstrations in mostly local shows and donating all the fees we recieve to that years chosen charity.Each year the raised amounts seemed do get bigger, so we felt that we should set up an official club.
In 2007 the Wye Valley Axemen was born. We have members from Rhayader, Llanidloes and Newtown areas, with their ages varying from sixteen to around sixty.Its a family run club with wives children and grandchildren showing their surport and attendening most shows.
We gave demonstrations in several shows and carnivals during the summr months, and a grand total of £2,000 was raised for the Macmillan Renton Cancer Unit Apeal. We chose this charity as one of our team members unfortunately had cancer and had to endure long journeys to Cheltenham to receive treatment. This apeal was set up to raise funds for a new cancer treatment unit to be set up at Hereford County hospital. This unit will serve Mid Wales and the surrounding areas, and will help cut down the burden of travelling extreme distances for cancer sufferers to receive the treatment that they need.
Whilst giving a demnonstration last year, one of our team members injured himself quite badly. He recieved medical attention from the St Johns ambulance and was conveyed to hospital by the Welsh Air Ambulance. It was then decided that for 2008 we would split the raised amount between these two charities.
THE WELSH SHEEP SPECTACULAR
The Welsh Sheep Spectacular offers a complete insight into Welsh sheep farming.
The Welsh Sheep Spectacular Show offers the unique opportunity of seeing real 'live' sheep on stage! Rams representing the breeds of sheep farmed in Wales, have been trained to walk on stage to their marked stalls. The showman explains the history of each breed and its purpose in modern day farming.
Find out how the sheep dog brings them on stage. How do they know where to go? Come and see for yourself and photograph the friendly superstar sheep.
Other attractions for 2008 Kington Show
SHEEP SHEARING COMPETITION
Kington Show will feature Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Open Sheep Shearing Competitions which is expected to attract the UK's top operators as well as shearers from overseas. The competition is run under British Isles Shearing Competition Association rules. Other competitions include a Veteran class and Local class, and for the funniest spectacle, a Speed Shearing class, which is solely judged on the speed; shearers will have to shear a lamb, eat a cream cracker and then drink a pint of beer!
Apart from offering competitors the opportunity to promote their skills and sheep handling excellence, less experienced shearers will be able to learn from watching them and progress to higher levels. This fast and furious spectacle provides great entertainment drawing huge crowds to watch.
INTERHUNT COMPETITION
This involves four of the local hunts, Golden Valley Hunt, Teme Valley Hunt, Radnor & West Herefordshire Hunt and North Herefordshire Hunt. Two semi-finals and a final are run, whereby two teams of four race over jumps and through a gate to finish first. It is fast and furious with all four teams very competitive and all wanting to win! This is a great spectator sport, with superb commentary from by Mr CP Davis, M.F.H.
TROTTING OR HARNESS RACING
Kington and the surrounding area has, over the years been the home of many trotting owners and enthusiasts... but Kington Show in particular has been well known for it's Trotting racing under saddle. This was partly due to the small track which was confined to the show ring, making it difficult for harness horses (pulling sulkies) to get round safely. But also during the late 19th century, saddle racing was more popular, (many local farmers would have ridden their trotters shepherding and then raced them on the Saturday!)
Originally the horses were all Welsh Cobs or part bred cobs, but over the years the STANDARDBRED (which is a breed developed in America from British ancestry) has replaced the Cobs.
WALES & BORDER COUNTIES racing continues the tradition of taking the racing to the people (during the early part of the 20th century almost every
village staged its own races). Today KINGTON SHOW at its new venue presents it's 'all harness' trotting racing. The horses and owners have come from Kington and its surrounding area, so are very much local trotters!
These horses compete on local tracks as well as traveling deeper into South and West Wales, racing mainly on grass tracks. On larger tracks the horses are handicapped according to ability and experience. Races are organised into categories, ranging from 'Nursery' races for younger/inexperienced horses to 'Grade A' races.
Trotting and Harness Racing is part of the Welsh and Welsh Border culture and Kington Show has been responsible for promoting the sport as far back as the late 19th and early 20th century.
One of our great trotting stalwarts, Charlie Bounds, who has been organising these races at Kington Show for many years, has, in his possession a 1955 programme (priced 2/-). In fact, Charlie, who took over the organising of the races from the late Jamie Duggan, raced his own horse here that year, namely 'Young Roger'. Around the same time the late Ossie Alman, another great trotting supporter and lover of Kington Show raced 'Golden West'.
Many local trotting enthusiasts have started their riding/driving careers on Kington Showground and it's good to see the descendents of the originators of this great event continuing the tradition either by helping to organise, supporting or taking part in the races today!
Trish Dugdale, Mid Wales Trotting Association
