If you were unable to win a place on Team GB for the Olympics, a wide range of sporting, horticulture and craft competitions will offer anyone a chance to shine at this year’s Great Aycliffe Show. Organised by Great Aycliffe Town Council, the very popular Show will be taking place on the showfield next to the Oak Leaf Sports Complex on August Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 25th August and Sunday 26th August.
Entry forms are now available for the Handcraft and Horticulture Exhibition. This year’s handcraft and home produce sections celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, with a baking category for adults and poster category for young people. For keen growers, there are sections for vegetables and flowers, plus the closely fought Pot Leeks competition.
Prizes of £5, £4 and £3 will be awarded for first, second and third place entries in each category. In the Pot Leeks category, the first prize is a portable television, plus £30 prize money and a trophy, with second and third prizes of £20 and £10. Trophies are sponsored by Deco Trophies and Engraving; horticultural trophies are sponsored by G. Little Testing Centre. The closing date for handcraft and horticulture competitions is Tuesday 21st August. The competitions are free to enter, only skill and imagination are required!
Although judging takes place on the first morning of the Show, Saturday 25th August, all entries will be displayed to the public throughout the Show.
The football competition is expected to surpass even last year’s success, with 15 teams of Under 10s, 8 teams of Under 9s and 8 teams of under 8s. Teams will be attending from South Tyneside and Wearside, representing the Russel Foster Youth League. Teams coming from Teesside and Hartlepool will represent the Teesside Junior Alliance League and of course there will be local rivals Newton Aycliffe Youth, Newton Aycliffe Juniors and Ferryhill and Bishop Auckland St Mary’s.
This year’s Golf Tournament is sponsored by Bewick and Neville Pharmacy and is free to all residents of the Parish of Great Aycliffe and takes place on Sunday 26 August. Members of the Oak Leaf Golf Club may also participate free of charge. There are categories for ladies, gentlemen, seniors and juniors and entries close on Monday 13th August.
There will be a show pigeon competition on the first day of the Show, with birds in 62 different categories, entries close on 3rd August. On the Sunday of the Show, pigeons give way to the pedigree rabbit show and competition, which is always very popular with children. Prize money will be awarded in each class and entry forms for this must be returned by 19th August.
Entry forms may be obtained from the Town Council Offices, tel 01325 300700, from the Oak Leaf Sports Complex, tel: 01325 300600 or downloaded from the website at www.great-aycliffe.gov.uk
