TICKETS are now on sale for one of the biggest events in Romsey’s calendar.

Organisers of the annual Romsey Show – one of the largest and oldest one-day agricultural, horse and countryside shows in the region – have chosen the forestry industry as its theme for this year’s event on September 10.

Now in its 174th year, organisers promise “a great day out for everyone” with special ring attractions including a chainsaw carving competition along with other displays related to the vintage tradition.

Penny Grabham, chairman of the organising committee, said she “couldn’t be more excited” about this year’s show.

She said: “To add variation to the show we are following the path of an annual theme reflecting the main aims of Royal Agricultural and Horse Show Society or commemorating major events and I am particularly looking forward to the many displays, animals and activities associated with this year’s forestry theme.

“Also this year we are introducing a performance stage in partnership with the organisers of Romsey’s Beggars Fair which is hugely thrilling and exciting. As a society we think it is important to link and integrate with other activities and organisations in the local area.

“We already have successful partnerships with RAODs, Rotaries, schools and many others' and we are looking forward to this new association.”

She described the age of the show as “an amazing feat”. “We, the society’s volunteers, with the help of a very small office staff, work hard to keep the feel of the show true to its origins and principles whilst giving the public what they want and add a twist of something new and exciting each year,” she added.

In the main President’s Ring, Hampshire farmer and heavy horse breeder, David Shearing, will be bringing along a team of horses to show how they work in the forests and woods moving logs.

Sponsored by Hampshire Collegiate School, he will be joined by friends and colleagues and their mobile saw pit demonstrating the traditional method of sawing trees into planks by hand.

The Countryside Ring will host the Adams Axemen demonstrating their power and skill with razor sharp axes to chop logs while a mixture of steam- and vintage-driven engines will “make light work of the largest of trees” at three saw-benches in the Special Events area.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Richard Austin, the show’s usual chainsaw carver, is this year joined by some friends for a carving competition, kindly sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers.

A spokesman said: “Come and be astounded as these people make a seemingly large and ordinary tree trunk into a work of art suitable to grace any garden or sculpture park. Then, at the day’s end, join the live auction to take one of these pieces home with you.

Come to the show and see how charcoal is made. ‘Black Fox’ will be bringing a charcoal burner to the show, lighting it to burn through Friday night, and then unpacking the finished product on show day. Charcoal does not start off in bags from the supermarket – come and see how it goes from wood to being your BBQ fuel.

Advance tickets available from the show’s website or a variety of local outlets, including the Romsey Advertiser and the Daily Echo offices, and the Romsey Tourist Information Centre in Church Street.