Poynton Show 2008 - a family occasion
Click on thumbnails for full size images. The 108th Poynton Show was held as usual on the Saturday of August Bank Holiday Weekend in Poynton’s own lakeside park. It is a show for all the family - and a family occasion - NCPS were welcomed fully back into that family this year as official photographers for all the show including the equestrian section, and we got acknowledgment in the show programme. The weather was kind this year, although photographically challenging, but we did get nice sky backgrounds for the first half of the day. Despite the recent weather, ground conditions were good got those on two or four legs, and for light vehicles although heavy vehicles had to be towed on and off - one of the towing tractors expiring in the main arena at a critical juncture added to the spectacle. As always, the show included some spectacular displays such as the Bold Dog Motorcycle Stunt Team and the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service chip pan fire demonstration. A rather different spectacle was provided by the dance display from Erd, Poynton’s twin town in Hungary. Our contribution was as always very well organised by Richard Scaife. Some seven other members contributed to setting up our stand, judging the photography competition, staffing the stand as well as taking photographs, others were observed just enjoying the show. Our stand was well situated at the juncture between the creative hobbies competition displays and the commercial delicatessen area. This year the loan of his personal print display stands by Jon Allanson much enhanced the stand and allowed us to display a wide range of member’s work including several images from the 2007 show. Why not come an join us next year? Many events occur in parallel, so there is much to do (and you don't have to work all the time). You get privileged access to the best shooting positions, over 10000 models, and even the chance to be part of the action such as being chased round the arena by two clowns in a car with a steering problem — these two enhanced the crowd appeal of their display by driving straight at the official photographer in the ring with them (your president) but swerving at the last moment. I am also pleased to say that I foresaw the course of the display and managed to dodge the water spay the clowns directed over the ringside crowd and the official guests! The family nature of the show is apparent in the final two images. The society official presenting our “Best Print” award is, as his uniform shows, the Crew Manager from our own Poynton Fire Station and also the individual in full kit with extinguisher at the ready in case the chip pan display gets a little too spectacular. The final image shows Grahame Mitchell the Show President awarding the trophy for the senior Show Jumping Competition to Michelle Anthony, his granddaughter and also the organiser of the equestrian section of the show. The generation missing from this picture is Leslie Mitchell the Show Secretary.
Roger Dye (All photographs by Roger Dye). |
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