Eggleston Show needs a new home for 2018

A DISAGREEMENT over vintage cars and land use will mean Eggleston Show needs a new home in 2018.

Departing show secretary Roy Oxby confirmed Saturday’s event would be the last at West Barnley Farm, which has hosted it since 2012. Discord between landowner Arthur Hobson and organisers partly stemmed from vintage cars not being welcomed onto the show field this year.

Mr Oxby said: “From our point of view to get them into the show was physically impossible in the confines of the show field – particularly in the high number.”

Mr Oxby said it had been a “terrible weekend” knowing the show would be the last at West Barnley.

He added: “For six years it’s been a part of my life and it never stops – there’s something to do every week.

“I said when we moved we’d never find a better site for a country dales agricultural show – it’s been absolutely brilliant.”

Eggleston Show moved to the outskirts of its namesake village in 2012 after being held at Streatlam Farm for eight years.

Thanks were extended to Mr Hobson for hosting the event and Mr Oxby stressed there was no animosity between the two parties.

“It’s the best site you could ever wish for – the views and where it is make it and I think most people wanted it back in Eggleston,” he said.

“People have been saying we’ve been going and everyone knows it’s the last one.”

Six shows have taken place at the farm off the B6282 and Mr Hobson has not charged any fee for the use of his field.

Mr Oxby added: “It shows the support we have got from him and that’s boosted the funds of the show.

“So, whenever any mud starts getting slung, people ought to think about what’s been done for the show over the years.”

Mr Oxby also revealed Saturday’s show was his last as secretary.

He dubbed his first show at the helm as a “baptism of fire” in 2012 when the event left Streatlam for the outskirts of Eggleston.

However, he said he’d enjoyed his secretarial spell tremendously in the years since, adding that he would continue to help the show committee.

Eggleston Agricultural Society committee will be holding a meeting tomorrow (Thursday) before decisions will be made where they go in 2018 at the AGM in December.

It was confirmed the show committee had “two or three” sites available as possibilities in future.

Mr Hobson did not wish to comment on the matter.

Eight pages of results and pictures from the show are in this week's Mercury.