Welcome to the Country Channel TV Newsletter for May 2008!

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The Smallholder and Garden Festival was held in Builth Wells, Mid Wales and Paul Peacock was there and filmed the World Butter Making Championships amongst other items he then visited Sedbergh in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to see the first race of the Fell Running season and the first bout of the Westmoreland and Cumberland wrestling season. We visit the Orkney Islands located off the northern tip of Scotland where the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet. We meet the people who live, work and run businesses on these beautiful, low-lying fertile islands. Coming south we visited The Royal Windsor Show to watch international show jumping, find out what tent pegging is, see the magnificent four in hand carriages, just some of the features at this regal event. The Shire Horse Spring Show was held indoors for the first time this year at the East of England Showground, Peterborough and not forgetting Cereals 2008 this year taking place at Heath Farm, Leadenham, Lincolshire.

Exclusive – Belton Horse Trials

Country Channel TV was the only Television company to attend Belton Horse Trials held at Grantham, Lincolnshire. Once again The Grantham Cup was the principle class and this year the class has gained International status. Many horse and riders aiming at the Beijing Olympics were competing. There was a whole host of further attractions including a Sports Zone and the Grantham Classic Car club exhibited over 100 different makes and models of classic cars ranging from Pre-1950 to the 1990’s and the trade stands had increased to over 80 this year giving plenty of choice and variety for shopping.

Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling – Dancing with Horses

Watch this unique horseman connect and interact with horses. Klaus’s way is not any kind of proscribed method, you will not be asked to subscribe to any ongoing programme, to buy any kind of ‘magic’ tools or equipment. There is no network of endorsed trainers because Klaus’s work is unique to himself. You are simply invited to witness what he has to say, how he interacts with damaged, dangerous horses and to learn how, through his own self-awareness and body movements, he is able to work successfully with every horse he meets.

Tractor Pull – Two new programmes to watch

Recently up on the channel is a “behind the scenes” of tractor pulling with Peter Clarke and David Jones. Learn from two experts and enthusiasts exactly what it takes to be involved in tractor pulling.
Also watch the 30th anniversary event from Ahoy, Rotterdam. The Ahoy tractor pulling event already consistently distinguishes itself from other contests by always featuring an American machine. In short, the 30th edition was extra spectacular.

Fontainebleau Horse Trails

On a freezing cold Easter weekend the Fontainebleau Horse Trails took place at the Hippodrome du Grand Parquet outside Paris. Catch up on this early event and see international riders – Zara Phillips, Clayton Fredericks, Olympic hopeful for China Alex Hua Tian and German Michael Jung compete.

The Dales Diaries

Join Luke Casey and catch up with this fascinating series and meet the owners of the village store in Austwick. Fly over the Dales with David McKutcheon of Airbourne Adventures near Skipton who fly balloons around the dales. Andrea Hunter comes from a farming family and now farms sheep with her husband she is an artist making pictures from wool and finally stone, Luke meets up with Geoff Hutchinson who is a stone mason working in the Dales and sees how Geoff has turned Townend Farm into a rural arts centre.

Go Fishing and The Ordnance Survey Outdoor Show

Look at our reports on both these events which happened recently at the NEC in Birmingham. Get ideas about places to visit and things to do this summer in the countryside.

Fit to Tow

Before you set off travelling, caravanning, pulling your pony or just going to the dump check out Fit to Tow with Carol Smiley to make sure your vehicle and your trailer are all safe to go.

With best wishes from the Country Channel Team