ORGANISERS at Chale Show are extremely busy and are beginning to mark out the field. The posters are out thanks to their trusty bunch of helpers and volunteers. Everything is warming up for next weekend – August 7 and 8.
And this year Dame Ellen MacArthur will be opening the show on Saturday. Dame Ellen has taken a particular interest in the Chale Community Project, which is installing ground source heat pumps and solar panels in the village.
There are two great main arena acts this year, the Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display team who are called The Flying Gunners and the Wacky Tumblairs comedy trampoline act.
The Flying Gunners display features breathtaking high speed double crossovers from four corners of the arena when closing speeds may reach 90mph and the riders cross in mid air only inches apart. The climax of the show is a spectacular car jump over four cars or more
The team are all volunteer soldiers, drawn from across the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Once a rider makes the team they are trained in numerous motorcycle skills, from precision riding to motor cross jumping. The team is self-sufficient and must fund its own activities and the soldiers are all from operational Regiments, many having served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Each year the team gives about 120 separate performances at different venues. During recent years they have made appearances at the Royal Tournament, The Rhine Army Summer Show, The Fortress Fantasia in Gibraltar, and every major agricultural or trucking show in the UK. Television credits include The Edinburgh Tattoo, “You Bet,” National Lottery Show, Noels Edmond’s House Party, Lenny Henry Show, Blue Peter and the Brian Conley Show.
The Wacky Tumblairs are an international clown-duo Johnny and Barbara Ley who will bring bags of Circus Fun to the arena with their colourful entertainment. With knockabout trampoline acrobatics, the zany Spinning-Plates routine - a dozen or more plates rotating wildly on 6 foot wands - musical and magical clowning, stiltwalking and hilarious audience participation with bags of prizes – it’s just like you used to see at the Circus.
In addition to this the show has the usual favourite arena events. Medina or Wight Diamonds marching bands will open each day’s entertainment, which will include traditional children’s races and competitions, the ever popular traction steam engines, and vintage tractors and army vehicles.
Traditional fairground rides will entertain young and old alike and if you’re feeling brave you can try a ride on the inflatable rodeo bull! The Island’s favourite magician, David Randini will perform throughout the weekend.
New this year is the Sunflower Stage, which is being put on in collaboration with the Earl Mountbatten Hospice (EMH). Complementing the horticultural backbone of the show by being named after one of the flowers in the floral contests, the stage will also bring a festival element to the show and promote local talent.
This year’s Livewired finalists will be playing on the stage such as Golden Stands and Damien Paul. Also playing will be a German Oompah band, the Unity Stompers and Unidos Samba Band. Listen, dance and chill out to the sounds on offer and make a donation to the Hospice.
The amazing annual display of fruit, vegetables and flowers will be on offer in the horticultural marquees but this year for the first time the National Vegetable Society are attending to display and will be on hand for advice on any matters horticultural. Mon Cherie florists from Shanklin will be staging a floral display and Dixey Landscapes will be inspiring gardeners with their ideas for garden design.
This should make for a pretty spectacular Show Marquee and with a record size tent of 215 feet in length, organisers are hoping to be able to fit everyone in. Last year there were a record number of 1,400 entries and there is over £1,000 in prize money to be won plus around 32 different cups.
New for this year, the Chale Show are also sponsoring local Primary and Middle Schools to grow vegetables as part of the Healthy Schools campaign. A special display area will be allocated for them in the Show Marquee and prizes will be awarded to the best exhibits and all will receive a certificate for taking part In total 12 schools are taking part in the friendly competition, including the two special schools.
Unfortunately in these austere times they have decided against the helicopter rides but the IOW Air Ambulance hopes to attend on the Sunday.
There will be an even wider range of catering with everything from burger and hot dogs to curries and a pig roast. The beer garden and marquee will be supplied by Yates’ Brewery.
Wandering around you will have the choice of around 80 outside stalls and charity stalls and under cover will be an even bigger Farmers Market, the Craft Marquee and the Antique and Market Tent.
Also new for 2010 is the IW Council sponsored Green Energy Tent from the Green Services Department.
Matt Splatt and Ryde Performers will be putting on displays and encouraging kids to join in and Liz Cooke will be providing her Festival Flags and Childrens Workshops.
After problems last year there is a new traffic management plan to ensure that everyone has a stress free entrance and exit to the show.
Wightlink are the main sponsor of the show and this year Chale Green Stores are also sponsoring the event. The IW Gazette is a new media sponsor.
Last year the Chale Horticultural Society donated over £11,000 to local charities and organisations and the organisers are hoping to raise even more this year.
Entry is priced at £7 for adults and £5 for concessions/OAPS. Children under 16 go free and there will be no additional charge for parking. Gates open at 11am both mornings, and the event will close at 6pm.
