Old Boggy Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) Does anyone attend this ? We have been going for the last 10 or so years and can fully recommend it for a good day out. It's not massive by Game Fair standards but is original, has plenty to occupy the kids with the clay line, archery and air rifle plinking, plus there is a small funfair for those so inclined. No gunmakers row but plenty of stands to interest pigeon shooters, fishermen plus gun dog scurries etc. Oh and there is a popular bar serving Greene King beer and my particular favourite, Adnams Broadside. Well worth a visit in my view. OB Not sure why the word C-U-M was originally edited out, it is after all Latin for the word 'with'. Shouldn't have to spell out words using hyphens, but hey, that's this PC world for you !! Edited August 17, 2018 by Old Boggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 Looks interesting, although it is another of the chain of country fairs and will be more like a boot fair. Such a shame you have to pay £12:50 to get in, whereas most boot fairs are about 50p! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 I enjoy the Fenland show. It doesn't have as much shopping as the Countryman fairs - Kelmarsh felt like mostly shops this year - but it has pretty much everything else. I take my family on the Monday, shoot the clays, maybe help out at the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club tent. We like the displays and the old fashioned fun fair. My dad likes to walk around the old vehicles. Another couple of years and I'll be able to give you a tour of them myself! No boot sale so far as know. Check out the stoat racing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted August 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) 9 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Looks interesting, although it is another of the chain of country fairs and will be more like a boot fair. Such a shame you have to pay £12:50 to get in, whereas most boot fairs are about 50p! Not quite like a boot fair Tightchoke. I`ve yet to visit a boot fair where you can participate in clay pigeon shooting, archery, fly casting practice, air rifle plinking and visit stands of interest to wildfowlers, pigeon shooters, fishermen, stickmakers etc. etc. along with many interesting demonstrations in the two arenas. Give it a go Tightchoke, you may just enjoy it. Not sure whether `Way out in the fields` is local to Cambridgeshire though. I must admit that the entrance fee does seem to have increased this year. Thought it was £9 last year. Still worth it in my opinion. OB Edited August 17, 2018 by Old Boggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 hello, i much prefer these shows but very seldom have one in the VALE area, as a side note many years ago at a similar fair i met a nice chap stick dresser/ maker, he used what is known as bog oak, long buried oak trees were coming to the surface almost black and although very hard to cut and carve he made some wonderfull sticks, is this bog oak still being found Fenland members ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 Okay, due to pear pressure I am now going to have a look at the Fenland Fair, I do hope I am wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 2 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: due to pear pressure I am now going That is PERRY good of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 Well spotted! I did of course mean peer pressure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243deer Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 It is a good fair far more country orientated than some and far smaller. I go most years and thoroughly enjoy it. If you like to dabble at the clays, clay snooker, pool shoot with payouts every couple of hours, usually a flush stand for pairs and a 40 bird sporting. Last year they built a platform to shoot down on a low going away clay and a rabbit pair as well as sitting on a bale in a hide pigeon decoying, so they put in some effort to make it a bit more than the normal. There was also some laser shooting as well as the black powder boys. Cartridges are available on the day. The main show ring usually has the hounds, birds of prey, gun dog demos - it also had a deer tracking demo last year as well as carriage driving - always something going on. BASC and BDS were there. BASC had there ever popular taste of game tent with venison cookery and deer butchery demos. As said not too many stalls selling things but if you need a new coat or cartridge bag you will usually find something. Couple all of that with meeting old friends and the day soon goes by. Getting out at the end of the day usually takes about 20 minutes so not bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 4 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Okay, due to pear pressure I am now going to have a look at the Fenland Fair, I do hope I am wrong! TC, it's a good day out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 8 minutes ago, Penelope said: TC, it's a good day out. Yes, I plan to have a good look around and will enjoy the fruit section! May even have a play with the 40 bird shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted August 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 7 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, i much prefer these shows but very seldom have one in the VALE area, as a side note many years ago at a similar fair i met a nice chap stick dresser/ maker, he used what is known as bog oak, long buried oak trees were coming to the surface almost black and although very hard to cut and carve he made some wonderfull sticks, is this bog oak still being found Fenland members ?? Yes, I have got a stick made from bog oak from the Fens which I bought at the Fenland Fair about 8 years ago made by a stickmaker by the name of Towner. Apparently the bog oak is supposed to be about 6 to 8 thousand years old and you would think that it would be fossilised but it still very flexible. The late John Humphreys, who I knew quite well, showed me a glass topped table/ display cabinet that he had made from bog oak that graced his living room and housed lots of shooting related ephemera. It certainly was/is a cracking display. I think that that they are still dredging bog oak up, but perhaps someone more local would confirm that. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wymondley Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 I'll be there, I've been the last few years and found it a great day out. We shot the clays last year, only 40 birds but some good stands. I fancy a go on the black powder guns this year if the queues aren't too long. So, definitely worth going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 We really should all meet up, OB has suggested the BASC Stand at 15:30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted August 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 As an aside, if anyone is interested and is attending the Fenland and is not in possession of a game book, I can fully recommend 'The Country Sportsman's Record Book & Journal' conceived by the late John Humphreys and recently reissued by his widow Angela. This is beautifully illustrated by John Paley with little quotes and anecdotes featured on each page. In my view, everyone should record their days in the field and this is the perfect way to do it. Copies are being sold by Denis Moules who can be found on the pike fishing stand near the river at the Fenland. I think that they are selling for about £34 which sounds expensive but well worth it for the illustrations alone. I bought a copy in 2001 and wished I'd started one sooner. If anyone would like a copy and is not attending, I can always buy the odd one and post it on. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinw Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 (edited) The wife and I, will be there on the Monday. One of the nicest fairs we go to. Edited August 18, 2018 by kevinw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted August 20, 2018 Report Share Posted August 20, 2018 (edited) from not been for about 10yrs for health reasons from memory a cracking weekend traction engines shire horses and Suffolk punches etc vintage tractors steam engines stationary engines vintage cars etc 40 bird clay shoot food stalls to die for etc loads to see for everyone not a car boot highly recommended loads to see and do from some one on a three and a half hour round trip and if I can make it this year ill be there down to earth country fayre ?? Edited August 20, 2018 by Saltings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feltwad Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 On 17/08/2018 at 19:10, Wymondley said: I'll be there, I've been the last few years and found it a great day out. We shot the clays last year, only 40 birds but some good stands. I fancy a go on the black powder guns this year if the queues aren't too long. So, definitely worth going. Hope you manage to try a black powder gun most likely it is a branch of the MLAGB who are really sociable guys .Shooting a muzzle loader is not has bad has it looks it is a good sport Feltwad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey Posted August 25, 2018 Report Share Posted August 25, 2018 Well we're already down here for the wk end and doing the fair tomorrow looks like we're going to get wet. It's all part ov the day looking forward to it 3 minutes ago, moxey said: Well we're already down here for the wk end and doing the fair tomorrow looks like we're going to get wet. It's all part ov the day looking forward to it Ps is ther a shooters car park. Please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted August 25, 2018 Report Share Posted August 25, 2018 We've been going for the last few years, its a good show and has plenty to offer. Clay shooting is usually 40bird sporting, two man flush and clay snooker. Plenty of trade stands and displays to look around too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wymondley Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 Very wet there today so attendance was predictably down. Still, had a good time and did reasonably well on the clays considering it was chucking it down when we shot. Missed out on the muzzle loaders again! I think the weather should be better for those going tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 (edited) Well, I was quite correct! Edited August 27, 2018 by TIGHTCHOKE Spellage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wymondley Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 24 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Well, I was quite correct! Really, you didn't enjoy it then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 (edited) A lousy expensive 40 bird clay shoot , no pool shoot, a moderately entertaining 2 person flurry, loads of stuff not to buy, an interesting game cooking demonstration and to top it all off £12:50 to park the car and £12:50 for my passenger! I will take my own advice next time I even consider going to one of these awful set ups. Edited August 27, 2018 by TIGHTCHOKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243deer Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 I thought it was a great clay shoot - probably because I had a lucky day and hit more than usual, I agree the set up was a lot less interesting than last year. Also scored more on the snooker than I usually do as sorted out the reds a bit better. Met lots of friends and enjoyed some of the displays in the main ring, all in all a good day out will probably go again next year. Going to the Hoxne charity clay shoot next Saturday as still need more of a warm up for the game season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.