Yetholm Show 2024
Written by the Show Secretary, Angela Walker
Those of you who attended in 2023 would have been keeping everything crossed for this year hoping for better weather. And wasn’t it just? We had the most gloriously warm & sunny day & by all accounts, a record attendance.
The day started quite early with the Working Collie Trial & at the other end of the Showground, exhibitors were arriving with their Sheep, Vintage Machinery & Exhibits for the Industrial, Stick, Photography & Children’s Tents. Mingling with them were our Crafters & Traders, all getting set up for the day, with an excellent assortment of tempting goods. Considering the sheer volume of vehicles, our trusty ground control team did a stirling job of getting everyone parked & in the right areas.
Judging commenced at 10.30 prompt & the task of choosing winners from over 1,500 exhibits was swiftly underway. Not an easy task, the exhibits were of an extremely high standard, the tent a riot of colours. Meanwhile the Showground started to fill up, Hill Race runners were getting registered & our Master of Ceremonies was starting to warm up his vocal chords.
Our Stick Section is also host to the Champion of Champions Competition & the winner goes through to the Scottish Nationals the following year. To qualify for entry, the exhibitor must have won at another Show this year. This brought the total sticks to 417 making for the largest display in the country.
Once Judging had finished the Marquees were opened to the public & all were able to see who the winners were. The afternoon had arrived & this heralded the start of the Main Ring entertainment with the Duns Pipe Band, looking resplendent as always. Our catering outlets & bar were kept very busy, with everyone enjoying being outside in the sun partaking of the odd refreshement.
The Dog Show proved very popular this year with our 4-legged friends, & this was followed by a parade of over 80 Vintage Vehicles, lovingly restored, & the College Valley Hounds, a Show staple. Closing off the entertainment the Pipers once more went round the ring.
The Presentation of Cups & Trophies & the Grand Prize Draw signalled the end of the Show & it was time for quite a lot of folks to work out how they were going to get out of the car park!
2025 is our 160th Year & will be my 9th year in office. Things are starting to creak & I would like to offer the opportunity of becoming Show Secretary to someone new for 2026. If you’d like to be come part of a great team & would appreciate an informal chat, please call me on 07515 693288 or Colin on 07974 716762.
