NEARLY 5,000 people crowded into Tichborne Park, Alresford, for the annual Hampshire Country Sports Day, which offered a choice of hunting, shooting and fishing competitions.

It also featured a variety of dog shows and 75 trade stands selling everything from handbags to craft gifts and paintings.

It was a day to enjoy rural pursuits and join country lovers in celebrating a wonderful annual event in a perfect setting to feature skilled sportsmen and women demonstrating their craft while others came along to learn.

One of the big attractions, in the main ring, was Jonathan Marshall demonstrating his skill with falcons while on horseback.

Another highlight of the September 13 sports day was Cornishman Chris Green, a hunter-gatherer who gave two demonstrations, one of wild fowling and a shot gun display while explaining how he uses them to catch the prey that is part of his daily diet.

The event was sponsored by GMK suppliers of Beneli shotguns, and organised by Alison Hawkes who said this year: “We had a much larger casting pool with 10 different organisations attending, as well as salmon and trout associations, fly dressers, Fly Odyssey and fly tiers. They all gave demonstrations of their skills and also offered tuition to members of the public.”

In another part of the Park there was a clay pigeon shooting competition where entrants bring their own guns and again tuition on offer for anyone wanting to improve their skills.

For animal lovers there was a variety of choices from an inter-hunt competition to a selection of lurcher and terriers competition shows plus a fun dog show which gave family pets a chance to shine and which proved highly popular with the visitors.

The stalls did a roaring trade and that was because, said Alison: “We make sure we have stalls where people want to shop, no double glazing or time-share traders are invited, with good quality items as well as crafts.”

There was also a good variety of food and drink, all from local sources, on offer although, being country folk, many brought a picnic as the weather stayed warm and sunny.

“We were very lucky,” said Alison. “It didn’t rain and everything went off very well and we a very grateful to our sponsors GMK. We haven’t counted all the money yet but I think we have raised around £30,000 this year which will go to The Country Alliance.”