Slaley Show returned for its 164th year this weekend, celebrating the rural community at Townhead Showfield in Slaley, Northumberland, on Saturday. The traditional country show, held since 1849, welcomed crowds with a packed programme of events including competitions, displays, traditional pastimes, and crafts.
Competitions and displays
Among the competitions were pony fancy dress, puppy best in show, and sheep judging. Visitors also enjoyed a gun dog display, a birds of prey display, and a motor club display. The show originally started as the Slaley and Hexhamshire Floral and Horticultural Society Show with two types of members – gentlemen and amateurs. Gentlemen could not compete if they had a gardener. There were just four classes to enter: flowers, fruits, vegetables, and farmers.
History and growth
By 1901, more classes had been added, including 'butter fit for table', 'one dressed chicken', bread, and eggs. The show has run more or less continuously since 1849, with the odd break for bad weather, the pandemic, wars, and foot and mouth disease. Today, there are 435 competitive classes.
Here are some images of people enjoying the show:
- Sheep judging by Nicholas Robinson
- Show jumping in Horse Ring 2
- Gun dog display in the main ring
- Puppy best in show dog competition
- Heavy Horse Demo by Katie Willey
- Gosling Raptors
- Winner of the Bluefaced Leicester section, Lydia Forster from Lowes Fell Blue Leicester
- Thomas Burnside, aged 2, at the Slaley Show 2026
- Puppy Best in Show first place – Toy Poodle Barclay aged 13 weeks
- Barclay with owner Ione Saunders
- Crowds of people at Slaley Show on Saturday
- The Slaley Show returned for its 164th year
- The traditional country show celebrates the rural community
- The show is an exhibition of produce, livestock, and skilled craftsmanship
- The show had a packed programme of events
- A view of the Slaley Show on Saturday
- The show is a fun day for all the family
- Sheep at the Slaley Show
- Hexham and District Motor club
- An owl from Gosling Raptors
- Stalls at Slaley Show
- Dogs at the Slaley Show
