Ragley Hall Proves a great game Fair host

Ragley Hall hosted the Game Fair for the first time

By Joe Dimbleby

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Ragley Hall is a hit with visitors and exhibitors as The CLA Game Fair welcomes a political change in the countryside

The CLA Game Fair’s new venue at Ragley Hall, in Warwickshire, proved popular with visitors who enjoyed three days of fine weather and a spectacular variety of entertainment at the show.

Game Fair organiser Fiona Eastman told Shooting Times. “We had 144,000 visitors, the highest number ever apart from our 50th year. The over riding sense is that trade was good and the exhibitors loved the location as it brought visitors from all over the country. Lord and Lady Hertford, who hosted the event said they throughly enjoyed the three days.”

A significant shift in the political climate was in evidence at the first Game Fair to be held under the coalition Government. In contrast to last year, when no senior Labour ministers attended discussions on rural affairs, this year both the agriculture minister Jim Paice MP and minister for environment Richard Benyon MP sat on the panels for debates in the Game Fair Theatre and secretary of state Caroline Spelman toured the site with CLA president William Worsley.

The rest of this article appears in 28th July issue of Shooting Times.