TV newsreader and former '˜Strictly...' winner is surprise guest at show

Iain Nicol, CEO, South of England Agricultural Society, said: “We had a marvellous weekend where the showground was full of fabulous plants and entertainment to really kick off spring.

“It was a great warm-up for the South of England Show on June 9-11.”

Natasha Kaplinsky, who won the first series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, presented the main prize in the South East Regional Alpaca Show where dozens of these fascinating camelids from South America competed for the coveted title, won by a Huacaya Alpaca from Houghton Hall Alpacas.

The Spring Garden & Leisure Show offered green-fingered enthusiasts great plant shopping and lots of gardening tips, with Jean Griffin of BBC Sussex, Surrey and Kent returning as the resident gardening expert for the weekend, chairing the ever-popular Gardening Theatre.

Bank holiday family fun was spread across the weekend with leisure activities for all ages including meeting a Mangalitsa – a woolly pig; kids’ face-painting; the much loved ‘Mini Sheep Show’; a fantastic fairground; and the regional Crufts Qualifying Open Dog Show.

More than 800 dogs from the region’s top breeders took part in the dog show, managed for the first time by Chairman Brian Ballan and honorary secretary Helen Osborne-Brown, with Newfoundland, Farlo, owned by Elaine Coldwell from Redhill winning Best in Show which will take him on to compete at Crufts 2017.

Visitors also tested their skills at the new caravan manoeuvring course run by The Caravan Club, as well as trying out target shooting and FootGolf, said to be the UK’s fastest growing sport, with Tilgate Forest Golf Centre’s 3-Hole FootGolf.

Children had a chance to pet farm animals, have a go at milking Buttercup the cow and take part in countryside art activities in the Countryside Hub at the Discover the Countryside Area, as well as following the popular Fluffy Duck Trail.

2016 President of the South of England Agricultural Society, Charles Moore, also former editor of The Telegraph, visited the Show on Sunday and was pleased to announce his charity of the year, Rwanda Aid, which was founded in East Sussex.

A collection will be held to support the charity, which provides support to rural communities in Rwanda, at the South of England Show next month.

Admission to the South of England Show: Under 16s go FREE (when accompanied by a paying adult £20); senior citizens and students over 16 £18. Save 10% when you buy online and up to 20% with early bird ticket discounts at www.seas.org.uk.

There is free parking and a regular bus shuttle service from Haywards Heath train station to the showground.

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