The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scottish Game Fair looking a record breaker in 30th year
With new attractions and wonderful weather, milestone year for annual showpiece is shaping up to be a special occasion
The Scottish Game Fair is shaping up for a record-breaking year thanks to soaring temperatures and a bumper line-up. Tens of thousands flocked to Scone Palace for day one of the country’s biggest outdoor show. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the fair, run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), boasts its biggest line-up of traders, competitions and main ring events. In the morning, families were treated to a spectacular bird of prey demonstration, with huge eagles soaring over the crowds. A Junior McNab event, organised to coincide with Scotland’s Year of Young People, also proved a big hit with families. Youngsters aged eight and up were given the chance to shoot a dummy rabbit and catch a trout. The overcast morning gave way to blue skies and sunshine in the afternoon, helping boost attendance yet further. Head of events at GWCT Sarah Ballantyne said: “We are really happy with the way the fair is shaping up. This could be our biggest year ever. “This was certainly the busiest Friday morning we’ve had.” She said the rest of the weekend will feature fair favourites as well as a host of new family-friendly activities. A ceilidh this evening will mark the fair’s milestone anniversary. Meanwhile, teams from across the UK are competing on islands in the River Tay as part of the Four Nations International Gundog contest. Yesterday saw the launch of the new Labrador Gin, developed to raise support for unwanted dogs. The drink is a team-up between the Persie Distillery in Glenshee and Perthbased dog rescue charity PADS. For each bottle sold, Persie Distillery will donate £1 to PADS, in addition to an annual lump sum, all of which will go towards providing care and shelter for abandoned dogs. Simon Fairclough, distiller and managing director, said: “As Persie Distillery entered its third year of trading, we wanted to look to the future and give something back to the wider community that supported us in our start-up years. “Our ambition was to team up with a dedicated charity partner and donate both time and money to make a difference to a specific cause over the next five years.” PADS director Alison Kennedy said: “We feel that this is an ideal partnership between a thriving Perthshire business and one of the county’s best-known and best-loved charities.”