Showjumping returns to the flower show
SHOWJUMPING is returning to Southport Flower Show! You asked, and organisers listened.
One of the show’s highlights from many years ago was showjumping and it will be returning for the 100th anniversary Southport Flower Show on Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18.
Back in 1924, one of the first ideas of identifying events for the town and to extend the town’s holiday season was for a Floral Fete and Water Carnival to take place.
The proposed event was initially referred to as a ‘Grand Floral Fete including Horse Leaping’.
The show was affiliated to the Showjumping Association
with horse leaping events taking place in an uncovered grandstand, with £315 in cash prizes.
Showjumping continued right up to the 1980s.
Geoff Billington was one of those riders and the event organisers are delighted that he has agreed to return for this year’s 100th anniversary and entertain visitors like he back in the day.
He said: “What an honour to be asked to do a showjumping demonstration at Southport Flower Show. I first competed there in 1968 on ponies.
“Everyone used to tow their caravans behind the horseboxes and stay for a week, using it as a holiday as well as a show.
“Myself and my friend John Whitaker were starstruck walking past Harvey Smith and David Broome’s caravans, only a few feet away from our tents! We were 13 years old.
“When I progressed on to horses, I rode for a man that owned the Talk Of The North Nightclub in
Manchester,” he added.
“He told me one day I had to go with his horsebox and pick up a racehorse from some stables behind a garage.
“The horse was called Red Rum (three times Grand National Winner) and the trainer Ginger McCain didn’t have a lorry and they wanted me to parade him at the show.
“I wasn’t too happy as it stopped me going on the fairground with my pals!
“It was a unique show, jumping under the swinging floodlights for the evening jumping class.
“All the top showjumping horses used to love being exercised on the beach when they weren’t competing.
“It was a show that every showjumper looked forward to.
“I’ve been lucky to have a long career in the sport. I’ve jumped all around the world, ridden for Great Britain on well over 50 Nation’s Cups, competed at two Olympic Games, been ranked in the list of
Top 10 Riders in the World and still lucky enough to be competing in a sport I love, at the age of 69.
“I look forward to entertaining the crowd, showing them our training methods and telling stories about travelling the world with the famous John and Michael Whitaker, plus double Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton.”
Southport Flower Show, sponsored by the Seventy Ninth Group, is the UK’s largest independent flower show and attracts more than 55,000 visitors across four days.
Visitors to this year’s show can enjoy inspirational show gardens, spectacular floral displays, gardening advice, a pop-up shopping village with everything you need for the home and garden, cookery demonstrations, live music, entertainment and so much more.
For tickets please visit the Southport Flower Show website.
Special guests confirmed to date for the Garden Theatre are Carole Baxter and George Anderson of Beechgrove Garden, Adam Frost of BBC Gardeners’ World, David Domoney of Love Your Garden, Skinny Jean Gardener of BBC’s and CBBC’s Blue Peter and
CBeebies
Fletcher.
Cookery Theatre guests confirmed to date are Phil Vickery of This Morning and Platinum Pudding winner Jemma Melvin with many more to be announced over the next few months.
You can join them from Thursday, August 15 to Sunday, August 18, at Victoria Park in Southport to celebrate 100 years of the Southport Flower Show.
Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting announcements on the Southport Flower Show website and social media channels.
Star
Justin