Pembrey set to become Welsh Game Fair home

THE eagle has landed to claim Pembrey Country Park as the likely permanent home of the Welsh Game Fair.

Visitors, competitors and main ring acts described the parkland venue as the best they had visited anywhere in the UK.

More than 22,000 visitors from as far afield as Scotland to Czechoslovakia in 5,000-plus cars flooded into the park over the weekend.

Country Skills demonstrator Chris Green from Cornwall said who travels all over the UK said: “This park is without doubt the best I have ever been to and I have performed at game fairs and events country wide.

“It has got everything, forgiving ground, fantastic scenery and is coastal.”

Carmarthenshire Council executive board member for leisure and regeneration Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Once again Pembrey Country Park has excelled and shown itself to be an exceptional venue for major events like this.

“It was astonishing how far people travelled to enjoy this show. I spoke to stallholders who were overwhelmed with the venue.”

Show organiser Elvin Thomas said they will sit down and review the event with the council but with 250 stalls including as astonishing 170 craft stalls in one massive marquee all singing Pembrey praises he admitted it would be difficult to find a better venue.

Fellow organiser Adrian Simpson said: “Where has this park been hiding? In 28-years we have never had a venue like it. It’s perfect.”

Wood turner Dai Davies from Ciliau Aeron, Lampeter, sold a life-sized carved bulls head out of Welsh oak to one of his first stall visitors from Czecholslovakia for £400. “One of the busiest shows I have ever been too. A great success,” he said.

Main ring attractions including gundog demonstrations, parades of beagles, country skills, runner packs of Egyptian ducks; hawking, simulated coursing, husky’s, ferrets, chainsaw demonstrations, open forest clay pigeon shooting, fishing, fly casting demonstrations and competitions and a motor cycle stunt freestyle, team and helicopter rides kept whole families thoroughly entertained throughout the days.

Gillian Cope from Caerphilly said she had been to previous game fairs at Gelli Aur and the United Counties Showground but Pembrey stood head and shoulders above them.

“In fact half my family went off and disappeared into the park and the beach. That’s all they have been talking about is Cefn Sidan.”

The National Countrysports Newspaper, The Countryman’s Weekly, described the Pembrey Country Park venue as “undeniably one of the most beautiful and scenic venues in the country. This game fair which was already one of the best in the country seems to have set down its roots in a venue that is second to none.”