Golden Year for Chatsworth Country Fair
Baking superstars Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry joined Olympic Medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill to ensure a golden year for the Chatsworth Country Fair in front of tens of thousands of visitors.
As honorary Country Fair President, Jessica Ennis-Hill opened the annual event on Friday alongside the Duke of Devonshire. The Grand Ring delivered an action-packed schedule on all three days, with show-stopping entertainment coming from The Imps Motorcycle Display Team, the hugely popular Household Cavalry Musical Ride; and a parachute display from Jump4Heroes.
The crowds were also be treated to an awe-inspiring aerobatic display by the Red Arrows. The Royal Air Force team famous for their trademark combinations of close formation flying, dynamic loops and rolls, appeared on Friday and Sunday.
Over in the Aga Rangemaster Cookery Theatre, a star-studded line-up of top TV food celebrities shared their top culinary tips, led by Great British Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood on Friday; queen of baking and show favourite Mary Berry on Saturday.
After opening the show Jessica Ennis-Hill travelled around the showground meeting visitors, exhibitors and performers. “I have always loved visiting Chatsworth – it is such a beautiful venue with the most amazing grounds. It is not far from home and when I get a day off I often visit for a walk and relax. Now I have a little boy I enjoy visiting the adventure play area with him and we always pop into the farm shop on the way home for a few bits of local produce.”
The Duke of Devonshire: “We’ve seen some wonderful performances including the Household Cavalry and, of course, the Red Arrows, and we’ve been delighted to have Jessica Ennis-Hill as Country Fair President. They’re all great ambassadors for our country and I’m sure the thousands of visitors who have been here for the past few days have enjoyed seeing them as much as we have.”
Jessica Ennis-Hill joins an illustrious list of fair presidents from BBC gardening favourite Alan Titchmarsh, England cricketer Michael Vaughan and IAAF President Sebastian Coe to Countryfile presenter Adam Henson and the Olympic rower and former Red Sock Matthew Pinsent CBE.
Dates for next year’s Chatsworth Country Fair have been confirmed as 1-3 September 2017.
