A VILLAGE in the Meon Valley will once again host the Hampshire Country Sports Day.

Hampshire Country Sports Day celebrates the countryside and the people and animals that live and work in it.

The event will take place in the Bereleigh Estate in East Meon, near Petersfield on September 11.

A range of artisan shopping, demonstrations, ‘have a go’ activities and competitions will be open to the sports day visitors.

An arena programme will showcase a whole range of rural sports including gundog training, fishing, clay-pigeon shooting and falconry displays.

Bill Tyrwhitt-Drake, chairman of the Hampshire Country Sports Day said: “We try and give a good example of everything people can do in the field sports world and some of it is competition as well.

“Last year we had about 3500 people and that tends to be our number most years. We seem to have a crowd of loyal supporters who pop along in September.

“People will have a very enjoyable day. It’s a very special, quite intimate show. And we do have a proper arena with lots of demonstrations going on, we have lots of food stands, a proper bar and there’s just something for everyone for a whole day.”

The event was introduced 42 years ago by one of the masters of Bereleigh Estate to allow anyone the opportunity, no matter their age, to have a go at different field sports.

Olympic medal winner Richard Faulds MBE and his Owls Lodge Shooting School team will be returning to the estate to provide ‘have a go’ clay pigeon shooting for beginners and competition for clay shooting enthusiasts.

The Raven Field Archers and Meon Valley Air Guns will also be offering tuition and taster sessions in archery and shooting.

Approximately, 60 trade stands will be on site selling a variety of jewellery, outdoors fashion and handmade goods, alongside food vendors from local and artisan pizza, hog roast, crepes, Cornish pasties, cider, beer, mead to donuts and ice cream.

The family dog show means visitors can enter classes including Prettiest Bitch, Handsomest Dog, Best Child Handler, Waggiest Tail, Scruffiest Dog, Best Puppy and Best Veteran, followed by the championship consisting of the winners from the first class.

The event will be open from 9am-5pm on Sunday, September 11 at the Bereleigh Estate in Petersfield.

To find out more and read the full programme go to hampshirecountrysportsday.co.uk/.

Tickets available on the gate or discounted if pre-booked online from ticketsource.co.uk/hcsd.