The annual Lincolnshire Horse Trials takes place in March at the Lincolnshire Showground at Grange de Lings.

Olympic hopefuls will be heading the line up at this year’s Lincolnshire Horse Trials, with up to 700 competitors expected to take part in the three-day event.

The Lincolnshire Showground hosts the 2012 event from Friday 16^th to Sunday 18^th March, with competitors taking part in dressage, show jumping and cross country over the three days at pre novice (BE100), novice and intermediate levels. 

And selectors for the British team are expected to be on the lookout once again during the pony trials that are also held. 

The venue is recognised as an excellent event for early season because the flat, well drained ground is a good proving ground for both horse and rider.  The event is open for entries from early February and it’s expected to draw previous participants and Olympic hopefuls such as William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Nicola Wilson and Piggy French. 

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Local riders are also expected to showcase their talents, including Rosalind Canter from Louth and Deborah Doyle from Lincoln, who both had wins in the BE100 sections last year.  Helen Scholl from Grantham, who won one of the Novice sections in 2011 and Gina Ruck from Tealby who won the Open Intermediate Under 21 Section. 

Also expected is rising star and future Olympic hopeful Emilie Chandler, who secured a win on Douglas, and a second place on Beeswing, in last year’s intermediate sections.

Charles Hood, director of the Horse Trials and the course designer, is predicting an exciting line up of both international and local riders. 

He said: “This will be a very exciting year in the run up to the Olympics and we’re expecting to draw an exceptional range of entrants as a result. Because our course gives a good variety of well-built straight forward fences, and is run over extremely well-drained light land, it draws competitors looking to build early season confidence with good going.  We have planned some new fences especially for this year.”

Competitors will also find an improved layout, with the day boxes able to get inside the Showground, instead of being located outside the perimeter. 

And the management and scoreboard will this year be inside the Showground’s EPIC Centre conferencing venue.

Nearly two thousand visitors attended last year’s event over the three days, and the competitors and their support staff bring the same number again to the Showground site at Grange de Lings, providing a welcome boost to the local economy.

The Horse Trials are organised by Lincolnshire Events Centre on its 200 acre Showground site, which includes a major national conferencing venue and is home to the county Show. 

Entry on Saturday and Sunday is £5 per car to include all occupants.

Running order:

Each day of this three day event is focussed on a particular class, giving visitors the chance to see all events each day, cross country, dressage and show jumping.

Friday 16^th March: 

BE100 and Open BE100 class.  

8.00am   Dressage

8.45am   Show jumping

9.30am   Cross country

5.00pm Approx finishing time

Saturday 17^th March:

Novice and Open Novice plus Pony Trial dressage and show jumping

8.00am   Dressage

8.45am   Show jumping

9.30am   Cross country

5.00pm Approx finishing time

Also taking place on Saturday is Pony Trial dressage and show jumping.  The pony cross country is on Sunday at 9.00 am.

Sunday 18^th March

Intermediate and Open Intermediate classes plus Pony Trial cross country

8.30am   Dressage

8.45am   Show jumping

9.00am   Cross country plus Pony Trial Cross country

5.00pm Approx finishing time

For further information visit http://www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/horse_trials/ or email Anne Whitton at anne@burghley-horse.co.uk

The head of one of the UK’s leading horticultural companies has been named as the new President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.

The Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE, who is now serving as a Government minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, follows in the footsteps of other distinguished Presidents, who have included HRH Princess Anne, the Earl of Yarborough and most recently Professor David Chiddick, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln.

In the presidential role, Lord Taylor will represent the Society at the annual Lincolnshire Show in June, when over 60,000 people come to learn about the importance of agriculture in the life of the county.

Lord Taylor’s involvement in horticulture and farming dates back to his teens, when he joined the family business and started work on the family farm in Holbeach. The peer, who stood down as chairman of the company, Taylors Bulbs, following his appointment said:  “It’s a great honour to be invited to act as President.  I applaud the Society for the way in which they have kept the agricultural focus of the Lincolnshire Show; in so doing they have ensured that it remains the high point of the farming year in the county.

“The Society plays an important part in the economic life of Lincolnshire as well as performing a great task as advocate for the agricultural and horticultural industry, in what is the country’s premier agricultural county.”

Lincolnshire Agricultural Society operates the Lincolnshire Events Centre, which brings together agricultural, educational and conferencing activities.  Research has shown that a massive £44m is being injected into the national economy thanks to the Lincolnshire Events Centre, which attracts over 215,000 visitors a year.

Lord Taylor added: “The biggest challenge facing farming is to make best use of modern technology and remain competitive in the global marketplace.  Keeping up to date is vital.“

Lord Taylor entered the House of Lords in 2006, having been made a life peer as Baron Taylor of Holbeach, of South Holland in the County of Lincolnshire. He was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2011.

He was previously Government spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, Energy and Climate Change, and Work and Pensions. He also served as opposition spokesman from 2006-2010 and as a Whip in the House of Lords. He was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 for political service, and served as Chairman of the National Conservative Convention and Deputy Chairman of the Party from 2000 to 2003.

Taylors Bulbs is one of the largest bulb producers in the UK, farming 317 acres of daffodils and 1860 acres of other crops including vegetables, cereals, potatoes and sugar beet.

Also leading the Society during 2012 is John Lockwood, who continues in his role as Chairman for a third year. Master of the Burton Hunt and a former High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, he runs the family property company, Castle Square Developments, alongside the family farm.

The £7m EPIC Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground was opened three years ago, providing a conference and events facility, capable of hosting conferences, balls and seminars, and is designed also as an educational resource and state-of-the-art events centre for up to 1,900 people.

It's a new year and the LEC is celebrating by welcoming two new people to its team.

Following the promotion of Jayne Southall to Director at the end of last year, we were in need of a new Finance and Commerical Manager and Mark Truman stepped in to fill the role.

The new year has also seen an increase in event enquiries so we really needed another events team member and Sophie Hough has come all the way from an event management catering company in Hull to help us out.

We're very pleased that they're both on board but here's what they think of us so far...

"I have now been with the company for two weeks and have been very thankful for the warm welcome I have received from both trustees, members and colleagues, it definitely helps in settling in with a new company," says Mark.  

"As Finance Manager I have just been through the month end accounting process with Jayne and have recently released the management accounts for December.

"What I have really enjoyed about my role is the variety, from producing accounts to dealing with supplier contracts to setting up tables for a conference we had here recently.

"It’s an exciting time for the company in terms of selling the EPIC Centre as both an events and conference centre as well as running the Lincolnshire Show alongside it and I want finance to become more involved with the rest of the business in terms of reporting on how events have performed and trying to reduce costs for the business given the current climate.

"Having never been to the Lincolnshire Show before that is definitely going to be a new and I’m sure rewarding experience!"

And we also haven't managed to scare Sophie off yet too...

"I have only been with the company for two weeks but I have immediately felt welcomed by everybody associated with the Showground from colleagues to trustees.

"As the Sales and Events Co-ordinator it is great to see an events centre and showground which has such versatility to accommodate such a wide variety of events.

"I am looking forward to working with everyone to grow the business further and make the EPIC Centre reach its full potential for all events.

"The Lincolnshire Show is something that I have always attended every year with my family since I can remember and I am definitely looking forward to seeing and participating in the organistation and hard work that goes with such a large scale event.

"It is a very promising and exciting business to be a part of!"

The Lincolnshire Events Centre and Lincolnshire Agricultural Society are headed in a new direction thanks to the appointment of fresh leadership.

 Jayne Southall, who has worked at the Lincolnshire Showground for more than five years, has been appointed Director.

Formerly the Finance Manager, Jayne has already held the overall managerial position twice before in an acting capacity and, working for a different company, has helped take a firm from £0 to £6 million.  

“I’m really pleased to have this opportunity,” says Jayne.  “It will be a challenge but I’m looking forward to it.

“Lincolnshire is a great county to be in and I’ve enjoyed seeing our city grow and develop into being a very up and coming vibrant place to live.

“I’m looking forward to helping grow the general public’s interest and awareness of farming and rural life through the work of the Agricultural Society and the annual Show in June and also making people more aware of the facilities we have to offer through the Events Centre.  The LEC is versatile, has sustainable ideals at its heart and has the capability to bring large exhibitions to Lincolnshire.

“We’re keen to be a part of the community and build relationships with and support organisations who share similar aims to the charitable aims of the LAS.  I am looking forward to meeting people around the county and welcoming old and new visitors through our doors.”

Chairman of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society John Lockwood says “Following the departure of Mark Farmer, I am delighted to announce that Jayne Southall has been appointed as Director of the LAS and LEC to lead the team forward.

“No-one knows the business better than Jayne and her outstanding management of the Society’s accounts in recent years has given her a great insight into the business.

“I have, with the full backing of the Society’s Officers and Trustees, every confidence in the appointment.”

This weekend the Lincolnshire Events Centre is opening its doors to a range of fabulous food and gorgeous gifts to tempt your Christmas purses with.

Open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday these are the stands that will be providing visitors with lots of present buying inspiration:

For more information visit http://www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/christmas_food_and_craft_fair/ 

The Christmas trees are decorated...

The outside marquees have been put up ready for our hot food sellers...

And the demonstration kitchen theatre is being built...

Our Christmas Food and Gift Fair preview evening is tomorrow night!  Hundreds of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society and Taste of Lincolnshire members will be enjoying a glass of wine along with a browse around the food and gift stands in the Epic Centre.

But if you're not a member, don't worry.  You can join in the fun with the thousands of other visitors who will be coming through the Lincolnshire Showground's gates between 10am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Entry is £5 for age 16+ and free for children aged 15 and under.  And don't forget to ask about becoming an LAS member whilst you're here to make sure you're on the preview evening guest list for next year!

http://www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/christmas_food_and_craft_fair/

Due to internal promotion a vacancy has arisen for a Finance and Commercial Manager.

Reporting to the Director of the Lincolnshire Events Centre and based at the Lincolnshire Showground the post holder will be responsible for the management and reporting of the financials of LEC and the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society including the Lincolnshire Show.

The role will include preparing and monitoring the accounts, budgets and cash flows for both the charity and the company and the post holder will be expected to contribute fully as a member of the management team to policies including health and safety, HR and procedures, manage supplier contracts, develop IT and the reporting systems.

Experience required includes financial/management accounting knowledge, commercial awareness and sound analytical skills. Knowledge of SAGE desirable.

CVs will not be accepted - please contact Emma at eseamer@lincs-events.co.uk or on 01522 585515 for an application form, job description and person specification.

The closing date is Sunday, December 4th, 2011.

MISSING CAT

Curtains

Have you seen long-haired black and white cat Curtains?  She disappeared from the Warner Motorhome Season Finale at the Lincolnshire Showground at the end of September.  She was wearing a black leather/diamante collar.

Please call Bob Wilkinson on 01900 814599

Well you go away for a couple of weeks and your colleagues have not one or two but several parties whilst you're gone!  Think of all the cake I missed!! 

The office was celebrating birthdays, saying a sad goodbye to a couple of members of staff who are moving out of the county and offering a welcoming slice of lemon drizzle to our new arrivals as well as appropriately marking the Midsummer Magic concerts held in the Showground's main ring (can you believe Jason Donovan came to my work place and I wasn't here?!) and the start of the Living Islam event. 

I might not have been back off holiday for very long but in true LEC style we've already hosted a pony club, toy and train fair and a wedding, as well as the latest Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show - this time it was the turn of our summer intern Georgy Heneage to amble down the antique aisles to see what she could spot...

Fabulous weather shone over the Showground for the three days of the Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show.  Experts, dealers and interested shoppers could be found strolling around amazed at the variety on offer; from car boot style ephemera and collectables to priceless Royal Worcester china.  You could furnish your house and garden with Persian rugs, chaise longues, garden benches and a wide range of knick-knacks, whilst adorning yourself with beautiful jewellery, vintage clothes and antique lace.

If your house is full and you are simply adding to collections you can find apothecary bottles, leather luggage in perfect condition, sewing machines, chests, chairs, cushions, pictures, books, antique keys, feather fans, barometers, clocks and even swords.  You can pick up a good deal in ‘Bargain Corner’ where the friendly nature and cheerfulness of the traders is echoed around the Showground.  

If you didn’t find what you were looking for in the hundreds of marquees and stalls spread across the grounds you could have come and visited the buzzing atmosphere in the EPIC Centre and Exhibition Hall where the excellence continued.

Customers could be seen taking away their purchases in wheelbarrows, others shipping them off by worldwide couriers, even the Red Arrows turned out in the skies to show their support and appreciation of the astonishing quality and variety.

The last two Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Shows this year will take place on October 3rd-5th and November 28th-30th.  Find out more at www.asfairs.com

The Lincolnshire Echo Features team enjoyed a day out at the Lincolnshire Show and chose a few of their favourite things to write about in the newspaper's Weekender supplement.

Dawn and Sam were both won over by the pig racing, the Sheep Show and the Food Court's delicious offerings and Patrick was surprised by the fascinating poultry tent and interested in the expert angling taking place across the pond.

There was so much to see at the Show we've all got our favourite bits too:

Trade secretary Sally Mundy says "The diversity amongst my 580+ trade exhibitors - everything from combines to cards, tractors to tools, flowers to furniture, handbags to hats - was fabulous!  And I also loved Mambo - the big straw mammoth up on 2nd avenue - he looked so at home!"

And Sally loved Mambo so much she welcomed him with a mammoth-sized kiss! 

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Events team leader Verity Parmley also had a soft spot for the straw creature: "I loved the mammoth - I thought he was a fantastic spectacle and he really stood out," she says.  "I also loved the food court.  There is so much choice and lots of things to try.  It also gives you the opportunity to meet local suppliers who you wouldn't necessarily know about."

Events co-ordinator Nicole Christian was obviously enjoying some of the same views as the Echo features team as she shares Sam and Dawn's delight at one spectacle.  "One of my favourite bits of the Show is the pig racing," she says.  "They had to jump over little jumps, hehe!!  I also enjoyed meeting people at the LEC stand where we offered free canapés and flutes of Champage."

And for Show administrator Wendy Taylor it was the furrier visitors that she enjoyed welcoming through the gates.  "Allowing dogs into the Show for the first time in years was my favourite thing about the Show this year.  It was lovely to see all the family being able to enjoy the experience." 

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