Committee & Stewards
Show President: Richard Smaridge
Show Chairman: Dave Trigger MBE
Show Secretary: Helen Baker
Honorary Vets: South Moor Vets
Show Directors: Richard Balkwill and Julie Higgin
Richard and Julie are both responsible for the overall layout of the show ground, you’ll find them on site the week prior to the show marking out the pitches for trade stands and ensuring that all marquees, cattle lines etc are located in the correct place. Their work never ends, from discussing the complexities of how to manage the variety of main ring attractions through to managing the catering tenders Richard and Julie put a huge amount of time and effort into making sure that show day runs as smoothly as possible for everyone involved.
Chief Craft Tent Steward: Emily Smaridge
Chief Food Drink Marquee Steward: Angela Smaridge
Angela is responsible for the Food & Drink Marquee, for the show. Anegla organises the allocation of pitches and any queries that arise.
Members Tent Chief Steward: Elizabeth Perraton
Elizabeth looks after the needs of all the members and people who help to make the show the great success it is. On Show Day, Elizabeth and her team will ensure that everyone is catered for be it a bacon buttie in the morning or a lovely lunchtime meal through to afternoon tea. This is no mean feat and we are all very appreciative of her efforts – especially welcome are her cups of tea when you’ve been on your feet all day!
Chief Horse Steward: Louise Sharpe
Louise Sharpe BHS Senior Accredited professional coach in Eventing, freelance coach. EAL Facilitator and practitioner for the Mare and Foal Sanctuary. I have a website louisesharpe.co.uk
I’m a rider, mother and coach. Completed at National level. Trained internationally including in Australia. I’m a volunteer for BHS Devon and a Ride Safe Coach and Trainer.
Produced horses for foals to adult hood, love the journey. A keen supporter of local and County shows, including a panel judge for two societies.
Chief Cattle Steward: John Woodley
John – to be honest there were so many things we could say about John we just didn’t know where to start. He’s always on the show ground to help with the setting up and is often seen running from one point to another to get the job done in the fastest time possible. Always reliable (but a tad late on occasion) we all know that if we need a hand John will be there to lend his support. Thanks John!
Chief Sheep Steward: Sadie Darke
Hi, my name is Sadie Darke and I’m the new chief sheep steward of Kingsbridge Show.
I’m married to husband Matt and we have 3 children, Jack (born on Kingsbridge show 2017), Isla and Lottie. We live on our family mixed farm in Chillington. I have been involved with sheep showing all my life, through my own family showing Scotch Blackface sheep and in the last 14 years with the Darke’s showing the Devon and Cornwall Longwools. We have also established a small flock of texel’s which we show successfully too around the summer show circuit. Being involved with Kingsbridge Show is something I’m very excited to do so, to showcase the best livestock from around the South Hams and further afield is something I firmly believe in and without our wonderful exhibitors we wouldn’t have the sheep section we have. So thank you to them all.
Look forward to seeing you all in September!
Sadie
Fleeces, Arable, Hay, Corn & Straw Chief Steward: Emma Ford
Emma has taken on the role of Chief Steward in the Arable section from Joan Soper, a hard act to follow. Emma was chairman in 2023 and is a keen supportive member of the Show. She manages to juggle her show responsibilities with her young family, who also enter the childrens’ classes.
Horticulture Chief Steward: Keith Steer
Keith has extensive experience within the horticultural sections as he organises several shows within the local area. Competitors can enter in classes for vegetables, fruit, flowers of all kinds and pot plants. Keith will be found within the marquee prior to the show arranging the staging for exhibitors entries and particularly on show day and is always happy to speak with exhibitors and potential newcomers. For help and advice beforehand you can contact Keith on 01548 561509
Floral Art Chief Steward: Helen Reeve
Helen has a passion for the Floral Art Section and rightly so too as it’s always full of the most beautiful displays in the area. We are very proud to have her with us on the committee and we always look forward to seeing the exhibitors interpretations of the classes because the variety of flowers and the vibrant colours are absolutely stunning – please take time to see this section of the marquee.
Children’s Arts Crafts Section Chief Steward: Catherine Acton
Homecraft Chief Steward: Ann Brooks
Ann has looked after this section for a number of years, the twenty four classes cover a variety of talents from jam making to photography and a selection of handicraft classes. There’s something for everyone and no age limitations, so get your children cooking the Victoria Sandwhich while you produce lemon curd and your parents try out the photography classes.
Young Farmers Chief Steward: Lynda Wreyford
Kingsbridge Young Farmers Club is such a great group of young people who are always challenging themselves by taking up officer roles, participating in speaking competitions, fundraising, stock judging and so much more. They certainly make sure they have a whole lot of fun along the way with socials planned throughout the year. I have been involved with KYFC for nearly 20 years, held many officer roles, been club leader and now I am an advisory member. I competed at every level from a Club to National and took part in many trips and scholarships. I am so pleased to be Kingsbridge Young Farmers’ Chief Steward at this year’s show. The YFC area of the tent is always set up and organised by the members themselves and the club members fill it with fantastic entries. Look out for fun and games outside the tent as members will be fundraising on the day and taking part in other activities across the show – they’re busy people! Be sure to pop in and enjoying looking around the YFC section within the Arable Tent.
Country Scene Tent Chief Stewards: Emily Squires & Jamie Rundle
Jamie and Emily are entering their Second year in 2024 and they will be organising the display of animals including children’s pet classes (rabbits, guinea pigs etc) poultry, pond area and other animals suitable for children eg donkeys, goats, pony & foal, rare breeds, and also rural art and craft displays.
Chief Gate Steward: Richard Bath
The car parks and gate entrances and exits are very efficiently organised and run with a huge band of volunteers assisting! Believe us when we say that it’s no mean feat to achieve this successfully, year after year. Our Gate Stewards are worth their weight in gold and we want to thank them for doing such a wonderful job from organising signage, health & safety policies and general management of the huge volumes of traffic we see on show day. Well done team!
Advertising Sponsorship: Helen Baker
There are many sponsorship and advertising opportunities here at the Kingsbridge show. If you’d like to be included in our programme/schedule or if you want to find out how you can gain additional exposure through sponsorship please contact us via e-mail kingsbridgeshow@gmail.com Helen has returned for another stint as Show Secretary, having previously acted in the role in the late 1990s for 10 years. She has lived in the South Hams for most of her life and is from a farming family. Helen now has time on her hands to devote to the Show as her family now live away.
Main Attractions Secretary: Maggie Cornhill
Welcome to Maggie who has been on the committee for a while now but has recently taken on the main attractions. She books the main attractions and then oversees the smooth running of the day.
Cup Secretary: Shirley Barrett
Shirley started with the show trophies when she was just 16 years old working for Luscombe Maye! Since then she has had some years off but has always been persuaded to come back to the fold. On show day you’ll find Shirley working hard in the Secretary Tent, logging all the results and recording all the cup winners. If you’ve ever won a trophy at the show Shirley is the person behind the scenes who made sure you received it.
Dog Show Organiser: Anita McCoy
Anita (or Neats as we all know her) has managed the dog show for many years, seeing it grow in popularity year on year. This is the one element of the show whereby entries are accepted only on the day, we have twenty classes each of which are allocated at least six rosettes – make no mistake, that’s a lot of rosettes for a lot of dogs. All dogs are welcome on the show ground providing they are on a non retractable lead and are kept under control.
If you have ever thought ‘I would like to get involved’ whilst visiting the Kingsbridge Show or if you are new to the area and would like to join us we would be delighted to hear from you. If you only have an hour or two or maybe you would be interested in becoming a Chief Steward we have lots of areas to get involved with and become part of the team.