Gt Eccleston Show Shines
July 16th or the third Sunday in July is usually the date on which Fleetwood hosts its Festival of Transport and puts on a street display attracting the crowds - more or less since inception in 1985. An other Fylde community likewise had its special summer highlight - but this time over a very large field alongside the Poulton to Garstang road.
I have had a longstanding desire to see this show having been told of its attractions by many friends in recent years, and finally with brilliant sunshine I decided to swap trams for tractors (and much more).
The road verges and parking areas were completely filled with visitors' vehicles by the late morning on Sunday but parking areas were very well staffed (and free) guiding thousands of arrivals onto fortunately dry (and cropped) grazing ground. Sights and sounds from the varied events ongoing drew us into the melee of crowds, many with children and countless canine pets. Highlight of the Show is the 'Tractor Pull' held on a wide runway of earth overseen by a cadre of attendants with flags and whistles. The roaring reverberations from deep throated drag racing customised vehicles drew hundreds of hundreds of spectators around the 'arena'. Below : One of the 'drag racing tractors' is pulled off the track after completing its display. The driver sits on the perched seat above the rear wheels which contrast with the diminutive front axle size.
Cattle being patiently groomed ahead of prize judging - providing a diversity of scenes within one rural site on a summer weekend afternoon.
The crowded site included everything from special marquees hosting goats, pigs, cattle, and canine breeds - on show; to crafts, arts, bakery and food, memorabilia courtesy of local societies in the Fylde and the finds from 'detector groups'. Impressive new tractors and agricultural machinery contrasted with vintage tractors on display as well as small group of period cars. Especially fine weather on the Sunday contrasted with the dour rain the previous day - so a record turnout of enthralled visitors must have made this impressive event well worthwhile for the organisers. It
They don't make them like they used to. Classic vehicles adorn a small part of the Show. A fine collection of lorries from local firm Wareing & Co. on display.
certainly makes the Great Eccleston show a popular crowd puller each year. All the more impressive given the lack of public transport to the event other than a Sunday schedule of Stagecoach.
Tractors have come a long way these days from the basic model from the 1930s. This is a John Deere product actually on a working assignment pulling a bowser through crowded avenues in the Show. (Actually it was pushing the bowser with a careful driver and a lot of guiding help).
