The following reports appeared in the Stansted Parish Notes in October 2025. A video of the event is available after this article.

Horse Show & Gymkhana
We had another wonderful turnout for our show, which has now been running for at least 70 years! Despite worries about hard ground, everyone had a good time, and there were many smiling children and tired parents and ponies at the end of the day. One of the great joys of the show is that so many competitors from the 1980s and 1990s are now coming with their children and it’s fun to see them looking back at their names on the trophies.
As with most things, this show runs on goodwill and unstinting effort, not least from our judges, Abi and Emily Higgins and Taba Rimell (whose names appear numerous times on the trophies), Maria and Hilly.
See you next year!!

Fete, Motor and Dog Show
We had a lovely, warm afternoon for this edition of activities, and the event had even been advertised on Radio 2, though our version of egg jarping sounds far more fun.
The dog show proved popular, with the egg and spoon race providing a highlight, and there was a bumper Village Market, organised by Frances. Our version of egg jarping provided an enjoyable, if sometimes sticky, end to events, and Matt did a superb job with a great number and variety of vehicles, including a Lamborghini………. tractor.
Our usual animal charities were also in attendance, with Anim-Mates from New Ash Green and DunRunnin’ Greyhound Rescue from Fawkham. We raised well over £3,500, so thank you to everyone for donating, attending and spending your money! We hope you enjoyed it.

Supporters and Thanks
As usual, there are numerous people who organise and deliver on the day, so many thanks to all those on the fete committee, and on the gymkhana, the dog show, the bottle tombola, the books, the jarping, the raffle, the village market, the kitchen, the car parking, the bar, the BBQ, the game stalls and the Save the Black Horse stall.
In particular this year, special mention and thanks go to Sandy for judging the dog show again; Christine, who supported us all; Jan, who manages publicity and finds us great raffle prizes; and John for organising the parking, with support from Mike, Steve and Richard. Bridget managed the Kitchen Crew superbly, aided by Julie, Sue and Janet, and thanks to Jon for lining up the Black Horse gang. Well done to Maddie and friend for the tattoos and nail varnish. Apologies if I’ve missed anyone out.

Last, but far from least, we’d all like to thank Hilly for her tremendous enthusiasm and contributions to the fete and dog show over the last few years, and to wish her all the best as she moves on. We really do appreciate you for more than just your trailer.

Many thanks to all those who contributed prizes for the day:

• The London Golf Club
• The Hilltop, Stansted
• Woodlands Garden Centre, Stansted
• Twig and Spoon, Stansted
• Body and Soul, Borough GreenFrances and Martin
• Eagle Heights, Eynsford
• Hemsley Conservation Centre, Fairseat
• Glover’s Quality Meats, Hartley Bottom
• Orpin and Son Builders Merchant, Ash
• Reynolds Spa – The Retreat, Borough Green
• Winterdale Cheese Barn, Fairseat
• Steve’s of Northfleet (ice-cream)

Thanks to the NFU for sponsoring the gymkhana and to Theresa Goring for the dog show rosettes.

Please also set aside the date for 2026 – Saturday 5 September. As ever, if you’re willing to help or have ideas for developing the day, please let us know. We have a pretty relaxed approach to our preparations, with just a couple of meetings, helped along with the odd tipple.
As with most things, this show runs on goodwill and unstinting effort, not least from our judges, Abi and Emily Higgins and Taba Rimell (whose names appear numerous times on the trophies), Maria and Hilly.
See you next year!!