 | Home > Off Topic > CLA Game Fiar Canned ? |
 
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328  
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Dear CLA Member
I very much regret having to inform you that the CLA Board has decided that we can no longer run the CLA Game Fair. This includes cancelling our planned 2016 event at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. The decision was taken following confirmation of the disappointing financial performance of this year’s event. Unfortunately the event did not meet its targets for exhibitor and sponsor income and most of all we saw a further decline in attendance. This year’s performance follows declining ticket sales which resulted in substantial losses at Ragley in 2013 and Blenheim in 2014. We believe it was right to continue to invest in the event for the last two years, because we were committed to making the event work. However the Board cannot in good faith continue to direct member’s money into a loss making event. We have been able to make this investment in the Game Fair over the past three years because of the otherwise sound financial position of your Association. We continue to make strong progress in our provision of advice and member services, our lobbying and policy work and we will continue to support a range of events throughout the year. Over the past three years a dedicated team of CLA employees and volunteers have worked incredibly hard to try and make the Game Fair a success. They have done so faced with an increasingly crowded calendar of outdoor summer events. I am grateful to them all for their efforts and regret the uncertainty that this decision now brings for them. We have made our announcement today. In that announcement we have made clear that whilst our decision that we can no longer continue to own and run the Game Fair is clear, we will enter a short period of consultation and we are open to proposals on how the Game Fair may be able to continue. If you would like to give us views and feedback on this decision, please send any comments to us at clagamefair@cla.org.uk. Yours Sincerely |
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21st Sep 2015 1:08pm |
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| RRUK Site Supporter Member Since: 31 Mar 2010 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 2025
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https://www.cla.org.uk/latest/news/statement-future-cla-game-fair 2016 D4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF 1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol |
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21st Sep 2015 1:14pm |
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328
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Defender now the Game Fair what's next ?
To be frank the Game fair in my opinion lost its routes became far to big maybe even greedy the small stall holders got less and less each year  |
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21st Sep 2015 1:22pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10381
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Same as Billing did.
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21st Sep 2015 1:28pm |
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888  
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I assumed the ticket prices were set to discourage the "great unwashed" from attending the game fair. I'm kind of surprised that they expected large attendance figures whilst at the same time massively overcharging for entry to the event.
From what I remember this year it was around £30-£35 per adult per day, can't think for the life of me why they wouldn't have people queuing around the block... We were considering going this year as it was so close to us but after seeing the admission price decided we could find more productive things to do. The Great Yorkshire Show entry costs less than that and I thought that was expensive ! http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/ |
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21st Sep 2015 2:11pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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Not only that we applied for a small stand, they acknowledged application and asked for photos of our stands, which I sent. I never heard another word and I guess I wasn't the only one. Given their high stand prices, we only considered it as it was on our doorstep.
There's keeping things exclusive and shooting yourself in the foot! Regards Barbara |
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21st Sep 2015 2:38pm |
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| Harry.O Member Since: 25 Jul 2014 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 713 
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Just saw this on the BASC website. A real shame,
 the show was always a great weekend but their expensive prices for both exhibitors and customers kind of ruined it in recent years.
It will be interesting to see which of the shows creeps up to become the 'big one' of the year going forwards. |
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21st Sep 2015 3:15pm |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471 
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Well that's another British institution down the pan.
To my mind the Game Fair had become just too large but much of that size was made up by far too many trade stands that had little or no connection with fieldsports. Once upon a time I would never dream of missing the event but after some pretty dire traffic management experiences at some of the venues in the past I have stuck to the smaller regional events that still retain the flavour that the Game Fair once had. Steve. Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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21st Sep 2015 3:17pm |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471
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As an aside I read in the Shooting Times recently that the BBC intended to start it's own fair based on 'Countryfile' ...so a right load of bland pap for townies that's likely to be ...especially if the likes of Chris Packham will be involved
 Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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21st Sep 2015 3:22pm |
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| gabe3105 Member Since: 25 May 2015 Location: Grimsby Posts: 237
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Saw the show advertised this year and liked the look of what was on offer there so me and wifey decided to go for a day out.......then we saw the ticket prices
It is no wonder they are struggling judging by the extortionate entry fee they were charging |
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21st Sep 2015 3:32pm |
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| discomog Member Since: 09 May 2015 Location: Notts/Lincs Border Posts: 2526 
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We have visited the Game Fair many times over the years as members of CLA, ie complimentary tickets. However as small land owners we felt that their membership subscriptions were starting to hike up so we decided that the benefits of membership versus subscription were beginning to diminish so we cancelled our membership. We decided (just like Gabe3195) to have a day out at Harewood House as it was within easy travel distance. We took one look at the gate prices and decided not to bother.
Lots of people are not into shooting and fishing but enjoy other country pursuits and enjoyed a day out in lovely surroundings, maybe take their dogs, have a beer, try their hand at shooting, if only to say they had done it etc but unfortunately the CLA failed to offer value for money and that is why the Game Fair has passed its sell by date for many of the "ordinary" visitors. |
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21st Sep 2015 4:49pm |
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| Romadog Member Since: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Powys Posts: 1749 |
The problem with some shows is that they have too many Tat stalls eg, The Town and Country Show that was at Stoneleigh for a while etc, and basically you were paying a premium to go shopping.
CLA shows were not set up over a few days or a week like some, it took months to build up and so they had to hire in equipment to maintain the site etc etc. This amongst other things made costs high. maybe it should be something that is done every other year?? Yes there are a lot of 'other' exhibitors, but that was to reach a wider market and yes some seem to be there for numbers rather than the cause. Too many Teak? garden furniture and Was at Weston Park at the weekend for Midland Game Fair. That was £20 entrance fee on the gate. We arrived at 9am and left by midday. It was heaving by then and so difficult to view the stalls as well as being very hot ! We left as having walked round, done some shopping, but had a young dog with us for some socialising experience and also the tendency to go lame with too much strenuous exercise, so taking it easy at the mo. Why did we go? Well been before many times, being a Shropshire Lad and CLA was way up narth this time rather than at Ragley which is 30 minutes down the road, and an excellent site for a true Country Show. Then again the CLA is more about guns with Gun Maker's Row becoming more Gunmaker's mile ! I do like guns ! Just prefer to go to a show and pay £20 to learn and see something I wont see anywhere else, so more Gun Dog training demos etc than just herding ducks ! Moreton in the Marsh Show this year was good, albeit a little smaller than some years? Therefore a large Country/Agricultural Show is better. Yet the amount of Gundog/ gamey stuff was minimal here sadly. However the Gundog demo was in a smaller ring making it easier to be part of it helping both the demonstrator and those watching. Just some thoughts. Just look forward to taking my dogs to have a go at the scurries etc for some entertainment at these events. |
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21st Sep 2015 5:46pm |
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| TACK Member Since: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Essex Posts: 1045 
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Not read all the posts above, we have not attended the last 3-4 shows due to ticket prices.
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21st Sep 2015 7:54pm |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856 
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I loved the event at Radley and couldn't make it up north for this years show. I was looking forward to the events return to Radley Hall.
The CLA shows felt a better fit for what I wanted from a show compared to the defunct Royal at Stoneleigh and I only saw it as a success. Clearly the economics didn't add up. A real loss www.td5.org |
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23rd Sep 2015 8:04am |
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