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I didn't spend much but the washing machine operator spent over £300 on herself!
I travelled down from the Scottish borders with my stalking mate and called in on the way. It turned out to be a bit of a cross country trek but we made it for 2:30. Dogs in the car along with the weekends haul, stalking gear on still with sh** included.
On arrival I must say the large building did overwhelm the stands a little, but it was nice to have plenty of room to walk from stand to stand.
My overall opinion is that the gear on offer all seemed to be of good or high quality. There was absolutely everything a stalker needs (not could have but actually needs) from a cleaning patch to the new rifle and top end optics. Quality clothing, knives and larder equipment including some pretty smart mobile units and other organisations and advice. I was impressed with the range and quality on offer.
However I did seem to get round the show rather quickly (about 2 hours) even with a bit of chat here and there. I didn't buy much at all. £2.40 donation to the site for a couple of coffees and a £1 for a magazine. (Bargain).
Had I travelled just to go to the site I may have been a little disappointed that I spent as long travelling as at the show, but then there's little point in having 10 stalls selling coats, 10 selling knives, 10 with guns la la la. So how to find the balance is difficult.
I am pleased I went and feel a bit of self gratitude that I supported what is the only show to give it a go down here.
I hope it's run again and I could go earlier and perhaps get involved in some DI type talk or seminar on cull planning, or how to assess what roe or fallow heads should be taken etc.
I hope the traders did ok out of it and will continue to see if year two could be even better. Well done to the organisers for sticking with the concept of Kelso. I didn't see any chavs or pikeys which was a relief.
Aye, you didny do too well out of that deal. Nice to meet you and hope the car park lads left you some cigs!
More pics...
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p.s. although Andy from Moray Outfitters only mentioned it once every ten minutes for the entire duration of the event I still managed to detect some subtle disappointment in the absence of Sheila's dundee cake from the SD stand for which I can only apologise!
Hopefully John and Sheila will be back on the stand at Kelso!![]()

It's the traders that make it all possible, paying the exhibition fees, without them, no fair. end of. I suspect if people want the DS Fair to continue, bring some willingness to support the industry and buy some more goodsthe entry fees go to covering some of the exhibition arena fees and maybe a few quid to the organisers if they're lucky; however, if the traders don't get enough turnover, they will stop making an effort to show up.
moral of the story, showing up and buying a coffee, a roll, maybe a few bullets and a t-shirt ain't going to make it happen.
I also, on the flip side, believe that the traders need to start bringing items that are not just gear people can find on amazon cheaper, ie. good optics collections, loads of bullet and gun powder choices, rifles, stocks, stalking boots in numerous sizes to try, etc. etc. People always talk about trying before you buy, well the DS Fair should be promoting that, maybe even looking for a showground with a shooting range so the rifle vendors can show their gear and people can try it, - this would also lead to more fun events like shooting competitions, etc. not an easy task, but I fear that if most traders just bring their usual range of gear, in limited stock and supplies sizes, etc, it just ain't going to cut the mustard, sorry to say. The organisers will have a part to play in making this happen as well, potentially bringing in specialist speakers on subjects that are like woodmaster refers to, 'value adding'.
I quite agree with you PKL. However I was not in the market for anything in particular as I stalk pretty light and have what I need already. I went really to see what was there and really just to show support with a little entry fee. Should I have the need to but more equipment in the future (a scope may be) I would wait till such a show so I could go and compare in real life.
So bottom line is I wasn't going to spend a load of money on stuff i don't need but did enjoy the show.
It's the traders that make it all possible, paying the exhibition fees, without them, no fair. end of. I suspect if people want the DS Fair to continue, bring some willingness to support the industry and buy some more goodsthe entry fees go to covering some of the exhibition arena fees and maybe a few quid to the organisers if they're lucky; however, if the traders don't get enough turnover, they will stop making an effort to show up.
moral of the story, showing up and buying a coffee, a roll, maybe a few bullets and a t-shirt ain't going to make it happen.
I also, on the flip side, believe that the traders need to start bringing items that are not just gear people can find on amazon cheaper, ie. good optics collections, loads of bullet and gun powder choices, rifles, stocks, stalking boots in numerous sizes to try, etc. etc. People always talk about trying before you buy, well the DS Fair should be promoting that, maybe even looking for a showground with a shooting range so the rifle vendors can show their gear and people can try it, - this would also lead to more fun events like shooting competitions, etc. not an easy task, but I fear that if most traders just bring their usual range of gear, in limited stock and supplies sizes, etc, it just ain't going to cut the mustard, sorry to say. The organisers will have a part to play in making this happen as well, potentially bringing in specialist speakers on subjects that are like woodmaster refers to, 'value adding'.
Oxford would be good, or somewhere like Rugby which is more towards the centre of the country? Bisley perhaps, although that maybe too far south?I agree with you too PKL but I think one problem is the fair just isn't coming 'South' enough. It is less time for people to travel back to Kelso than it would be for me to have travelled to the fair. I think therefore that the stalking population in that area would have already have gone to Kelso hence the lower turnout. If you start talking about coming into the Oxford/Bristol area I think your going to start to get a lot more people turning up from the Southwest and Wales.
I will go one day but it's going to be a bit like the CLA, wait until it gets a bit closer or go once every 5 years