A RECORD number of visitors came out to celebrate the best of rural life at the Countryside Alliance Hampshire Country Sports Day at Tichborne Park, near Alresford, on Sunday - and they even witnessed a wedding proposal!

The Countryside Alliance estimates that total attendance at the beauty spot near Alresford was around 3,000.

They were there to enjoy the atmosphere and to experience some spectacular displays, such as those from horse riding falconer and Game of Thrones star Jonathan Marshall with his amazing dancing Spanish and Lusitano horses.

The crowd was in awe as his falcons chased a swung lure at more than 100mph while Jonathan performed highly-schooled dressage moves to music.

Other highlights included Cornish Countryman Chris Green with his entertaining and amusing displays of country skills, and Howard Kirby with his gun dogs, as well as fly-casting lessons from fly-fishing experts Gilly Bate and Beaky Allesch-Taylor.

To close proceedings, there was terrier racing, a terrier and lurcher show run by The Coursing Crew which acted as a qualifier for the first time to The Midland Game Fair Championships, and a fun dog show.

With more than 80 trade stands, there was something for everyone, as well as a parade of hounds featuring fox, beagle, teckel, mink and even sealyham terriers who had travelled from as far as Cornwall to be at the event.

An unexpected highlight of the day was when a member of the Hambledon Hunt proposed to his girlfriend while she was mounted on her grey horse, in the main arena in front of a big crowds. Fortunately, she said yes!

Sara Rutherford, of the Countryside Alliance, said of the show: “This is a very special event and we are looking forward to the next chapter as we move to Bereleigh Estate at East Meon, near Petersfield, in 2019.”