The Easter Bank Holiday weekend once again saw Kelmarsh Hall play host to the 2017 Kelmarsh Country Show, organised by Countryman Fairs.
We visited on the Monday, and it was a bitterly cold, overcast but dry day – a stark contrast to the previous weekend’s glory, though crowd numbers still appeared healthy.
The Devil’s Horsemen
As with 2016, there were a couple of acts which caught my attention rather more than the remainder (no disrespect to the other performers – I am simply not a hunter!). Headlining the show once again were The Devil’s Horsemen – stars of both the silver screen and its smaller counterpart. Quite simply, if you are looking to use horses for any kind of film work, The Devil’s Horsemen are likely to be your first – and last – port of call.
The man behind the operation is Gerard Naprous, a Frenchman with more than 30 years’ experience in the industry and one of most respected people within his profession.
The team at the Kelmarsh Country Show was headed by his offspring, Daniel and Camilla – both of whom are held in a similarly high regard by their peers. Between them they have appeared or worked on epics such as Game of Thrones, The World Is Not Enough, various Harry Potter films, Robin Hood, The Da Vinci Code, Tomb Raider, Don Quixote, Merlin, War Horse and Transformers: The Last Knight, to name just a few.
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen performed twice at the 2017 Kelmarsh Country Show. Their lunchtime performance demonstrated their amazing Cossack trick riding talents. The thing the pictures fail to convey is the sheer speed at which the riders launch their horses before performing all manner of stunts on their backs. Truly incredible!
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
Dan Naprous assumed the role of commander and put on a masterclass with his gorgeous jet black steed, Dante – the star of the Lloyds Bank adverts.
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The team also closed the show with their Wild West routine. It was the first time I’d seen this element of their repertoire and, while there was a small amount of overlap, it was essentially a very different show. Gerard Naprous has amassed an amazing collection of horse paraphernalia over the years, and one such item was put to use here – a US Mail-liveried stagecoach!
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Devil’s Horsemen, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
It’s fair to say that as well as being great to watch, they’re also brilliant to photograph, and we look forward to seeing them again somewhere or other.
The Essex Dog Display Team
The other act that really resonated with me once more was the Essex Dog Display Team. Billed as “Britain’s Premier Dog Display Team”, the organisation has been in existence since 1979 and is run by Roy Dyer.
Roy provides the commentary for the team’s performances and includes many fascinating insights into how dogs should be treated as well as highlighting each dog’s ‘story’ (and, sadly, they all appear to have one).
From displays of agility, to attack, to working with fire and even riding on the back of a motorbike, all of the dogs seemed to thoroughly enjoy the tasks with which they were presented – proof that there is hope no matter how badly behaved a pooch may have become.
The Essex Dog Display Team, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Essex Dog Display Team, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Essex Dog Display Team, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Essex Dog Display Team, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Essex Dog Display Team, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
The Essex Dog Display Team, Kelmarsh Country Show 2017 – Karl Drage, Northamptonshire event photographer
My overriding thought from the day? Where can I photograph some jousting or a chariot race?!
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I am based in Northamptonshire but I am willing to travel out of area, though please be aware this may bring with it an additional cost.
Karl Drage is a professional Northamptonshire event and wedding photographer who also covers surrounding counties such as Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Rutland, Oxfordshire & Warwickshire. If you are looking for an affordable wedding photographer in the towns of Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Oundle, Corby, Peterborough, Leicester, Huntingdon, Towcester, Rugby, Daventry, Oakham or nearby, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch. He will be only too happy to go through your needs with you and will endeavour to put together a competitive solution that meets them.
