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New organiser for Keith Show


By Pat Scott

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KEITH Show, Moray's leading agricultural show, has a new organiser.

Riane Thomson-Bialy has taken over the reins from Tina Murphy who held the post for eight years.

Riane Thomson-Bialy is Keith Show's new secretary...Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Riane Thomson-Bialy is Keith Show's new secretary...Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Ms Thomson-Bialy (37) comes to the post with several years of experience organising Burgie Horse Trials, showing horses and taking her daughter, Ellie (13) to the show's dancing contests.

She said: "I love organising and when the post was advertised on Facebook, at least a dozen of my friends tagged me as they obviously thought it was a job for me. I work full time so evenings. weekends and holidays will be given over to Keith Show but I am really looking forward to it.

"This year I will be getting used to things but hopefully going forward I can help the committee look at how the show develops."

Show chairman, Angela McWilliam said that she and the committee were looking forward to working with Riane.

She said: "We have a good, hard working committee and the secretary is the only paid member of the team, the rest of us do it for the love of it and everyone is committed.

"Everyone is very proud of the show and works hard to ensure its viability. We are on a sound financial footing but are very aware of costs and the need to contain them. If we get bad weather, gate income takes a bashing and that's our income.

"There are huge unseen costs to staging a show and we now very much concentrate on keeping it local with good livestock exhibits, show jumping and local entertainment as we cannot afford to pay to have motorbike teams or such like who charge a fortune to come up to this corner."

Despite the financial challenges, the committee has been able to invest in the showground with cash from two wind farm funds.

Electric hook up points were installed ahead of the 2019 show eliminating the need to hire generators and reducing emissions.

Ms McWilliam said: "We are very much indebted to the wind farm funds, we could not have met that level of investment from show income. The site is available for anyone group who would like to rent it from us for an event.

"It would be good if we could encourage new blood onto the committee. We share the jobs and I believe it has to be fun - people are giving up their free time so it has to be a pleasure for them to come and help."

Following the recent annual meeting, the post of junior vice chairman remains vacant.

Sally Smith who held that role has moved into the position of treasurer, work previously part of the secretary's role.

Jim Matthew continues as president and Ewen Stewart is vice chairman.


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