It was the “spectacular rodeo” – organised by a rural aristocrat – which featured a drunken ‘cowboy’ and the frantic appearance of the RSPCA.
A hit with the 8,000-strong crowd, it’s fair to say the 1947 Kirrie Show which featured the rodeo event was one of the most memorable of its 140 year history.
The tale was among the memories shared at a civic reception held in Forfar on Tuesday to mark Kirriemuir District Agricultural Association’s milestone.
The “spectacular rodeo” was organised by George Mackie, Lord Mackie of Benshie, a Liberal Democrat peer and the former Liberal MP for Caithness and Sutherland.
Lord Mackie, who was a farmer before going into politics, ably assisted chairman Ed Weighton and his team, which included Mac Irvine who was show secretary for 35 years.
Dave Orr, director of Kirriemuir District Agricultural Association, recalled: “It was in 1947 the show featured a spectacular rodeo organised by George Mackie.
“We are fortunate in having a written account of the event from George, written at the House of Lords, about 16 years ago.
“George says he was interested in the show which at that time was chaired by Ed Weighton and the sports committee were Sam Smith the auctioneer and Will Lindsay from Prosen, helped by one of his men, Andrew Beattie.
“They were looking for something different and hit on the idea of ‘riding the bucking steer’.
“They had it as the last item of the programme so that people would stay on to watch it.
“It proved very popular with the crowd, but no one stayed on the beast for very long.
“George tried it himself a couple of times, but lasted very little time.
“However, the highlight came, when the stewards failed to notice one entrant was very drunk and was thrown straight over the neck of the steer and landed on his head.
“All were sure he had broken his neck and were much relieved when he raised his head as obviously the luck that takes care of drunks took care of him and he simply staggered away.
“The RSPCA were alerted, as it was thought it might be cruelty to animals, but after witnessing the spectacle they went away happy that perhaps it was crueller to humankind.
“I think maybe the shows of today are a poorer spectacle due to the intervention of health and safety.”
Mr Orr said the Kirrie Show was founded within the Airlie Arm Hall on March 5 1877 with Colonel Grant Kinloch in the chair.
Ten years ago the organisation twinned with the Bracebridge Agricultural Society (BAS) in Ontario, Canada.
Mr Orr said: “This came about as the then president of BAS, Jim McConnach (formerly of Kirriemuir) recalled how in 1963 he met his wife Anna, at the Kirrie Showfield.
“Anna Adam worked for the British Linen Bank in the town and was on duty at the gates of the Kirrie show field, when she attracted the attention of a young engineer on a day out to the show – Jim McConnach.
“Jim and Anna met and started going together 54 years ago at the Kirrie Show Dance.
“They are now happily retired and living in Bracebridge, Ontario and these and other fond memories of their hometown, inspired Jim to see if a formal twinning arrangement might cement this link with their native land.”
