A motorbike stuntman who has appeared on Top Gear and in a feature film is among a team of riders who will be headlining this year’s Derbyshire County Show.
Aaron Stannage makes up part of Stannage Stunt Team which will be performing death-defying acts such as motorbike jumps, fire runs, high falls and quad bike stunts at the show on June 26th.
Picture shows: The Stanage Stunt Team
The group will perform two 30-minute shows at the event in Elvaston Show Ground including their signature ‘exploding coffin’ act which involves a motorbike and a box full of fireworks.
Aaron has been riding motorbikes since he was three years old and when he was just 14 he set the world record for the longest bicycle wheelie in one hour – travelling more than eight miles.
More recently he has appeared on Top Gear during a programme about stunt rider Eddie Kidd as well as appearances in the BBC’s Waterloo Road, music videos and a film called Pondlife starring Sally Lindsay and Shaun Dooley.
Picture shows: The Stanage Stunt Team performing
The team, which is run by Aaron’s dad Mark, has taken their show all over Europe and the Middle East, recently returning from the Muscat Festival in Oman and the GT festival in Bahrain.
Mark said: “We have produced a show that literally has audiences sitting on the edge of their seats – there’s nothing like that collective gasp when a stunt works perfectly.
“All our riders have years of training and it’s taken genuine dedication and commitment to get to this level of perfection.
“We’ve never been involved with the Derbyshire County Show before, so we’re really looking forward to wowing the crowd with some of our spectacular stunts.”
This year’s show is the 140th and is expected to attract thousands of people from across the region by promoting the very best that the county has produced.
Picture shows: The Stanage Stunt Team performing
The family-friendly event, which is put together by the Derbyshire Agricultural and Horticultural Society, has all the usual attractions including livestock displays, heavy horses, vintage cars and tractors, show jumping, light horses, craft stalls and floral displays.
And new for this year will be Shetland pony racing, giant tortoises and a performance from the lumberjack sports team the Welsh Axemen.
Children are admitted free of charge and as well as fairground rides and ice cream there are plenty of opportunities to learn about animals and the countryside.
Edward Hicklin, chairman of the Derbyshire Agricultural and Horticultural Society, said: “We have some real treats lined up for visitors this year and I think the Stannage Stunt Riders will be the icing on the cake.
“While we try to keep the show as a reflection of all that the countryside has to offer, we recognise that some of our visitors will be city dwellers and so we endeavour to ensure there is something for everyone.”
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