West Northants Woodturners showcase strong stand at Daventry Woodworks fair
West Northants Woodturners left Daventry with podium finishes and a stronger public profile, as spectators watched live turning and competition work unfold in the halls.
West Northants Woodturners came away from Daventry Woodworks with more than a tidy set of results. The club’s May update showed how a strong display stand in the sports hall gave members visibility, put their work alongside other clubs, and turned the annual fair into a useful benchmark for where their turning sits against the wider field.
Daventry Woodworks ran on Friday 1 May and Saturday 2 May 2026 at Everyone Active Daventry Leisure Centre on Lodge Road, Daventry, with free entry and free parking. Tudor Rose Woodturners organised the event again, bringing together club display stands, live turning competitions, trade stands, refreshments and a raffle with more than £1000 in prizes. Five professional turners were featured across the weekend: Rob Till, Emma Tiny Turner, Steve Heeley, Simon Hope and Chris Parker.
The competition structure gave the show real shape. Entries were judged for best stand and best piece, while three pieces were turned on the day. The timed turning list covered a bowl of fruit, a goblet with a captive ring, a decorated platter and a three-legged stool, setting a mix of challenges that ranged from straightforward form-making to more technical decorative work.
That live element was part of the appeal. The lathe area stayed active throughout the fair, with spectators watching competition pieces being made as they moved through the halls. A photo of Roger and Viv working on a three-legged stool captured that atmosphere well, showing the event as a working demonstration space as much as an exhibition.
For West Northants Woodturners, the results matched the setting. The club finished second with its fruit bowl, then added third-place finishes for a decorated platter and a goblet with a captive ring. Those placings showed members competing across several styles rather than leaning on a single specialism, and they underlined how much decorative work still matters in the judging mix.
The fair also highlighted the club network behind the event. Tudor Rose Woodturners meets every second and fourth Thursday evening at Daventry Community Centre, starting at 7.00pm, giving Daventry a regular base for the craft as well as a weekend showcase. For West Northants Woodturners, Daventry Woodworks delivered exposure, comparison and momentum in one weekend, with the stand, the live lathe area and the competition results all working together.
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