THE third Rockfield County Music Festival started in Monmouth yesterday.

Tomorrow and Sunday, the National Fast Draw Championships will be held there, with people encouraged to prove they have the fastest shot in the competition.

They will need to draw their gun as quickly as possible and score a target shot which will be indicated by electronic timers and confirmed by judges.

They have three shots to prove their skills. The first must be performed in a standard stance, the second in a ‘thumbs in belt’ stance, and, should a third and final round be required, then a long draw stance will be used.

Guns will be on loan at the show, which was kicked off yesterday evening by country music veteran John Rowdy.

The festival was cancelled last year because the organiser was unwell. It was first held in 2011.

There are a number of the UK’s top country acts performing this year, including Henry Smith’s Country Dream, Ridgeway, Cole Jackson and Root’n’Toot’n.

Dutch band Sidewinder and Sweden’s DNA and the Cellarboys will also be at the event.

Visitors to the festival, which is held at Perthyre Farm in Rockfield, will be taken back to the Wild West with a re-enactment of historic events, such as the OK Corral, from Bristol-based The Lawmen.

And there will be displays of how American pioneers lived and the festival is expected to draw 3,000 fans until Sunday.

Best dressed prizes are available and traders will be on site selling clothes, cowboy hats, boots and belts for those wanting to blend in with the festival atmosphere.

Day tickets cost £12 and include free parking. Advance weekend tickets cost £35 and come with free camping pickets for motor homes, caravans and tents.

For more information visit the festival’s website at countrymusicfestival.co.uk