Berkshire Show hits new heights
As balloons lifted off and tired show-goers made their way home last night, the organisers of the Royal County of Berkshire Show were looking back on two triumphant days in which the 104-year-old event broke new ground on several fronts.
Balloons lifting off at the Royal County of Berkshire Show
Perhaps most encouraging of all was the fact that, with livestock entries hitting a new high and agricultural stands back in prominence, the industry on which the show is based was back in positive mood after years of recession and poor harvests. With the show’s online ticketing service cutting in to full effect, attendance over the two days topped 60,000.
“There is a very definite feel good factor again,” said Michael Bissell who has been associated with the show for 45 years and was its chairman nine years ago. “It was so good to see all the livestock pens packed full and agricultural machinery back in prominence. Farmers really do feel that things are turning.”
For this year’s Show Chairman, Ali Brown, the first of many magic moments came early on the first morning. “I just love the unique sights, sounds and smells of the showground on show day,” she said after clambering down from the top of a broadcast bus with President Sally Stockings, where they had given their first interview of the day.
She added: “The dynamics of the show are incredible. You start with a virtually empty field, fill it with tents, people and animals in an atmosphere of great excitement, and then watch it all dissolve again. It’s truly amazing, and testament to an incredible team of volunteers, who pool their time and their talent. I can’t thank them enough.”
The highlight for Ali and for many was the moment when a line-up of 22 original Land Girls from Berkshire and Oxfordshire took the salute from two World War II bombers. Now aged between 84 and 99, the ladies received a warm thank you from the crowd for their invalubale contribution towards keeping the area fed at a critical time. Along the way, they met a re-enactor playing the part of the late Queen Mother and a colleague as Field Marshall Montogomery, who featued in a dedicated wartime-themed village.
There was lots of appreciation too for the skills that were in evidence throughout the Horticultural and Crafts tents, and for the array of foods in the Food Fayre. Judges rated the trade stands as “all round superb”.
It was the first show for Mary Hopkins who only joined the Newbury & District Agricultural Society as General Manager in July, and for Laura Priestley-Cooper who was in her first full season as Show Manager. “It has all gone brilliantly,” said Mary. “The show had such a special vibe and certainly the best livestock parade I have seen in years.”
Among the best in show honours were: cattle – A E Nesbitt Farms with Moeskaer Keno (beef) and Mr and Mrs Clear with Discovery Expectations Syria (dairy); pigs – Edwards & Thomas with Pantysgawen Daffodil 2; poultry – Jane Freeman with her Vorwerck Bantam; sheep – Mrs Andrews with a Blue Texel and 15-year-old Victoria Wheeler with a Southdown; and llamas – Mary Price from Catanger Llamas in Northamptonshire with Mungo. The title of Young Shepherd of the Year in a national competition run by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust went to Jack Aldridge from Cheshire in the juniors class, and Declan Bulmer from Yorkshire in the seniors.
For children and teenagers, the action-packed Sports Zone was the go-to area of the showground. There were opportunities to try a variety of sports, as well as watch adrenalin-fuelled demonstrations. Two top East Berkshire sportswomen made the most of the have-a-go environment – Ascot’s Sophie Christiansen (a Paralympic horsewoman) and Olympic bronze medal hockey player, Hannah Macleod, from Maidenhead.
Hannah said: “Like many people, I’m not brave enough to go along to a sports club and try something unfamiliar, but the show is the perfect environment to have a taster session. I’d urge any young people to get active – in an age of TV and computers, sports offer a whole different social network. It’s a great way to make friends and build confidence, as well as get fit.”
The Sports Zone proved a great place for sports clubs to drum up some interest. Newbury & Crookham Golf Club gave 130 golf lessons on the first day of the show alone, while enough visitors signed up to IMAS Wrestling from Slough to warrant opening a West Berkshire branch. There was huge approval too for the exciting hands-on 4 x 4 course run by Berkshire Land Rover.
Full results will be available from www.berkshireshow.co.uk
