Organisers hail another successful show
Preparations already in place for next year's Royal County of Berkshire Show following this year's success
TENS of thousands of people defied sometimes heavy rainfall to once again flock to Newbury Showground to take in the Royal County of Berkshire Show.
The ever-growing premium agricultural event in the county and one of the largest in the country saw new records set with it's largest ever number of livestock entries on Saturday and Sunday.
Newbury and District Agricultural Society chairman Alan Pooles and president Malcolm Bull both spoke of their pride at overseeing the event and said the diverse range of entertainment had helped make it another successful year.
Seats around the main arena were fully occupied for the highlight displays the band of the brigade of Ghurkas and the stunt riding team, The Devil's Horsemen.
Highlighting the wide range of activities and displays, there was something for everyone from fans of Top Gear which could take part in a car simulator to fans of the Archers, who got the chance to grill editor Vanessa Whitburn the third degree on recent story lines and to try to glimpse an insight into what's in store for the inhabitants of Ambrige.
Whitburn was present on Sunday to lead the line of prize winning livestock which were brought into the arena for the Grand Parade, with over 200 animals on show in the arena over the weekend.
Rain fell heavier on Sunday but it not deter visitors from taking in various tents and arenas, with the countryside area a particularly busy attraction with its running programme of pole climbing competitions, gun dog displays, fly fishing demonstrations, ferret racing, and sheepdog displays.
The Food Fayre marquee housed over 70 exhibitors showing a wide variety of specialist food and drink products, accompanying over 600 shopping stands, leading the MP for Newbury Richard Benyon to highlight how quickly the show is growing year on year and the impact it has on the local economy.
Next year's show will take place place over the weekend of September 15 and 16 at Newbury Showground, and it is expected to be bigger again.
Reflecting on their year in charge, Mr Pooles and Mr Bull said it had been a great honour.
Mr Bull said: "It has been a delight to see so many visitors come to this year's show. It is an important event for the county as it connects the town with the countryside. The show offers the opportunity to find out about farming, countryside sports and rural crafts and produce. It is vital for the community of Berkshire that this show continues to develop."
One example of the continual growth of the show was highlighted by Mr Pooles, who added: "The educational side of the show is very important to the Newbury and District Agricultural Society and I think we have pulled out all the stops this year. The Educational Tent has almost doubled in size and has fantastic displays from local school children. The Harvest Centre has been pulling in the visitors with its demonstrations on bread making and, of course, the livestock and equestrian competitions are an education in themselves."
For lots of news and pictures from the show, pick up a copy of this week's Newbury Weekly News, and find further photographs on this website in our Picture Gallery section.
Meanwhile, for a video from the show, click on the link above.
