Show drawing to a close as clouds finally part

Sunny end to rainy day at Royal County of Berkshire Show, but organisers happy with turnout

THE clouds parted just in time for the end of the show at Newbury Showground today (Sunday).

The final day of the Royal County of Berkshire Show was heavily affected by rain, and though numbers appeared to be slightly down on previous years, the spirit was unaffected.

Visitors and organisers alike have hailed it as a big success, with Newbury and District Agricultural Society chairman Alan Pooles saying he was heartened by seeing so many visitors in times of economic gloom and financial hardship.

Among the favourite attractions were the Devil's Horsemen, who again wowed crowds with their stunts and the adorable Dexters breed of miniature cattle.

There were also widespread interest in the Top Gear car simulator and a talk by the editor of the popular BBC Radio 4 drama, The Archers, Venessa Whitburn, who gave away little in plotlines, but plenty in the inner workings of the show.

Some of the visitors to the show were critical of the agricultural exhibition facilities, which will add urgency to N&DAS's plans to construct a new exhibition area in time for next year's show.

An application for a 12m high, 5,000 square meter exhibition building is currently at West Berkshire Council.

For full coverage, see The Advertiser on Tuesday and Newbury Weekly News on Thursday.