The Royal County of Berkshire Show (15-16 September) ended with a fanfare closing ceremony by the Band of the Welsh Guards setting the seal on a weekend in celebration of the region's farming and rural communities. A breathtaking mass balloon ascent from Newbury Showground had marked the opening of the 2007 show.

Support for the show remained high over the two days despite the enforced absence of more than 4,000 livestock exhibitors and their animals due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

With more than 100 agricultural and countryside stands and 180 classes for poultry exhibitors, the show still strongly reflected its agricultural roots.

The second day opened with a Harvest Festival Service held in the main Vodafone Arena, the show chaplain, Rev John Townend, asking for prayers to be said for the local farming community.

Visitors and exhibitors basked in the late summer sunshine and revelled in the spectacle offered at Newbury Showground throughout the weekend.

Innovations included the Countryside Pageant which highlighted different aspects of rural life throughout the year. A new show garden feature was judged by the Royal Horticultural Society boosting interest in the talents of the area's gardeners and florists.

The action in the main Vodafone Arena drew banks of spectators with standing room only for the headline feature, the original JCB dancing diggers. Crowds thronged to enjoy coaching parades, heavy horse displays, scurry racing and show jumping.

The finale of the 2007 Renault Jump League Table culminated at Newbury attracting some of Britian's leading show jumpers. The top prize of a Renault Scenic car was won by William Funnell who earned victory with Cortaflex Amber.

Chris D'Olley, Chairman of the show said: "I was delighted with our new features, the show gardens and the countryside pageant in the main arena which was something I was very keen to see developed."

The Hon Mrs White, President of the show said: "The atmosphere has been amazing. Of course it was sad not to see the livestock here but we will look forward to welcoming them back next year in even greater numbers."

Mike Farmer, Showground Director said: "We are the shop window for farming and the countryside and I think we achieved that. The support of the public for the farming and rural community was simply superb."

The results from all the classes at the show will be on the website at www.berkshireshow.co.uk from noon on 17 September and the dates for the Royal County of Berkshire Show 2008 will be 20 and 21 September.