The Royal County of Berkshire Show
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 Britain'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.
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