The Royal County of Berkshire Show Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2009

Click here for clips of the Show and coverage from the Newbury Weekly News

Crowds out in force to celebrate centenary year

Vast crowds attended day one of The Royal County of Berkshire Show basking in the autumn sunshine and soaking up the atmosphere at the last big outdoor agricultural show of the season.

Thousands of visitors joined in the party as the show marked an historic occasion - the centenary of organisers, The Newbury and District Agricultural Society, and one hundred years since the first show was held.

With so many attractions on offer, a single day visit to the show cannot do the event justice. In the main arena the day opened with a hunter classes, Rivar Area Trial Show Jumping and heavy horse classes before turning to horsepower of a different kind with a display of Morgan sports cars, also marking their centenary.

Equestrian events, always a popular draw, saw hundreds of horses competing across the full range of classes from showing to scurry driving and heavy horse classes to top level show jumping. In the main arena day one opened with a win for Tracey Priest in the Rivar Area Trial Show Jumping and for British international rider William Funnell who stole the Wendy Green Six-Bar contest, named in memory of the former Chair of the show’s Light Horse Committee.

Day two’s focus was on the finale of the British Show Jumping Association’s International Stairway Series which saw a triumph for series leaders Vicky Tulloch and Soliegette.

Vicky said: “The series has been absolutely fantastic. It has given riders who are more used to competing nationally a chance to jump bigger tracks. I have been concentrating on getting double clears and it has paid off. This was the first time I have been to Newbury and it was great to win here. The ground was perfect, the course was good and the crowd was absolutely fantastic.”

The showpiece Royal Navy Parachute Display team, marking 100 years of naval airpower, thrilled spectators who were treated to a celebrity commentary by none other than General Sir Richard Dannatt former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. The skies also reverberated with a spectacular flypast by a Seafire vintage naval plane.

General Sir Richard, who was president of the Royal Norfolk Show last year, attended the show on the opening day, accompanied by Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury and Shadow Minister, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Mr Benyon, whose family was exhibiting cattle at the show for the first time in 30 years, was able to celebrate with a fourth place for his Hereford calf Cleland 1 Empress 5th.

As ever, livestock arenas were packed with spectators who were treated to some competitive classes across the breeds.

Described as one of the best displays of Aberdeen Angus cattle seen at a UK show, the breed Championship Show, held at Newbury Showground for the first time, was won by Ewan Brewis’s junior bull Eastfield Black Bandit.

Hundreds of eye-catching tradestands opened for business in the vast tented village. Ecover carried off the Ridgeway Volkswagen Newbury trophy for the most appealing local stand.

A high standard was in evidence in the horticultural section with green-fingered Berkshire growers showing off their produce in some spectacular marquees. The inter-village contest was won by Kingsclere Gardening Association.

 

 

 

The Royal County of Berkshire Show 2008

DAY TWO

Enthusiastic crowds packed the Vodafone Main Arena to watch the final of the Renault Show Jumping Series, one of the highlights of an enthralling day two at The Royal County of Berkshire Show 2008.

There was standing room only as the cream of British show jumping lined up to contest the grand finale of the series which has seen qualifiers at county shows throughout the country this season.

Tension was high as the competition went to the wire, Laura Renwick, second to last to go in the final round with Limelight de Breve, cutting all the corners to sail home, leaving Geoff Luckett, who had been in the lead until the last, no choice but to follow suit. His round looked good until the last when the last combination fell sending Geoff back into seventh place and giving Laura, the perfect end to a brilliant season - in the shape of the top prize a Renault 4WD Koreos.

Thousands of people headed to the Newbury Showground to soak up the sun on the second day of the show enjoying a fantastic range of family fun. New innovations including the Sports Zone and the Elegant Wedding Marquee, were a big hit but the return of livestock to the event, stole the show with huge applause greeting the grand parade of champion cattle in the main arena.

Trade stands reported good business with shoppers shrugging off the credit crunch. One stallholder, Jimmy's Farm, from Suffolk reported a sell out - having sold 80 per cent of stock on the first day of the show alone.

There was not a dry eye in the house as The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry concluded leaving the stage set for a dramatic mass ascent of hot air balloons the signature climax to a brilliant and memorable Royal County of Berkshire show 2008.

DAY ONE

An air of excitement heralded the first day of The Royal County of Berkshire Show 2008 as crowds welcomed the return of livestock at the show for the first time in two years.

Arenas were packed in the Livestock Area as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs stepped out before the judges at the last major outdoor county show of the season.

Thousands of spectators attended the opening day of the show, basking in the Indian Summer Sunshine and soaking up the party atmosphere.

As well as the colourful sights and sounds of the livestock arenas, highlights on the first day included a superb afternoon's show jumping action in the Vodafone Main Arena, where the Wendy Green Six Bar Competition topped the bill, following the showpiece main attraction display of the ever popular Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry, back at Newbury for the first time in a decade.

Stalls were piled high in the Food Fare which offered a real flavour of the countryside with producers enjoying the rising interest in local food from farm to table.

Business was brisk on the tradestand avenues with more than 500 stores, great and small to browse among.

Local food suppliers had reason to celebrate - winning a host of awards from the judges. Susie's Preserves from nearby Hermitage carried the honours taking the Silver Challenge Cup and earning the accolade of Best Exhibit.

You can enjoy more action on the second day of the show tomorrow (21 September 2008) with a packed programme including the final of the Renault Show Jumping League, The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry, grand parade of livestock, music from the British Legion Romford Youth Band and the dramatic hot air balloon ascent.

The show opens at 8am and closes at 6pm and you can buy tickets on the gate.