Published on 12th June, 2017
England’s only four day Royal show debuted an all new equine area, which was a hit with competitors and visitors alike, while revellers danced into the evening enjoying the superb sounds of the bands appearing on the Wild Beer Stage in the Pilton Tent. Adrenaline was pumping ever day in the main ring thanks to the daredevil performances of the Diggerland JCB Stunt Team.
Chief Executive Rupert Cox, said: “This year’s Show has been fantastic; the new equine area has had tremendous feedback from visitors and competitors and the Show had an electric atmosphere!”
“The best of British Agriculture, Entertainment, Food & Drink were exemplified across all four days with the finest Livestock in the Country, an array of amazing performers, and quality food and drink from across our region.”
“I would to thank all the volunteers, the exhibitors, and sponsors whose hard work and dedication have made the Show such a success.”
Alan Lyons, Head of Shows said “The evolution of the Royal Bath & West Show continued in 2017 in spectacular fashion. With record breaking entries in several classes, last year’s decision to show livestock on all four days is really paying dividends.
“In what must be one of the most stunning settings in the country, the new horse area witnessed top drawer competition, thrilling the crowds with the competitors’ skills and horses’ beauty”
Sir John Cave Bt DL, President of The Royal Bath & West of England Society this year, met hundreds of visitors as he toured trade stands, cattle lines, attended receptions and presented awards.
Those awards included The Prince of Wales Award, supported by the Duchy of Cornwall, which went to St John’s Place, Bemerton. This was a project that began in 2008, to bring a disused Grade 2 listed Victorian Church back into community use. After protracted negotiations with the diocesan authorities and conservationists with the aim of satisfying the wishes of the local community, the magnificent sum of £700,000 was raised to bring the project to fruition, and the building was reopened in June 2016. It now serves as a regular extra space for the local primary school, exercise classes, after school and holiday play schemes, a film club, and by keeping the chancel consecrated, both church and civil marriages are possible, with many receptions and parties taking place in the un-consecrated nave.
This year’s Long Service Awards included a name familiar to anyone associated with agricultural shows; The Royal Bath & West of England Society Secretary, Paul Hooper OBE, who is celebrating his 40th year with the Society. The other recipients of this annual award have amassed 251 years of experience between them in farming and agriculture; Michael Taviner from West Harptree, Christopher Reeves from Kilmington, Malcolm Hallett from Winterborne Monkton, Pete Richards from Shepton Mallet and Mrs Diz Errington from Prestleigh.
World class livestock competed for top honours at the Show this week, with a local beef farmer claiming the prestigious interbreed championship. Mells Park Trust, based near Frome, Somerset, scooped the trophy with their three year-old bull Carzise Claudius 1.
In the dairy ring, Daffyd and Helen Cox’s Jersey cow Glanmor Tequila Fledgling took the interbreed championship, with the Norman family’s Holstein cow Ciderhouse Shottle Rochelle 4 in reserve spot.
A record 1,525 sheep competed for the interbreed crown, which after long deliberation went to John Jordan’s fabulous two-shear Scottish Blackface tup
The pig rings were as lively as always, with plenty of traditional and modern breeds in competition. Chard-based Alan Rose lifted the interbreed championship with his Duroc boar Maddaford Thunder 3.
Lancombe Rising, a naturally sweet, bottle-matured, sparkling cider produced by Nick Poole of West Milton Cider in Dorset, is this year’s Supreme Champion British Cider. It came out on top to win the Fruiterers’ Cup from an entry of over 500 ciders in the British Cider Championships, staged in the Orchards and Cider Pavilion. Supreme champion in the inaugural Bath and West International Cider Competition was a complex, champagne-style cider produced in New York State by Ryan Burke’s Angry Orchard business. Ryan himself was on hand to receive the Trophy from the Royal Bath and West’s Honorary Cider-Master Lord Tom King.
The British Cheese Awards featured just short of a thousand cheeses from across the country. The Supreme Champion went to White Lake Cheese’s Pavé Cobble. White Lake took home the awards for Best English Cheese, Best Fresh Cheese, and the Specialist Cheese-maker Award.
2018 Show: 30 May – 2 June