Putting on a show

Alex Gore • Published 18 Sep 2009 12:00 0 Comments

Share this

VISITORS to this weekend's Royal County of Berkshire Show will be treated to an action-packed programme of events.

Pride of place will go to an exhibition celebrating the history of the show's organiser, the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Society chairman Simon Carter, who has taken over the reins 30 years after his father Peter, said: "It promises to be a great show, a bumper year, which is the perfect way to celebrate the society's centenary."

Throughout the weekend, more than 65,000 visitors will be able to catch national show jumping competitions, boasting prize funds of up to £60,000, in the Vodafone Arena and take thrilling but bumpy rides with experienced 4x4 drivers around the show's off road area.

Livestock competitions will also take centre stage as usual, with this year's show hosting the national Aberdeen Angus competition along with new classes for Devon cattle and the South West Holstein Calf Championships.

Visitors looking to enjoy all things rural should head to the country area by the Trencherwood Gate, which will feature animal displays ranging from traditional ferrets and falcons to more weird and wonderful creatures including wolves and snakes.

The country area also boasts rural craft displays, including basket making and hedge laying, and a display arena and lake, featuring pole climbing and sheepdog displays, as well as fly casting, coarse fishing and gun dog demonstrations.

This year the show has adopted 'Great British Food' as its theme. At the heart of this will be the food fare tent, where the finest in Berkshire produce can be found along with cookery demonstrations.

The show is also playing host to the Waitrose/Country Living Made In Britain food and drink awards, with the winners being announced on the Saturday.

In the horticultural tent there will be competitions galore featuring flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables from across the county.

Visitors can even take part themselves by taking their own "extraordinary" vegetables to the tent by noon on Saturday where they can be entered into a competition run by the New Covent Garden Company - entries must be lumpy, bumpy or a bit unusual.

There will also be lots for children, including the harvest centre, where they can learn all about farming, and a fun fair.

Other activities youngsters may enjoy include The Shetland Pony Grand National at the Vodafone Arena and a mass ascent of hot air balloons.

A crafts marquee will feature work by more then 80 exhibitors, a vintage car exhibition will mark Morgan's centenary and a flypast by a World War Two Swordfish plane and display by the Royal Navy Raiders parachute team will take place in celebration of 100 years of naval airpower.

The event is open tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday, 8am-6pm, at Newbury Showground, Priors Court Rd, Chieveley, RG18 9QZ.

See www.newburyshowground.co.uk

Public Parking:

Colour - Entrance / Price per vehicle

Red - A34 south-bound slip road / £5

Brown - Graces Lane / Free*

Purple - Oxford Road / Free*

Yellow - Off Priors Court Road / £5

Silver - Off Priors Court Road / £5

White - Old Street / Free

(Disabled - Orange / A34 south-bound slip road + Old Street)

*Courtesy bus service to Gate 1

Tickets:

Online sales have now closed but tickets are available until 6pm today from the Newbury Corn Exchange on 01635 522 733. Collection at the Exchange or box office at Newbury Showground's Trencherwood Gate.

Per Day - Advanced/Gate

Adult - £12/£15

Concession (5-16 or 65+) £10/£12

Under 5s - free

Family (2 adults + 2 children) £35/£40

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 17 Sep 09

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our The Guide archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle