Cheshire Show

CELEBRATIONS of rural Cheshire got well under way on Tuesday 21 June with the opening of a huge two-day event.

The annual Cheshire County Show, which draws crowds of more than 60,000 people, is the premier two-day county show in the north west and this year’s event looks set to live up to expectations.

Vic Croxson, vice chairman of Cheshire Agricultural Society, which organises the show, said yesterday: “It’s shaping up very well already and we’re excited by the prospect of good pre-show ticket sales.

“It will be every bit as good as last year and we’re confident it will break records again.”

Thousands of visitors descended on the 200-acre Tabley Showground in Knutsford to enjoy a dizzying variety of attractions including music from the Band of the Prince of Wales Division, a motorcycle stunt show, the delights of the WI marquee and dog, horse and pony displays.

A tempting food hall has been tantalising taste buds at the event while floral displays have proved to be a feast for the eyes along with vintage machinery, crafts and a farmers’ market.

Vic said: “The aim of the show is really to bring town and country together and bring to people who don’t live in the countryside a picture of what goes on.”

The show’s theme is The Year of the Pig and there has been an expansion of pig classes to include modern as well as traditional breeds.

Other classes cover 20 breeds of dairy and beef cattle, rare breeds, sheep, goats, poultry, pigeons, rabbits, cavies, and dogs with more than 10,000 exhibitors entered in the various categories, including Her Majesty the Queen who has entered a pony.

Time was also set aside to pay tribute to David Broster, show secretary and its driving force since 1990, who died last month, aged 59.

Vic said: “We’re doing the show for David this year – it’s a memorial to him in a sense and we’re determined to make it as successful as if he was here.”