Sheep entries are always strong at the show and this year was no exception with good numbers forward throughout the breed classes. Rare breeds were particularly popular with a Llanwenog (Mollie Gamble) taking Champion Rare Breeds and a Teeswater (J Shippham) taking Reserve. Zwartbles were also very well supported with Caroline Clark taking Champion Zwartble and then Champion overall sheep.
Cattle breed classes were replaced this year by interbreed classes which saw some reduction in numbers but not in quality. P Stovold took Beef Champion with Aberdeen-Angus Rosemead Jessica, just beating Ben Maskell with his Limousin Thorndean One and Only into Reserve. Champion Dairy was awarded to a thrilled Chichester College with Blush Rose 5, a superb Dairy Shorthorn, with the rarely beaten Barnowl Jerseys with Barnowl Everest Vickie in Reserve spot. Barnowl Jerseys also took first place in the Cattle Presentation competition.
Judges struggled to split the class winners in the Cattle Young Handlers Championship with Bill Drury, Chris Reed and Archie Reynolds sharing the overall honours.
Dairy goats and pygmy goats filled their rings and enjoyed good crowds throughout the day. Nick Parr took both Dairy Champion and Reserve Champion with Ashdene Almond (Anglo-Nubian) and Ashdene Monicajoan (Saanen). Chris Nye was awarded the Best Goatling prize with Mineshop Didi (Saanen) and Mrs T and Miss M Ogborne took the Best Kid rosette with their lovely Saanen Kerborne Diva.
Nick Lewis took the honours in the pygmy goat section, taking Champion with Twisden Shadow. The Franklins enjoyed a successful day, awarded Best Kid with Willowbrae Oliver and Best Opposite Sex with Barhams Mill Stanley. The Young Handler class was won by 12 year old Michele Lambert with Jeremy Cook (15) and Charlotte Cook (13) in second and third place.
A Duroc, Tedfold Lena 30, took the Championship in the Pig section for owners Mr and Dr Giles with reserve being awarded to Clare Wilson’s Landrace, Rother Peta 23B.
Visitors to the show also enjoyed strong showing and showjumping classes, a baling and farm machinery demonstration in the Grand Arena, the Countryquest gun dogs, Tom Longton and his sheep dogs, the Dorset Axemen, Hawking About Falconry, the Sheep Show, a real milking parlour, a heavy horse village, the ever popular bee and honey tent and a petting farm.
Photos: Anthony Moseley
