Rain fails to dampen show spirit
It was another busy day (FRIDAY) at the Devon County Show as the crowds flocked to enjoy the very best of Devon food and drink, spectacular action in the main arena and see the prize winning animals.
It was also another royal day at Westpoint with a second visit from HRH the Countess of Wessex, who is this year’s president of the Devon County Agricultural Association.
She visited one of the show’s star attractions Devon Remembers in the Craft and Garden feature where she was presented with gifts by Sophie Moore aged 11, George Morrison, aged nine and Charlie Moore who’s eight. They were responsible for counting the 33,000 poppies as they came in.
Summing up day two, Show Secretary Ollie Allen said it had been another really good day.
‘Thankfully the showers has passed largely passed by and the showground has stood up really well to the rain we have had,’ she said.
‘We’re looking forward to another great family day tomorrow when there is plenty to youngsters to enjoy both outdoors and under cover.’
Meanwhile monster trucks Big Pete and the Grim Reaper wowed the crowds in the main arena with their spectacular car crushing routine. They’ll be performing again at the show tomorrow (Sat).
It was champions’ day at Devon County Show with a clean sweep for Devonshire in the blue riband of the Show's livestock classes, the interbreed cattle championships.
Michael and Melanie Alford, of Foxhill Farm, near Cullompton, carried off yet another top prize at a major show, as their two year old in-calf Limousin heifer, Corranhill Krystal, took the interbreed championship for beef cattle. Led by their daughter, Charlotte, the Irish-bred heifer was described by judge Richard Harvey as "full of flesh and a superb example of the breed".
The reserve beef champion was Waddeton Hilda 78, an eight year old South Devon cow, bred and shown by renowned South Devon breeder, Gordon Tully, of Waddeton Barton near Brixham. "She's still looking a picture, despite having had seven calves already including two sets of twins", said Richard Harvey.
The Holsteins took the dairy interbreed, in the shape of five year old Curscombe Windbrook Joy 89, bred by Mrs Jenny Bishop of Feniton in East Devon, and shown by her daughter Nicola Lockyer. The cow was reserve champion at last year's Royal Cornwall Show, and is currently giving up to 56 litres a day. "She's certainly one of the best cows we have ever bred", said Mrs Bishop.
Reserve champion was a Jersey cow shown by Mark Davis, Windyridge Tequila Diamond, of the Davis family's Rivermead herd from Tiverton.
And, in a ringing endorsement of the decisions made by the judges in the Devon Farm Business Awards, both the champion and reserve were entered by former winners - Nicola Lockyer having been named Woman Farmer of the Year in 2015, and the Davis family winning Devon Farmers of the Year for 2016.
There was another prize for Devon when the Champion sheep competition was won by a Texel ewe shown by Paul Quick, of Zeal Monachorum in Devon.
Meanwhile the Champion pig was a Tamworth sow, shown by Andrew and Emily Brown, from Winsford in Somerset.
Among equestrian winners were Bloomfield Excelsior which took the champion ridden hunter prize owned by Shades of Grey Syndicate. Sheep interbreed judge John Jordan won top honours for the Dartmoor in-hand competition with Moortown Crusader. Owner Rosemary Dickens not only took the champion lead hunter but she also took the champion sports horse prize, produced by Charles Upham and Mrs Steve Davey.
Children go free to the show on Saturday. Two children aged 5 – 15 are admitted free per adult. Children under five go free. Tickets are available in advance online. www.devoncountyshow.co.uk
