The Royal County of Show 2010 will be on 18th and 19th September

We are delighted that our President this year is Mrs Sarah Scrope of Chilton Estates and our Chairman is Mr Mick Crockford, formerly Chairman of the Pig Section.

We celebrate 25 years of being located on the current Showground and as our main arena attraction we are thrilled to be hosting the team of 30 volunteer soldiers who make up the Royal Signals White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team.

Royal Signals White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team.

By giving their traditional, thrilling and disciplined arena displays on British Millennium Triumph 750cc motorcycles they clearly show all the qualities of teamwork, courage, trust, strength and agility that are needed in the modern Army. In their immaculate uniforms, the Team performs spectacular feats of balance, death defying crossover rides and outstanding acrobatics.

This record-holding team has existed as a recognised organisation since the first public displays of joint precision horsemanship and motorcycle riding were given by instructors and students from the Signal Training Centre in Yorkshire in 1927. Respected and consulted throughout the world, and envied by many, the Royal Signals White Helmets makes a valuable contribution to keeping the Army in the public eye, and indeed representing Britain at events throughout the world.

The Royal County of Berkshire Show Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2009

Click here for clips of the Show and coverage from the Newbury Weekly News

Crowds out in force to celebrate centenary year

Vast crowds attended day one of The Royal County of Berkshire Show basking in the autumn sunshine and soaking up the atmosphere at the last big outdoor agricultural show of the season.

Thousands of visitors joined in the party as the show marked an historic occasion - the centenary of organisers, The Newbury and District Agricultural Society, and one hundred years since the first show was held.

With so many attractions on offer, a single day visit to the show cannot do the event justice. In the main arena the day opened with a hunter classes, Rivar Area Trial Show Jumping and heavy horse classes before turning to horsepower of a different kind with a display of Morgan sports cars, also marking their centenary.

Equestrian events, always a popular draw, saw hundreds of horses competing across the full range of classes from showing to scurry driving and heavy horse classes to top level show jumping. In the main arena day one opened with a win for Tracey Priest in the Rivar Area Trial Show Jumping and for British international rider William Funnell who stole the Wendy Green Six-Bar contest, named in memory of the former Chair of the show’s Light Horse Committee. Day two’s focus was on the finale of the British Show Jumping Association’s International Stairway Series which saw a triumph for series leaders Vicky Tulloch and Soliegette.

Vicky said: “The series has been absolutely fantastic. It has given riders who are more used to competing nationally a chance to jump bigger tracks. I have been concentrating on getting double clears and it has paid off. This was the first time I have been to Newbury and it was great to win here. The ground was perfect, the course was good and the crowd was absolutely fantastic.”

The showpiece Royal Navy Parachute Display team, marking 100 years of naval airpower, thrilled spectators who were treated to a celebrity commentary by none other than General Sir Richard Dannatt former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. The skies also reverberated with a spectacular flypast by a Seafire vintage naval plane.

General Sir Richard, who was president of the Royal Norfolk Show last year, attended the show on the opening day, accompanied by Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury and Shadow Minister, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Mr Benyon, whose family was exhibiting cattle at the show for the first time in 30 years, was able to celebrate with a fourth place for his Hereford calf Cleland 1 Empress 5th.

As ever, livestock arenas were packed with spectators who were treated to some competitive classes across the breeds.

Described as one of the best displays of Aberdeen Angus cattle seen at a UK show, the breed Championship Show, held at Newbury Showground for the first time, was won by Ewan Brewis’s junior bull Eastfield Black Bandit.

Hundreds of eye-catching tradestands opened for business in the vast tented village. Ecover carried off the Ridgeway Volkswagen Newbury trophy for the most appealing local stand.

A high standard was in evidence in the horticultural section with green-fingered Berkshire growers showing off their produce in some spectacular marquees. The inter-village contest was won by Kingsclere Gardening Association.

Here is an A – Z of what not to miss at the Show:

Aberdeen Angus National Show – plus many other cattle classes

Balloons – Night Glow on Friday night and daily flights from the Main Arena

Centenary Year . 1909 – 2009

Dreweatt Neate – now Carter Jonas celebrating 250 years who have provided 14 Chairmen

Equine – jumping, heavy horse, scurry driving and coaching

Food Fare – celebrating our Show theme of Good British Food

Good British Food – our theme of the year

History Tent – Hobbies and Horticulture, not necessarily in that order

Intellect – education core aim of the Society

Jolly old Farm machinery in vintage Area

Kraft marquee – should be ‘C’ but it sorts the ‘K’

Long Standing supporters, sponsors who are very important in the success of the Society

Morgan Cars – 100 years celebrating excellence in engineering

Navy – Fly 100 with Band of the Royal Marines

Parachutists falling into the main arena – hopefully

Q – hopefully no queues and free flowing traffic

Rural Crafts – up in the Country Area

Skeins of Wool from all our sheep breeds plus other livestock

Tradestands galore

Vodafone Avenue  where you will find the Made in Britain awards

X – no x’s but check out the unpasteurised Wensleydale Centenary Cheese ... nearly W

YFC and Harvest Centre – have a go at making bread

Zone (Sports)  have a go – the climbing frame is fun.