County Show hailed a Success

The 2014 Nottinghamshire County Show has again been hailed a success despite bad weather, that depressed attendance significantly. It was the first show for Show Manager Jayne Olney, and has again continued the quality improvements to the Nottinghamshire’s flagship event.

Society CEO Adrian Johnston commented:

“This is Jayne and her team’s first show. I have been really impressed by all that they have done to ensure the success of the event. Absolutely everything in their control worked faultlessly. We are hugely grateful to our President and his lady, our Chairman John Brydon and Richard Sheldon Chairman of the Show committee, plus all of our volunteers for the tremendous effort that they give to make this show such a success.”

The overall theme for the show was the 70th Anniversary of D Day. Society President Col Roger Merryweather TD DL and his wife Angela had the privilege of welcoming 9 Normandy veterans including Private Bernard Johnson, a well known and respected character and former Royal Marine from Orston, Notts.

In a superb display in the Lady Eastwood Pavilion, which was fronted by a working WWII Sherman tank from the Gillatt collection, visitors could learn of Nottinghamshire’s crucial role in providing high grade oil from the Eakring Oilfield, 7,500 feet under the woods of Dukes Wood. This oil formed 70% of that used for D Day and was piped under the English channel to the invasion ports.

Col Merryweather’s chosen charity was the Army Benevolent fund, itself formed as a direct result of the horrendous casualties anticipated on D Day in 1944. The charity continues to work had for veterans of conflict even today.

Despite the weather the comments about the show have overwhelmingly been favourable. From the excellent food by the showground’s own catering team “Tastes” at the Eve of Show dinner, Saturday Official luncheon and Sunday President’s lunch to the various outlets and Ice Cream vans around the site, there was plenty of quality local food on offer to satisfy every palate.

In the Food Hall celebrity chefs Rachel green, Teresa Bovey, Linda Hewitt and Julia Blant performed demonstrations throughout the show. Suzanna Starkey from local apple juice and fruit producers, Starkeys fruit, was delighted to win First prize for their stand in the Food Hall.

The Show’s firm links with its farming and rural heritage are still paramount and a high standard of entries in all the Livestock classes resulted in a magnificent Grand Parade – a fitting finale to this year’s Nottinghamshire County Show.

Visitors were able to watch the judging throughout the morning before having the opportunity to see the animals close up and talk to the owners in the housing and sheds and get more information from the owners.

Limousins dominated the supreme beef championships at the show with the overall title going to Brockhurst Howzat from Doug Mash, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Male inter-breed champion was the four-year-old Simmental bull, Lisglass Barnabus, from David Donnelly, Ashbourne and the native breed championship went to Nottingham Trent University with their 12-month-old Lincoln Red bull, Brackenhurst Saracen.

A Texel Shearling Ewe took the sheep Inter-Breed title. Raised by Peter Longdin from Doncaster this was his third interbreed win at the County Show. THE pig inter-breed title went to a Large White boar, Chapel Royal Turk 2 shown by father and daughter, Stephen and Amanda Booth from Lymm, Cheshire.

The spectacle of Heavy Horses always draws a crowd and this year was no exception. Ernest Bailey & Son from Cambridgshire and his Percheron took the Supreme Champion title with a Geoff Robinson from Upton, Newark and his Shire being awarded Reserve Champion. Clydesdales and Suffolks were also breed winners.

Over 400 entries in the Show Jumping classes resulted in some fine jumping with Sunday’s prestigious Mattie Brown Stakes won by Billy Twomey from Upton, Newark.
The Newark & Nottinghamshire Agriculture Society Members play a large role in supporting agriculture and education in the county throughout the year as well as enjoying many benefits at the Show itself including free tea, coffee, biscuits, and afternoon scones in the Members’ Pavilion. Cask ales on sale in the Members’ Bar were from Nottinghamshire’s own Castle Rock brewery.

New member Tim Richardson commented:
“With access to 7 days of shows throughout the year and discounts off 14 more events, membership of the show society is fantastic value and I shall certainly tell my friends about it.”