VISITORS and competitors headed to the Cornish Winter Fair 2023 earlier this month. 

Held on November 18 and 19, the event was organised by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and the Wadebridge Prime Stock Show Association. It was held at the exhibition halls at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre. 

The event included the 145th Wadebridge Prime Stock Show, and several hundred entries were received among the competitive classes. 

Supreme Cattle Champion went to to Colin Harris from Torrington with his February 2022 born Limousin X called Jojo, who wowed the judges in the heifer sired by Continental Origin bull class earlier that day. Colin and his team also took home the Harpers Home Mix Ltd Challenge trophy for the best pair of steers or heifers.  

Reserve Supreme Cattle was won by Mars, a British Blue X Limousin born in January 2022, exhibited by Chris Eddy from St Erth. Mr Eddy was also crowned the competitor gaining the most points in the Open Cattle Classes and was presented with the Venning Davey Perpetual Challenge Cup.  

The standout winners in the sheep section were Austin and Michelle Lockyer, who had travelled from Somerset. They picked up the Champion Single Lamb title with their Blue Texel and the Champion Pair of Butchers’ Lambs with a duo of Beltex Crosses.  

Grandson of the Lockyer family, Harry Randell, took the title of Champion Sheep Young Handler. 

Reserve Champion Sheep Handler, Jack Burlton from Launceston, had had a successful show earlier in the day by also taking the Champion Pair of Breeding Ewe Lambs with his grandad Graham Tucker, with their pair of Devon and Cornwall Longwools.  

In the cattle section, the Champion Beef Young Handler was awarded to Ethan Johnson Smith, and Reserve Champion was Oliver Reeves.  

The Carole Bartlett Perpetual Challenge Cup for the most points in the cookery classes went to Mrs R Hore from St. Issey, and Trevone W.I took home the Hart Key Challenge cup as winners of the Women’s Institute class.  

In the trade stand competition, winners included Zenna Rogers Art for the best craft exhibit, Cornish Cakey Tea was the best food and drink exhibit, best trade exhibit was Smallridge Bros. and ‘Bangers on the Go’ were the winners of the catering class.  

As well as the competition, visitors enjoyed the food and farming education zone, saw the farm animals on show including sheep, pigs and goats and browsed the goodies on more than 100 trade stands. 

Christopher Riddle, honorary secretary of the Wadebridge Prime Stock Association, said:  “As ever, the Cornish Winter Fair showcases the best in Cornish agriculture and farming, as well as incredible produce, artisan food and drink, and fine craftmanship.

"Not only is some of what we have here the best in Cornwall, but some of the finest you will find in the region.” 

The next Cornish Winter Fair will take place on November 23 and 24 2024.