The 2014 Royal Cornwall Show was another big success, despite foreboding weather warnings that preceded the event.

Held at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge on Thursday, Friday and Saturday last week, 116,721 people attended the event.

The dire weather predictions during the build-up and pockets of bad weather elsewhere during the three days in the region were believed, by show secretary Christopher Riddle, to have led to a slightly lower attendance this year.

The crowds who flocked to enjoy the show were treated to a wide range of events and attractions including main ring thrills from the Bolddog Lings freestyle motocross team, the RAF Falcons parachute display team and a first visit by the mounted games association of Great Britain.

Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, this year’s show president, made a two-day visit on Thursday and Friday, and extensively toured all corners of the show, calling at a variety of stands and events.

“We were delighted that The Countess of Wessex was our president this year and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy her two days with us,” said Christopher.

The show enjoyed close to record entries in the cattle, sheep and pig sections with the standard exceptionally high. Experienced British Blue cattle judge, Graham Brindley from Shropshire, talking to commentator James Morrish said that the line-up in one of the breed classes was "the best he had ever seen.” There was also a big turnout in the equine section and show jumping classes.

The Countess presented trophies on both days during the grand parades of prize-winning cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. Her Royal Highness presented the cattle and sheep exhibitors who gained the most points with an oak tray each that had been hand crafted at the Mencap Genesis Orwell workshops. The Countess had visited the Ipswich-based project earlier in the year and tasked them with producing her president’s awards for the show.

The Countess also presented long-service awards to four local farm workers and prizes to winners from the bi-annual Forestry competitions.

She also presented Tim Blackshire of Levalsa Farm, near St Austell, with this year's Duke of Cornwall’s farm diversification award. Tim and his wife, Sadie run a mid-Cornwall farm diversification enterprise that provides children excluded from mainstream education opportunity to gain skills and confidence. 

Winning the 2014 Duke of Cornwall Award will make a big difference to the business. Part of the prize is £1,000 cash provided by His Royal Highness. Tim is set to invest the prize money into the business.
Tim said: “I’ve been keen to introduce sheep to the farm, so the prize money will enable us to buy 20 or so ewes and a ram. This will provide another income for the farm but just as importantly it’s something extra for the children to get involved in.”

Preparations are already in progress for next year’s show which takes place on June 4,5 and 6 2015.