Mary Hopkins is excited – and with little more than two weeks to the first ever Shropshire County Show it’s not hard to see why.
People across Shropshire and beyond have rallied around to pull together a brand new agricultural show in less than three months. Entries have already shot up compared to last year – numbers of pigs have more than trebled meaning an extra outdoor enclosure will have to help cater for around 70 porkers.
BBC TV cameras will be at the show on June 26 and June 27 filming for the Countryfile summer special, and like its predecessor, the new show will have a full programme of activity in the main ring as well as classes for horses, cattle and sheep.
Organisers have pulled out all the stops for the inaugural show in a bid to increase its profile across the town. A deal has been struck with the owners of the Sabrina pleasure boat to run a river taxi from the town centre to the showground throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday.
Prize money has also been increased, with the supreme inter-breed dairy champion and supreme inter-breed beef champion awards both now £500. And the Hereford Cattle section will be viewed by a delegation from the visiting European Hereford Society.
“I’m really buzzing about it,” said Mary, who is general manager of the showground. “It’s amazing what has been achieved in such a short space of time. Ever since the Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) was agreed in March we have had a firm footing and from the moment we knew we were going ahead it’s been all hands on deck. We have had so many willing volunteers who have helped out, we have had to make bookings and get everything ready, and now we can’t wait for the show.”
Other attractions include the companion dog show on the Sunday, while Shropshire Food Festival will be held in the food hall. Star attractions include displays by the Bolddogs, the Parachute Regiment Freefall Team The Red Devils and the Grand Parade, while on the Sunday show president Thomas Acton will present long service awards to contributors and volunteers.
Mary said: “I think there is a need for the show – it would have been dreadful if we hadn’t been able to hold one this year. Certainly I think since we changed the name there has been a positive response and it incorporates everything that is fantastic about Shropshire.
“We have really made great strides to get agriculture back as the main focus, and we are very pleased with the positive response we have had, with entries in all classes both locally and from all over.”
Advance tickets for the show are available by visiting www.shropshirecountyshow.com or by calling 01743 289831.
By Peter Kitchen
