The Royal Cheshire County Show celebrated 180 years with 76,000 visitors at its glorious Tabley site.

And what a success the 2018 show was, not only in terms of numbers but in the variety of ways it makes agriculture and farming relevant to the contemporary visitor.

If there were any behind the scenes panics or no-shows, you wouldn’t have noticed, as everything from the non-stop entertainment in the Delamere Dairy main ring to the many animals primped and pampered for the competitions, came together seamlessly.

This was an agricultural extravaganza that was nigh on faultless with plenty for everyone to enjoy.

Of course, the stars of the show in so many ways were the animals. This year there were 3,000 horses, 600 heads of cattle, 300 sheep, 180 pigs, 90 dairy goats, 144 pygmy goats and 1,500 poultry competing for a rosette.

The 2018 President Henry Brooks hosted the annual lunch in the presence of the Duke of Gloucester and assorted VIPs, including patron Sir William Bromley-Davenport and while bubbly was poured guests were serenaded by the strains of the Scots Guard Pipe Band performing in the main ring before a lunch of ham broad beans and (what else?) Cheshire potatoes.

Executive Director Nigel Evans said: ‘The show is the culmination of 12 months of work and we are very pleased with the results of our labours. We saw lots of smiling faces and happy people over the two days.’

Cheshire Life was given the honour this year of presenting the Overall Champion Trade Stand rosette, a difficult task as the standards are extremely high. In the end the first prize went to Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, who in only four weeks had created an action packed and highly entertaining stand.