A look ahead to the 2017 Royal Cheshire County Show

The Royal Cheshire County Show returns this month with its spectacular showcase of the county’s farming and rural community and a whole lot more.

The Sheepshow (Image: Archant)

After the success of its royal inauguration last year, the Royal Cheshire County Show returns for another memorable two days for visitors, competitors and exhibitors alike. One of the most highly anticipated agricultural shows in the country; it is expected to attract over 80,000 people to the 300-acre showground at Tabley, near Knutsford, on Tuesday June 20th and Wednesday June 21st.

Celebrating all that’s great and good about the Cheshire countryside, visitors to the 2017 show can expect to be thrilled by the many competition classes for cattle, sheep, pigs and dairy goats, as well as the hundreds of classes for light and heavy horses, spectacular show jumping, rare breeds of livestock, poultry, rabbits and a dog show.

Eight year old Jake Daley won Young Handler 1st Prize (Image: Archant)

There is no doubt that the popular main ring, sponsored by Delamere Dairy, will again draw thousands of visitors to watch entertainment across the two days, which includes a grand parade of champions, eagle and vulture displays and performances from the Scots Guard Association Pipe Band.

Wednesday’s grand finale is sure to be a popular event with the display of the Cheshire Young farmers’ float competition, where spectators can enjoy the fantastic creations that members have come up with – before the traditional water fight between rival clubs.

Charles and Jane Hough of Bexton Cheese (Image: Archant)

The show will also feature the Roberts Bakery Food Halls and Food Live theatre, where visitors can marvel at the culinary skills of local chefs and students, or spot a celebrity chef doing a demonstration. The Agri Centre, Cook Street Village Green, Countryside Live Area and Rural Life Area which includes Cheshire WI, NAFAS Flower Marquee, Schools Out, NFU Publicity and just some of the areas that are sure to keep the whole family busy.

Readers will probably be aware that Cheshire Life is one of the regular sponsors of the Royal Cheshire County Show. Editor Louise Allen-Taylor has been appointed as this year’s patroness. Louise says she was delighted to have been asked and felt honoured to be invited to take up this role.

Vintage tractors (Image: Archant)

‘The Royal Cheshire County Show is such an important part of the annual calendar and it’s an event we at Cheshire Life always look forward. I’ll be delighted to attend the show on both days, but of course, it is much more than a marvellous social event. Agricultural shows are a big shop window for the rural communities and industries. This show helps educate urban communities about farming, food production and all the hard work that involves. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity.’

The Bishop of Stockport, right reverend Libby Lane, is the show’s president. Bishop Libby, who made history as the first female Bishop in England, said: ‘It is an unexpected honour to be asked to be president this year, and I accept the invitation with a clear desire to learn more from this community and be an advocate for them. My husband George and I look forward to being on the showground and I hope that this role might enable me to better serve Cheshire, not just for those few days in June but all year and beyond.’

For more details about the Royal Cheshire County Show, visit www.royalcheshireshow.org