WELLIES and an umbrella were necessary accessories for the first day of this year’s Royal Cornwall Show on Thursday, June 9 — but the intermittent rain didn’t deter thousands of visitors flooding through the gates.

Although heavy clouds hung overhead the odd patch of blue sky was visible allowing those attending an opportunity to enjoy the wealth of entertainment available.

Whether interested in livestock entries, shopping for local produce or just wanting a nice day out with the family — this year’s show offered a warm Cornish welcome to all.

There was a very high standard of entries to the various livestock classes and events this year, with record numbers in many sections. There was a good stock of goats, cows and pigs, and the sheep tent was full to bursting point.

There was action packed entertainment in the main ring with many extraordinary performances taking place including the RAF ‘Falcons’ parachute display team, the Devon and Cornwall Police dog display team, and, still popular as ever, the massed parade of hounds.

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth were back this year and did not stay confined to the main ring, parading through the showground on Thursday, much to the delight of visitors as they got to see a marching procession up close.

For those with an interest in all things equine there was much to see, with numerous demonstrations including heavy and miniature horses, ridden horses, cobs and hacks and, the real crowd pleaser, the show jumping ‘Grand Prix’.

The headline main ring entertainment acts were well received with the Bolddog Lings freestyle motocross stunt team and falconer Ben Potter’s eagle and vulture show offering two very different spectacles.

Also adding something a little different this year were ‘The Fergie Fillies’, 16 novice female tractor drivers with the ambition of becoming the land-based equivalent of the Red Arrows. It was a fantastic display of girl-power meets 1940’s horse-power as the 16 iconic ‘Little Grey Fergie’ tractors took the main ring and wowed the crowds.

Their patriotic precision display coupled with a large helping of Cornish humour proved a hit with show-goers.

Outside the main ring, Jason Thomas, one of Cornwall’s best-known dance teachers, who has a studio in Bude, took charge of a stage of his own — the Cornwall Festival of Dance stage.

The line-up of acts included The Pamela Darlington School of Dance, Tribal Fire, Hevva, Raffidy Dummits and Celtic dance group, Ros Keltek. With wonderful performances ranging from morris dancing to ballet, traditional to contemporary, there was something to suit everyone.

Elsewhere, visitors could see some of the wonderful floral displays created by various individuals from NAFAS affiliated groups, they were truly a colourful sight to behold.

Drawing much of the attention again this year was the Lifton Farm Shop’s magnificent, large display of ‘Shaun the Sheep’, made entirely of edible produce. Reaching the top of the tent it could be seen clearly upon entry to the flower tent and was a big hit with visitors.

The WI was out in full force again this year, displaying their handiwork. The competition saw many wonderful entries of hand stitched cushions and tabletop displays — including cottage loaves, floral art and a backdrop of a view from a window. There was also great success for a number of Post area WI groups, with Bude taking away the Royal Cornwall Show Cup.

Helping to make the show a success and run smoothly as they have for the last 60 years, local Girlguiding clubs carried out their traditional duty of ‘messangers’. Each year members of Girlguiding run the messenger service at the Royal Cornwall Show, ensuring important information and results from the numerous competitive classes held across the 96-acre showground get quickly to where they need to be. The idea was spawned from the guides’ involvement in the same role at the 1955 ‘Bath and West Show’, which was held at Launceston. Today they still carry out that service, with a few new responsibilities thrown in for good measure.

Speaking about how well the show went, Royal Cornwall Show secretary, Christopher Riddle, said: “The show has gone very well, despite less than perfect weather on the first day.

“It’s not surprising the attendance wasn’t quite as high as it might have been, but once again our visitors still turn out in their numbers to enjoy the show come rain or shine and we are grateful for their support.

“It was pleasing to see the competitive livestock sections were so well supported, with new entry records set this year in both the sheep and pig sections, the show continues to go from strength to strength.

“That special Royal Cornwall atmosphere shone through despite the less than perfect conditions, and we celebrated and showcased the best of our area’s agricultural and food production industry.”

But despite the wind and rain that greeted show-goers for parts of this year’s Royal Cornwall Show, more than 111,000 people braved the elements to enjoy everything that was on offer.