THE  ROYAL Cornwall kicked off with two gloriously sunny days but even the rainy final day could not rob the big event of its tag as the sunshine show.

The signs were good on the first day as the sun shone and everyone praised the gentle cooling breeze.

Even the animals got in on the act with a giant British Lop pig nicknamed 'Sunshine' taking the inter-breed championship and the water hoses were in great demand at the back of the cattle lines to give a welcoming cool-down to the bovine participants.

A family which has been showing pigs since 1937 took the British Lop Inter-Breed Championship with Liskeard Sunshine 500 — known as 'Sunshine.'

Julian Collings, of Treburley, Launceston, who shows pigs with his son, Adam, and daughter, Emma, summed up what the Royal Cornwall really means to farming community and rest of the Duchy population. (His other son, Ben, shows South Devon cattle.)

"I enjoy the competition of the other exhibitors. We all have a laugh outside the ring. We go in there to win but get together afterwards for a drink."

'Sunshine' was breed champion in 2005 and also took the honours as breed champ at the recent Bath & West Show at Shepton Mallett.

STEWARD

Mr Collings, who farms at Wenfork, said 'Sunshine' would weigh not far off half a tonne.

"I am a steward here and it is always really nice to win in your own county."

He has been showing pigs since 1970 — Liskeard Sunshine 307 won the breed championship in 1980 — and his dad was showing them in 1937. The current 'Sunshine' comes from the same line.

Tony and Julie Benneworth, from Py­worthy, were delighted and surprised when Yeoman Ferdinand, weighing in at 1.2 tonnes, took the Devon breed championship and the award for the best male.

Julie explains their surprise. "He's just three and it will be another year before he is in his prime. I am really surprised he got the championship — I would have thought that would be next year.

"The judge loved his power — he is a big bull."

The bull, known as 'Freddie,' is by Glebe Universe the third out of Glebe Firt the second and bred by Benneworths, of Leworthy Manor, Py­worthy.

Congratulations were heaped upon Mrs Deborah Ruscombe-King after she carried off the breed championship for Jacob Sheep.

"We were really not expecting the sheep to do so well. I just can't believe it.

"It was beautifully shown by Colin Jose — I am not strong enough to do it any more."

PIGS

Tens of thousands of people thronged the Wadebridge showground over the three days — apart from creatures great and small, there was something to suit everyone's taste, including the Cornwall Food and Farming Pavilion (run by the Women's Farming Union) the magnificent displays in the Flower Tent, the show jumping, fun fair, WI and Young Farmers' marquees, and even Dave, the human cannonball and parachutists landing in the main ring.

The number of pigs in the show had increased this year to 192 — the third biggest figure ever.

The total of trade stands nudged the 1,000 mark.

A British Charolais cow and a quality Holstein cow took the beef and dairy inter-breed championships.