Sun shines bright for Devon County Show crowds
Sunshine, stunning livestock and school children helped to make the second day of the Devon County Show at Westpoint, Exeter another happy and memorable day.
Show Secretary Ollie Allen said the glorious weather helped to create a relaxed atmosphere as visitors sat around the ringsides to watch thrilling showjumping, country life and Monster Truck entertainment.
“All over the show ground there were happy people enjoying the best of local food and drink, shopping for everything from a dog coat to a new car, finding out more about bees, poultry and pigeons, exploring the creative and colourful displays in the crafts and gardens feature. Not to mention taking rides on the Devon Eye and watching the sheep shearing and shoeing competitions.”
Among the hundreds of school children was a class from Wynstream Primary School, Exeter - the first school to win the £1,000 Prince of Wales Award given annually for local sustainability projects. The children were transported by the Exeter Chiefs team bus and spent the day exploring food, farming and life beneath the sea.
Two Devon couples whose wedding anniversaries are tomorrow (May 19) toasted the forthcoming royal wedding. Liz and Gerald Thorne and Sarah and Jonathan Hunter.
One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the Burke trophies, the Oscars of the livestock industry, awarded for the first time at the County Show.
The beef Burke trophy went to a British Blues pair made up of heifer Highridge Blues Lucia (owned Nathaniel and Marina Doble from St Agnes, Cornwall) and bull Newpole Lorenzo (owned by Jools Turner and Phil White from Wellington, Somerset).
The reserve went to a British Limousin pair - heifer Foxhillfarm Minesagin and bull Foxhillfarm Napoleon - both owned by Michael and Melanie Alford from Blackborough, Cullompton.
Holsteins took the dairy Burke trophy with a pair made up of Beaconhill Daryl Corrie owned by Olly Reed from Blackborough, Cullompton and Thuborough Freda 520 owned by Roland Ley from Sutcombe near Holsworthy.
The reserve went to the Jerseys: Mark Davis from Burlescombe, Tiverton with Bluegrass Excitation Susanna EX91 and Malcolm Huxtable from Stockleigh Pomeroy near Crediton with Sowden Timekeeper Girl 3.
Beef judge Mike Yeandle gave honourable mentions to the county’s native Devons owned by Richard and Jane Youngman from Dira Barton, Crediton and Stone Grove Livestock from Shrawley, Worecestershire.
Tomorrow (Saturday) is the final day of the Show when Royal Wedding celebrations include live TV coverage, a mass confetti throw, bunting and wedding trees and even a pair of ponies dressing up as the happy couple. The Exeter Chiefs match and the FA cup final will also be shown on TV.
The Monster Trucks return to the Rathbones main arena along with the local teams Zorb football final and the final Grand Parade of Livestock of the 123rd Show.
