Crowds were out in force to celebrate centenary Berkshire show

Vast crowds attended The Royal County of Berkshire Show last weekend, basking in the autumn sunshine and soaking up the atmosphere at the last big outdoor agricultural show of the season.

Tens of thousands of visitors joined in the two-day party as the show marked an historic occasion - the centenary of organisers, The Newbury and District Agricultural Society, and one hundred years since the first show was held.

Equestrian events, always a popular draw, saw hundreds of horses competing across the full range of classes from showing to scurry driving and heavy horse classes to top level show jumping. In the main arena day one opened with a win for Tracey Priest in the Rivar Area Trial Show Jumping and for British international rider William Funnell who stole the Wendy Green Six-Bar contest, named in memory of the former Chair of the show's Light Horse Committee. Day two's focus was on the finale of the British Show Jumping Association's International Stairway Series which saw a triumph for series leaders Vicky Tulloch and Soliegette.

Vicky said: "The series has been absolutely fantastic. It has given riders who are more used to competing nationally a chance to jump bigger tracks. I have been concentrating on getting double clears and it has paid off. This was the first time I have been to Newbury and it was great to win here. The ground was perfect, the course was good and the crowd was absolutely fantastic."

Arena crowds enjoyed horsepower of a different kind with a display of Morgan Sports Cars, also marking their centenary, while the displays of vintage farm machinery also captivated visitors.

The showpiece Royal Navy Parachute Display team, marking 100 years of naval airpower, thrilled spectators who were treated to a celebrity commentary by none other than General Sir Richard Dannatt former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. The skies also reverberated with a spectacular flypast by a Seafire vintage naval plane.

General Sir Richard, who was president of the Royal Norfolk Show last year, attended the show on the opening day, accompanied by Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury and Shadow Minister, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Mr Benyon, whose family was exhibiting cattle at the show for the first time in 30 years, was able to celebrate with a fourth place for his Hereford calf Cleland 1 Empress 5th.

As ever livestock arenas were packed with spectators who were treated to some competitive classes across the breeds.

Described as one of the best displays of Aberdeen Angus cattle seen at a UK show for some time, the breed Championship Show, held at Newbury Showground for the first time, was won by Ewan Brewis's junior bull Eastfield Black Bandit.

By Rawburn Rochester, Black Bandit has been unbeaten this year having started his success by winning his class at the Winter Fair at Ingleston last year and then going on to win his class and take reserve champion at the Border union show, as well as champion at Berwick. He was shown at the Newbury Showground by stockman Iain McGillvray.

The female champion Belhaven Ruisseau shown by John and Teena Gilmour, took the reserve slot. This heifer has also had a pretty successful show season, taking a first place at the Royal Highland Show, as well as winning at the Border Union Show. She is out of the grandmother of Eastfield Black Bandit.

Sheep lines were given added interest this year with the presence of the Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers whose Chairman Linda Scurr succeeded in her ambition of creating 100 skeins of wool from 100 breeds of sheep for display at the show. Linda topped her achievement during the show by weaving the Newbury and District Agricultural Society's logo.

Hundreds of eye-catching tradestands opened for business in the vast tented village. Ecover carried off the Ridgeway Volkswagen Newbury trophy for the most appealing local stand, while the Newbury garage went on to collect an award of its own for the best automotive stand. Lister Wilder impressed the judges most in the agricultural sector, carrying off the BK Grain Perpetual Challenge Cup. The company also won the large category, while Warburtons carried off the medium sized stands award, the awards for small and very small stands going to Belvedere Productions and Centaur Photography respectively.

Tradestands reported brisk sales. Security specialists TH White, first time exhibitors, said: "It has been an exceptional show and we already have a lot of plans for next year."

Despite the sunshine, visitors were in the mood to stock up for winter. The team at Woolsthorpe Woollies said: "We really love the show and we certainly liked the weather."

The show's Food Fayre proved a big hit too with the verdict from Jimmy's Farm that it had been an "awesome show" and an impressed thumbs up for a "well run" event from the team at the Fabulous Vodka Company.

For the first time, the Made in Britain Awards, sponsored by Country Living and Waitrose were presented at the show with this year's winning producer, Ronald Barge of Gigha Halibut travelling all the way from Argyll to receive his award. The Farmers Guardian Best Farm Entrepreneur Award went to dairy farmer Ian Luxton's Yorkshire-based Yorvale Icecream.

A high standard was in evidence in the horticultural section with green-fingered Berkshire growers showing off their produce in some spectacular marquees. The show succeeded in receiving the highest number of Royal Horticultural Society gold awards outside Chelsea with 13 in all. The hotly contested inter-village competition was won by Kingsclere Gardening Association with Heckfield in second place and Cold Ash & Ashmore Green and Aldermaston & Wasing in fourth place.

Summing up, Newbury and District Agricultural Society Show's Chairman Simon Carter said: "The 100^th anniversary of the society has made this a particularly special two days – the atmosphere has been brilliant and there has been a fantastic feeling throughout. Perhaps the highlight for me was the grand parade of livestock. We had a huge livestock entry and had the honour of hosting the National Aberdeen Angus Show for the first time – their description of the standard at the show as being the highest ever was quite an accolade.

"The sheer variety of things on offer makes the show a brilliant day out for everyone and the enjoyment on people's faces was a fantastic reward for all the hard work put in by the countless number of volunteers who make the show possible."

Charlie Mayfield, President of the show, said: "It has been a great weekend. The show has an important part to play in reconnecting people with farming and where their food comes from. It is a tremendous celebration of the countryside."