The 2008 East of England Autumn Show was a great success with record numbers of people flocking through the gates to see all manner of animals, great and small. The Show, on Sunday 12th October, was blessed with glorious weather as well as record breaking entries in many of the livestock classes.
Children and adults alike enjoyed a day of animal magic with the opportunity to get up close to a wide range of animals from mighty Shire horses to fancy rats and mice. The brand new competitive classes for sheep saw over 200 sheep entered from 24 different breeds and the pig classes, for rare and native breeds showed fantastic levels of entries.
The Show also had a large doggy contingent with Lurcher racing and show, plus a Terrier championship show. A heat of Scruffts saw 89 dogs competing for a place in the final of the Kennel Club’s search for the Crossbreed of the Year. There was also fast and furious activity in the Burgess Supa Dog Agility Stakes rings.
Birds were well represented at the Show, with displays and competitive classes of pigeons and displays of poultry and waterfowl, plus a poultry auction.
This year’s show also celebrated RABI’s Welly Week. Starting with a Welly themed supper on the eve of the show, 80 guests raised over £500.00 with fun activities such as competitions for the best pair of Wellies. Bob Archibald, RABI field officer for the East of England, then introduced Show visitors to the technical and skillful sport or Welly wanging on the Sunday. North Beds YFC also joined in with the Welly fun by displaying their giant pair of Wellingtons and running other kids activities.
Visitors to the Show could hardly fail to have noticed the exceptionally large pumpkin in the Atrium of the exhibition hall, which was there to celebrate the launch a brand new feature that will play an important part in next year’s Show – the East of England Giant Vegetable Competition.
Next year's Show will be on Sunday 11th October 2009 |
