Community Yearbook 17012019

ROYAL COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE SHOW

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 17 January, 2019

Year of the dog THIS year’s Royal County of Berkshire Show was bigger

and more successful than ever, with change being the name of the game. Show president Peter Carlisle said: “It’s been absolutely bril- liant, lots of people have turned up and on the whole the show has gone very well.” Dogs were allowed at the show for the first time and this proved popular with visitors. The new Dog Zone was a success and more than 80 dogs took part in one of the compe- titions at one point. Show manager Patricia Marks said: “2018 for the Royal County of Berkshire Show is the year of change – new layout, new team, new attrac- tions and dogs allowed for the first time in a number of years. “The feedback so far is very positive and I am delighted that the show was so success- ful.” More than 2,000 livestock

Top prize for Richard CATTLE, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry and llamas were among the 2,000- plus animals in the show’s livestock area. They competed in a number three-year-old Solpoll Dyna- mite is named after the MP. It was one of multiple successes for the Englefield Herefords, which are

Great effort is top of the class JUDGES praised the “phenomenal” work of schools across the district for their outstanding level of submissions on display in the education marquee. This year pupils were asked to put on their creative thinking hats to conjure up displays to symbolise being outside the classroom, as well promoting environmen- tal artwork. The education marquee was decked in colourful, original and intricate 3D displays from 57 local schools. Several schools submitted displays for the first time, including Newbury-based Warren Pre-school, and The Cedars School in Aldermaston and Loddon Primary School in Earley, Reading. Great Shefford Under Fives pre-school was overall winner of the Outside the Class- room category, with judges noting how well the school – which does not have its own outside field – made excellent use of local parks in gathering material for their display. Runner-up was The Castle School, Newbury, closely followed by Thatcham’s Spurcroft Primary in third. Great Shefford Under Fives pre-school ’ s winning display

managed by Terry Perkins at Mayridge Farm on Mr Benyon’s 2,000-acre mixed livestock farm, home to 65 Hereford suckler cows. One of them is Zoe – named after Mr Benyon’s wife – who also triumphed in her class at the cattle breeding competition.

of classes throughout the weekend – with success for several local competitors. Newbury MP Richard Benyon was among the first to congratulate his four- legged namesake, after his bull won several prizes. Hereford sire Richard took the top rosette as local champion, having won his class category as senior bull, as well as being crowned reserve local cham- pion of Herefords. The THERE were a number of adorable animals for chil- dren to pet at Hampshire- based Miller’s Ark open farm. There were happy faces all round as youngsters got the opportunity to cuddle goats, hold chicks, stroke geese and groom donkeys. The farm’s kune kune pigs (pronounced Cooney Cooney, and meaning fat and round in Maori) also proved a big hit among youngsters.

World War. Spectators were wowed by how machinery has changed over the years, starting with steam traction engines and ploughs to the latest technology, such as precision seeding and large combine harvesters.

descended on the Chieveley showground and competed in a number of classes, with local competitors performing well. The main arena also had new events, with a demonstration of 100 years of British Farm- ing, as well as a commemora- tion of the end of the First

Strattons Farm, Kingsclere, was also celebrating after sire Lowgate Hotshot won reserve best local champion in the Limousin champi- onship. Different strokes

Rex creates Blend of success AN alcohol-alternative that

The pale green liquid contains no alcohol, allergens or sugar. It can be served with ice and crisp, sparkling tonic and a sprig of mint – a classy, non- alcoholic version of the stan- dard gin and tonic. Mr Carter said: “It’s abso- lutely fantastic to have won because we are such a young brand. To get the recognition for all the hard work that goes into it is phenomenal. Mr Carter shared the honours for best local exhibit with Tea People, a Reading-based tea company run by Neeraj and Vishaka Agarwal, a husband- and-wife duo.

was concocted in a West Berkshire kitchen was crowned joint best local product on display at the Food Fayre. Berkshire Blend, a premium non-alcoholic spirit alterna- tive, with cucumber and citrus spice top notes, was founded by Rex Carter from Streatley. After experiencing mental health problems that left him unable to drink alcohol and frustrated with the sugary and unsophisticated soft drink alternatives in bars and pubs, Mr Carter was inspired to create the unique blend.

Ava Anderson at the petting farm

A cookery demonstration from Richie from Bladebone Inn

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