THOUSANDS were delighted to be back out enjoying the very best of Lancashire as the county hosted one of its biggest events since the end of lockdown.
The Royal Lancashire Show attracted more than twice as many visitors over its three-day run this year as it did in 2019, with organisers hailing the extravaganza a ‘phenomenal’ success.
It is one of the largest events to have taken place in the county since lockdown was lifted back in July, with people travelling from all over the country to see what this year’s agricultural show had to offer.
(NERVES: Young jockeys await their turn in the Shetland Pony Grand Prix at the 2021 Royal Lancashire Show)
And they weren’t disappointed, with something to entertain all ages and interests going on within the Salesbury Hall venue – from award-winning food and drink stands to shopping, a fairground and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Colin Mustoe, chairman of the show said: “It has been phenomenal. The attendance is twice what it was two years ago, that’s fact. Everybody seems very happy to be out.
“We made the effort to put the show on when it was so easy to call it off – which is what many people have done.
“There is an awful lot of work that has to be done and the volunteers work so hard and it is really difficult. In the end I just thought we have got to get back to some sort of normality and a lot of people that have come here this weekend depend on these shows. Just to take the easy way out is not what I’m about so here we are. It has been very good.
“One of the main things is we have been very keen to win back the farming community and this year we have over a thousand animals – sheep, cattle, alpacas, rabbits, poultry, pigs. They really feel a part of the show now and I see no reason why that doesn’t carry on.”
When it came to the equestrian side of things, well over a thousand horses and riders attended over the weekend to participate in either the show jumping or showing classes.
The biggest show jumping class of the weekend, The Stairway, took place on Saturday with a prize pot of £7,500.
(Boy enjoys ice cream at the Royal Lancashire Show 2021)
In the Senator-sponsored Grand Prix on Sunday a whopping £6,000 was at stake – meaning the competition attracted some of show jumping’s biggest names including Olympic medallist and sporting legend John Whitaker MBE.
And while first spot in the Grand Prix was very nearly won by Lancashire’s Julie Andrews, it was Adrian Speight and his horse Millfield Baloney who clinched first place after the jump-off.
Stephen Atkinson, Leader of the Ribble Valley Borough Council, who was enjoying the show on Sunday with friends and family said: “It is fantastic to see all of these people out enjoying themselves – I couldn’t believe how busy it is - people are really excited to be here.
Holly the Labrador enjoying the Ribble Valley Gin Tent
“All credit to the organising committee for holding faith and making this happen. I came two years ago in 2019 and it is now bigger and better than it was then. It is very professionally run and I think Colin Mustoe and his team have done a fabulous job. May it continue for many years in the Ribble Valley.”
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