Calmer route to Usk Show (From Free Press Series)

Calmer route to Usk Show

USK Show always takes place on the second Saturday of September and is the last show of the season in Monmouthshire and surrounding counties, so is always popular with town and country folk alike.

The show, which will be held on Saturday, September 11, has been running for 150 years and is one of the most successful one-day shows in the area.

With last year's traffic delays proving a problem, a completely new traffic management plan has been devised which will alleviate the congestion in Usk.

Traffic from the south will exit the A449 at Usk, and traffic from the north will exit the A40 at Raglan and follow the signs, and all Usk town traffic will be directed towards Gwehelog on a new one-way system.

Said show secretary Fiona Jenkins: "Additional entrances and car parking facilities will considerably improve access to the show in the new plan, which has the approval of Gwent Police and the county highways department.

"We are confident everyone's journey to the show will be a swift one."

She said dairy cattle entries are making a good return and sheep entries are excellent. The children's calf and lamb handling classes are more popular than ever, and always pull crowds of spectators.

Mrs Jenkins added: "Bio security and licences are still necessary, but with the 21-day standstill period reduced to six days for show exhibitors with on-farm isolation facilities, local farmers' enthusiasm to show livestock at Usk has favourably returned so the livestock area will be busy this year."

There will be a milking competition in the goat section early in the morning and this is one area popular with families.

In addition to the horse classes there is also dressage and BSJA showjumping competitions, so the normal huge following of spectators is a certainty.