Thousands flock to Monmouthshire Show (From Free Press Series)

Thousands flock to Monmouthshire Show

MORE than 21,000 people flocked to the Monmouthshire Agricultural Show and it is being hailed as one of the most successful shows ever.

A host of events and activities combined with good weather on Thursday meant that visitors from England and Wales were entertained at Monmouth's Vauxhall Fields.

Over 2,000 exhibitors took part in this year's show and the high standard of the events were equal to those at the national Royal Welsh Show held in Builth Wells.

Kay Spencer, organiser of the Monmouthshire Show, says she is delighted with the success of the event and relieved the rain held off.

She said: "We were so lucky with the weather, it made a huge difference. This year it was very smooth getting people on and off the ground and no one had to be towed out.

"The atmosphere was brilliant. It is such a friendly show, everyone was happy and smiling and it was lovely to see everything going on in the main ring."

Highlights of the show included the Imps motorcycle display team, showjumping, dog demonstrations and, new to the show, the under publicised sport of ferret racing.

Youngsters had the opportunity to test their circus skills or meet piglets, rabbits and guinea pigs at a special animal farm enclosure.

The annual show, which has a 214 year old history, was also a platform to promote many good causes and charities.

Among them was a fund-raising stall for the 'Friends of the Children of Chernobyl'.

Sue Oswell, 58, from Raglan, is a trustee of the charity which brings youngsters from Russia and Ukraine affected by the 1986 disaster on trips to visit the UK.

"Each visit increases their life span because it gives them a chance to build up their immune system," said Mrs Oswell. "We are always on the look out for donations or new host families."

Monmouth Archaeological Society who recently discovered the lost city of Trellech also featured with a stall showing off a variety of their latest finds.

And in keeping with tradition Monmouth Show had competitions for best sheep, ponies, goats, horses and dogs, making very much an animals' day out too.

The cutest performance of the day were the 'Paws for thought' display team which included ten rescued dogs performing a variety of tricks.

Star of the show was Bob, a rescued collie, who had once been dragged along behind a tractor as the driver tried to kill him. He showed a delighted crowd he had fully recovered from his ordeal.