Thousands of people descended on the West Woodland Showground for the 139th annual Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show.
The heavy downpour couldn’t deter huge crowds of people from Frome and further afield from enjoying a full day of displays, exhibitions and competitions at the popular one-day event.
Show chairman Martyn Brake said, “The weather dampened no-one’s spirits and fun was had by all as the entertainment continued throughout the day.”
Once again the Cheese Pavilion was bustling with visitors throughout, with some popular artisan cheese producers even sold out by midday.
The cheese chairman Chris Stilton, confirmed that there were over 1,000 entries into the Global Cheese Awards from European, American and Canadian cheese producers, making for an extremely diverse selection of entrants. The overall Global Champion Cheese was Leicestershire cheese producer, Long Clawson Dairy, with their blue stilton.
Celebrity chef in the Cheese Pavilion, Josh Eggleton, who is co-owner of Michelin Star pub The Pony and Trap based in Chew Magna, brought in the crowds with his cooking demonstrations. Josh has had a busy year as the week before Frome Show, he won BBC 2’s Great British Menu competition. He also judged the Frome show’s own ‘Celebrity Bake Off’ competition, won by last-minute local entry Di Candy, who beat former Coronation Street star Sean Wilson and 1979 F1 World Champion Jody Scheckter, both of whom are now renowned cheese makers.
As well as cheese, Frome Show also has an immense agricultural sector and this year’s show saw more than 460 cattle from counties across England. Cattle section chairman, Tony Page, believes this makes Frome the biggest one-day show in the country, and it’s not just the quality cattle that impressed the judges.
“The number of junior handlers was striking,” he said. “There were 42 in the first class to be judged alone, which is very encouraging for the future of our industry.”
While the cattle, sheep and goat judging was taking place in the popular Livestock Village, competition in the Main Ring and Show Rings was fierce too, with show jumping, Pony Club races and a new six-bar jumping event, supplying what Horse Section Chair, Kirsten Penny described as ‘adrenalin-filled’ entertainment.
“We also had two new commentators this year, internationally renowned polo specialist Simon Ledger and Rosey Lediard, best known for her horse-drawn wedding carriages, both of whom added greatly to the atmosphere and success of the day, and we’re already looking at refreshing the schedule for next year.”
Behind the Main Ring, tables in the Home and Handicraft and Horticulture Marquees were packed with all manner of entries, from giant leeks to Swiss rolls and tractors made from vegetables to handknitted toys.
Handicraft and Horticulture chair, Sue Fear, stated that this eclectic mixture attracted researchers and photographers from leading publisher Dorling Kindersley, who are compiling a book on the “Great British Village Show”.
Martyn Brake added, “All of this year’s trade stand space was sold three months in advance of the show and though we had a couple of last minute cancellations we had people on our waiting list who were only too happy to take their place, so all in all, despite the weather, I think we can chalk up another success for Frome Show.
“Next year’s show is on Saturday, September 9th. Make a note in your diary now!”
