Records numbers turn out to The Nantwich Show 2011

Jessica Simms is unlikely to forget this year’s Nantwich Show in a hurry. The 16-year-old won a haul of rosettes at the prestigious agricultural event. As well as starting the day with a first place in the British Blonde Young Handler Class with limousin Simbo Gili, she also took home five more firsts, a second and third. She then went on to take the top prize of Supreme Champion with limousin, Simbo Etty.

Jessica, from Hulse Farm in Lach Dennis, has had plenty of practice though. She has been competing in agricultural shows since she was just four-years-old.

She said: ‘I can’t quite believe it, it’s just fantastic. I have won at a few shows this year but it is amazing to win at Nantwich. It is a great event.’

Jessica wasn’t the only one celebrating at the show, the largest one day event in the country. Farmers from across Cheshire shared in Jessica’s success by taking home their own prizes. Marshall and Patsy Barnett from Twemlow, who have won both Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion at past shows, were awarded five rosettes.

The National Brown Swiss Cattle Society Showcase also returned to the show.

Bruce Johnston, who has been cattle chairman for 11 years and been involved with the event for 32 years, said: ‘The standards have been extremely high and the farmers have impressed the judges with the cattle they brought.

‘In Cheshire we have longstanding agricultural traditions which are celebrated here at Nantwich. We are very lucky to have people who are dedicated to farming in the county and ukconsider the show to be a part of their way of life. Having the Brown Swiss showcase is also a big honour for us and it was great to see them back.’

Volunteer steward Bernard Morgan, from Crewe has worked at the show for 46 years and loves being involved.

‘I used to run the rabbit show here,’ the 87-year-old said. ‘The show has changed so much since I first started being involved. When I first started there wasn’t even a marquee but now it is a very big event. This year had the biggest entry numbers ever. I think I’m the longest serving volunteer. I’m very proud to be a part of it.’

Records numbers attended this year’s show with around 40,000 people flooding through the gates at Dorfold Park. As well as being able to see the cattle, sheep and poultry up close, there was also a country pursuits area, a marquee that celebrated local food and drink producers and the fun and festivities that went on in the main ring.

There were open mouths and gasps of terror as the monster truck display, the show’s main event, took centre stage and the crowds surrounded the ring again as The Grand Parade showcased the best of Cheshire’s animals.

There was also huge success in the cheese marquee, home to the International Cheese Awards. Celebrity chefs James Martin and Gino D’Acampo held cookery demonstrations and around 4,000 cheeses were judged. The Supreme Champion was awarded Wookey Hole Cave Aged Cheddar, produced in Dorset. But an impressive amount of prizes were awarded to producers from our county.

A Cheshire cheese from family firm Appleby’s won The Daresbury Cup, an award presented to the Champion Farmhouse Cheshire Cheese. They also received two gold awards in the coloured farmhouse/traditional Cheshire cheese category and for the best dressed farmhouse/traditional Cheshire.

Paul Appleby said: ‘My family have been coming to the show for generations and when something like this happens, it’s absolutely terrific and an honour.’

The success of the Nantwich Show and the International Cheese Awards is a culmination of months of planning and organisation. For Adrian Lawrence, show secretary, it is a delight and relief once people start coming through the gates.

He said: ‘The quality of the cheese has been tremendous. Our entries are up more than 400 to 3730 which is a fantastic achievement. Every year it keeps on growing. But that is testament to all of the hard work that is put in to create it.

‘Nantwich Show and the International Cheese Awards are things for Cheshire to be proud of because it celebrates all that is best about our wonderful county. It does take an incredible amount of hard work for everyone involved but it is always worth it when you see everyone having a fantastic time.’

The print version of this article appeared in the October 2011 issue of Cheshire Life 

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