Competitors and visitors braved the difficult conditions of Storm Bert to see a high quality field compete for the big prizes at the Cornish Winter Fair.

Held within the exhibition halls at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre, the event, jointly organised by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and the Wadebridge Prime Stock Show Association, saw another great attendance across the two-day event.

Once again, several hundred entries took part in the annual Wadebridge Prime Stock Show, which has been taking place for almost 150 years.

One of the prolific awards of the day, the Supreme Cattle Championship, was won by Ms L Poole with her British Limousin Heifer after heading the field in the Exhibitor Bred Heifer class.

Reserve Supreme Cattle was awarded to Oliver and Craig Penellum of Truro after securing the win for the Heifer sired by bull of Continental Origin, with their 2023 born Limousin Cross.

As ever, the Sheep Section was impressively strong with representation across plenty of native and continental breeds.

Taking the accolade of the Champion Pair of Butchers’ Lambs, for the second year running, was Austin and Michelle Lockyer from Highbridge in Somerset, with a pair of Beltex crosses. The Reserve Champion Pair went to Gwen Renfree of Launceston with her Southdown duo, which had won first place in the Pure Breed of British Native Origin class.

In the ever popular Young Handler classes there was plenty of quality on display. For the second Year in a row, Ethan Johnson Smith took the Beef Young Handler Championship, Reserve Champion was Jack Moon.

In the Sheep Young Handler Championship, the top prize went to Tia Whitrow from Honiton, who had won the 13-16 year old class.

In the Cookery Section, the Carole Bartlett Perpetual Challenge Cup for the most points in the cookery classes went to Ms. D Christophers, and Trevone W.I once again took home the Hart Key Challenge Cup as winners of the Women’s Institute class.

Over 130 trade stands were exhibiting at the weekend event, and within the Trade Stand Competition, winners were Cornish Meadow Preserves for best food & drink exhibit, Masons Kings were best trade exhibit and Katoli Handbags walked away with the best craft prize.

Visitors flocked to the food and farming education zone created by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association in conjunction with the Cornwall branch of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

Families enjoyed meeting and learning more about the farm animals on show that included sheep, pigs, and goats.

Mark Stoddart, Honorary Secretary of the Wadebridge Prime Stock Association said:

“This was my first experience of the Wadebridge Prime Stock Show and Cornish Winter Fair, and is is humbling to see the quality of livestock, produce and competitive entries on display. What a great showcase of Cornish agriculture and Farming”

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