BILLY Callow’s three year old Ayrshire heifer Balleigh Bonnie Paula has given the Andreas farmer his third Royal Manx Supreme Championship victory today in Sulby.
The animal was chosen as the most outstanding at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show in Sulby this afternoon where huge crowds enjoyed a sun-soaked day and one of the biggest crowds for many years attended the Grand Parade of the Island’s finest farm animals.
The heifer was chosen from a final short-list of six cattle and one sheep with the First Reserve award going to Pip Kermode’s Orrisdale Caribou - a 30 months old Limousin bull. Second Reserve was Roger Chadwick’s 30 months old Limousin in-calf heifer Greeba Chloe and Third Reserve honours went to the animal which won the Supreme Champion title at the Southern Show - Dougie and Belinda Coole’s shorthorn Rodway Moss Rose.
It was a memorable Royal Show for many reasons - the main one being the beautiful warm sunshine which brought huge crowds to Staward Farm in Sulby. The Royal Show has always been known as one of the best family days out of the year and today was no exception.
Although final figures had not been released by the end of the afternoon, it was hinted that this year’s show might be a record-breaker in terms of visitor numbers. It certainly appeared to be a a record for the number of exhibitors, even though the farming industry has been going through difficult times for many years.
Retailers have consistently supported the two major agricultural shows every year, with the much bigger showfield at Sulby enabling many more exhibition stands and marquees to be erected.
The entertainment at the show yesterday and today has also been warmly received by the big crowds and the marquees selling food and, of course, the beer tent - were noticeable by the big queues of people keen to enjoy the fare on offer.
Displays this year included axe woodcutting, the ‘Ducks of Hazard’ dog-and-duck display team, as well as the traditional displays such as sheepdog trials, dog handling and sheep shearing - as well as the every popular Steve Colley on his trials bike, joined this year by enduro star David Knight.
The second year of the DEFA “I Love Manx Amateur Cook of the Year” contest was another unqualified success with the Food Theatre packed throughout today for cookery demonstrations and the highlight of the day at 2pm - the cookery competition itself.
See separate story - “Too close to call for judges in I Love Manx Amateur Cook of the Year contest”
All photographs by Bill Dale - isleofmanphotos.com
