After the Show was over...

Despite the inclement weather over the weekend the organisers of Great Eccleston Show certainly gave the visiting public an excellent demonstration of all that is good in the heartland of the Fylde coast in Lancashire.

The rain may have fallen for most of the second day but the spirits were certainly high and once again justified it’s reputation as the best two-day show in the North-West and the ground held up well to the estimated 30,000 people who visited the show over the two days.

There was a great show of dairy cattle on the first day, all of a very high standard. Although
Holsteins are the dominant breed in the Fylde, there was an excellent showing of Jersey’s and the addition this year of Ayrshire cattle was a welcome sight.

The beef show that followed on Sunday was an excellent display of these large, sturdy animals and was well represented with British Blues, Simmentals and Limousins.

On Saturday the main ring was full of over seventy entries in the Shire Horse section and Great Eccleston can probably boast to have had more of these great horses on display than any other show so far this year.

A win at Great Eccleston means that the horse qualifies to
enter the Shire Horse of the Year Competition and so the Grand Parade on Saturday featured some of the finest horses in the country. The Supreme Champion went to F. Pickles from
Keighley, West Yorshire with his horse Providence Lady Jasmine and the horse that won the qualifier was owned by J Wilkinson from Clitheroe with Hainton Charlie Girl.

There was a strong line-up of various breeds of sheep on the Saturday with Suffolks, Texels,Charollais, Swaledale and Zwartbles sheep making up the numbers as well as various primitive, non-primitive and Shetland sheep on display on Sunday.

The rest of the animals on show included a great selection of pigs, goats and rabbits. Our feathered friends were also well represented with over 250 Budgerigars on show and over a 180 hens. The cockerel that won Supreme Champion was a Long Island Red with some of the
finest markings on a bird the judge had ever seen. The bird’s careful owner, Mr Ainsworth
from Lostock Hall has been rearing this breed for over 60 years.

Tractors always feature very heavily at Great Eccleston and this year was no exception with a wonderful display of vintage tractors and steam driven machinery. The modern machinery
took pride of place by the main ring but the more powerful machines were to be found in the
lower field during the Tractor Pulling Competition. Although the weather took it’s toll on
these noisy monsters reaching there full potential, there was still a fantastic display watched
by a good crowd of old and new fans alike.

The marquee’s around the showground always have some of the finest pieces of work. The
support that this show gets from local people is manifest in the quality and number of exhibits on display. Ranging from flowers, vegetables, art, photography, handicrafts and baking the vast array of entries was a feast for the eyes and young and old had got involved. The Children’s Section alone attracted over 700 entries which is wonderfully encouraging for the success of the show for years to come.

The large food hall attracted some great local produce and the array of cheeses, chocolate and meats would certainly encourage anyone to buy locally. Phillipa James, who runs a cookery school in Mawdesley, gave demonstrations of quick and easy recipes using the finest local ingredients. The finest of Lancashire was also represented in the “Made in Lancashire”marquee with various producers of jewellery, wooden toys and other handicrafts showing the talent and variety of work being produced around Lancashire.

Great Eccleston certainly put on a show that was a credit to it’s organisers and all that is great in Lancashire. The show had something for everyone and those that attended were not disappointed and went away with a smile on their faces and a wish to return again next year.