THE 249th Royal Bath and West Show last week was a great success, with some of the best livestock in the country on show with larger cider show, lots of the best produce from the west country available to enjoy, writes Rosie Sage.

The three day show starts with an opening ceremony including awarding those who have worked in the agricultural industry and allied trades and at the show for decades receive suitable recognition.

Peter Sherborne, from Chelwood, like so many young farmers at the time, became a steward when the show moved permanently to the present showground, before this it had a different location cross the country. He started stewarding in the pig section before moving to sheep back to pigs and then to the press office. Also receiving a long service award was Mary James of Winford, she has worked as a farmer all of her life. She and her late husband, Tom, showed Guernsey cattle for many years. Mary joined the show committee in 2001 and chaired the Public affairs Committee until 2019.

The livestock in all sections were a terrific visual display, the stunning sheep saw the Black Welsh Mountain breed exhibited by Harriet Bown of Binegar, win the reserve breed championship with a shearling ewe. In the Wool on the Hoof section reserve champion was won by Priddy Texels.

In the dairy lines, Andrew Tanner of Winford was showing his Sheeted Somerset cattle. This is a remarkable story of an extinct breed being restored. Andrew has spent many years researching the genetics which has proved successful winning, in the Any Other Dual Purpose section the cattle won the female and reserve champion, champion and reserve for the section and the best exhibitor bred long with class wins.

In the horse lines there was plenty of local interest with the Mendip winning the inter hunt relay. Colin Horler from Radford was exhibiting his Radford shires winning best yearling with Radford Tina and second with his mare Radford Cilla.

There is a splendid art show at the show, always worth a visit, with the winning entry this year being a sculpture, a hare, presented by Sally Gardiner from Tunley.

The joint presidents for 2026 were William Fox-Pitt and Alice Plunckett more commonly known for equestrian activities, however, both are from farming backgrounds and revelled in the quality of stock and the many agricultural aspects of the show

The finale of the show is a parade of vintage vehicles, steam engines, steam cars, tractor, a wonderful display, followed by an operatic rendition of ‘God Save the King’. One of the steam engines, a Marshall Agricultural engine 1905, belonging to Chris & Marcia Beeching of Chewton Mendip.