The Royal Bath & West Show is now accepting entries to a wide range of competitions ahead of the event on June 1-3, 2023.
The three-day event aims to provide family entertainment as well as featuring the best of British agriculture, equine competition and rural life exhibits.
The livestock Grand Parade will showcase the championship-winning beef and dairy cattle, as well as pigs and sheep, while equine competitors will seek to claim show-jumping accolades or have a chance to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show.
Head of shows Jess Chiplen said the event’s agricultural, equine and rural heritage remains at the heart of the show, with quality entries and entertainment featuring throughout the three days.
“We’re looking forward to educating the next generation, with our new STEM Zone, ‘Discover the future’, which will be packed full of interactive technology and engineering displays designed specifically for children,” she said.
The show’s organsiers have also launched a new veterinary award – the ‘Farm Vet of the Future’ award.
“The competition is open to UK final year vet students intending to become farm vets. The winner and runner-up will be invited to attend the Royal Bath and West Show on June 1, when the winner will be announced,” Chiplen said.
Naomi Guiver, competitions executive, added: “It’s great to open entries for a diverse and wide-ranging schedule of competition, which will undoubtedly bring out the highest quality animals and contestants from across the region.”
Livestock
As always, the event’s organisers said, the livestock classes are at the centre of the show, with beef, dairy, sheep, and pigs featuring on every day of the event.
Entries to the sheep, beef and pigs competitions will close on April 17, 2023, and entries for dairy cattle will close on May 8, 2023.
World-class sheep shearing contestants will go up against eachother, the show’s organisers said, and will demonstrate the art of professional shearing.
Entries for this competition will close on May 23, 2023.
Equine
Equine competitions at the event will be all focussed in the one area of the showground and will include heavy horse, light horse, scurry driving and show-jumping as well as the farriers entering the shoeing and shoemaking competition.
Entries for scurry, light horse and heavy horse will close on April 24; entries for shoeing and shoemaking will close on May 2; entries for show-jumping will close on May 19.
Arts, floral and produce
Featuring at the show for over 100 years, the art competition encourages and promotes artists from the South West, with entries including paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, and original limited prints.
Entries for the art competition close on April 18.
Event organisers said the floral art competition attracts entries of unbridled creative aplomb, featuring virtuoso florists to the showground. Entries for this competition will close on May 3.
The British Cider Championships offer brewers the opportunity to showcase their beverages. Entries close on May 9.
Produce competitions include the egg competiton and the bees and honey competition. Entries for eggs close on May 10, and entries for bees and honey close on May 1.
With plenty of other attractions, a myriad of traders offering local food and drink, and live music continuing long into the evening, there is something for everyone at the Royal Bath and West Show, said Chiplen.
“We can’t wait to see our visitors and exhibitors alike, who are welcome to camp overnight to make the most of the occasion – and exhibitors, don’t forget our new and improved Stockman’s Supper on the Friday night.”
