Livestock and produce in good supply at North Show
With cows a no-show yesterday it was up to the Royal Golden Guernsey Goats to hold the fort in the livestock section at the North Show.
Section secretary Krissi Carre said that some cows had been entered, but had not arrived. But she was pleased that there were goats again this year.
‘We really started pushing the agricultural side again last year to try to get some of the animals back,’ she said.
‘We’ve had six goats entered this year. Last year we had three, and there were two heifers.’
It was only goats entered into the competitive classes, since while sheep were also at the show they were just for petting purposes, while horses had taken part in a series of games earlier in the day.
After a rather feisty buckling (a billy goat aged 1-2 years) had his chance to shine, it was the turn of the nannies, four of which were paraded in front of judge Geoff Marquis, who is well-known as a judge of an array of livestock, including rabbits and cavies.
One of the young handlers trying to keep a goat under control was Abigail Goubert, 16, who said afterwards that she had found the job exhausting.
‘I’m shattered,’ she said, declining to handle her charge again, despite it winning the goatling (best nanny goat aged 1-2) class.
Ms Carre said that later on people would have a chance to see more exotic creatures, with reptile-handling being offered.
Not far away there was a considerably more laid back atmosphere in the produce tent where judges quietly contemplated the tables groaning with fresh produce and hand-made and baked goods.
Vegetable section secretary David Dorey said the number of entries this year was a bit lower than last time, but there was still some impressive veg on display, including a massive cabbage and three enormous leeks.
On another table Ann Mauger was assisting in judging children’s baked entries. ‘They’ve turned out in force again,’ she said as she tried a cheese twist.
Nearby, Brenda Sparkes was tasting the sweets and chocolates as well as the ‘miscellaneous’ section where there were several items that did not fit into any other category, including a loaf which took first prize.
‘The bread was pretty good,’ she said.
‘There are some very impressive young bakers.’
