Supported by glorious weather over both Show days,

the 127th Hertfordshire County Show, with our ‘Back

to the Future’ theme, proved to be another

memorable and successful inclusive community

event attracting over 33,000 visitors to the Herts

County Showground.

One of the many and eclectic highlights in the

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Arena over the weekend

included the unique and ‘own’ Herts Farmers’

Fantastic Forktrucks led by ‘ringmaster’ Bill Barr on

both days. The Saturday visitors were enthralled by

the Devil’s Horsemen, Europe’s number one trick

riding team, and were followed on Sunday by the

spectacular Jason Smyth Aerial Motorbike Stunts. One

of the many new urban additions to the Show

included Titan the Robot, the crowd-pulling ‘8 foot of

steaming Robotic Loveliness’.

This year’s President, Stuart Wykes hosted a lunch

for 80 invited guests on Saturday and fully endorsed

the on-going Show ‘Proud to Promote Hertfordshire’

strategy. Stuart congratulated the Society on

maintaining a very proud 212 year agricultural

heritage and also finding the important ‘fine balance

of education and entertainment’ in attracting large

numbers of predominantly urban visitors to our

Agricultural Show.

The Show ‘kicked-off’ with our 10th and very popular

Food and Farming Debate on Friday evening, and

attracted over 350 attendees. As always, the Debate

generated a lively and stimulating evening of

discussion on Farming related issues, with the

customary opposing views voiced by both the selected

panelists and attendees. The excellent post-Debate

Hog Roast allowed more time for the opinionated

discussions to continue in small groups!

Our 7th Hertfordshire Primary Schools art ‘Futuristic

Technology’ themed competition, organised in

partnership with a very supportive Hertfordshire

County Council, again attracted a high number of

quality and creative entries from all regions of

Hertfordshire. The individual winners and schools are

detailed on Page 4.

The post-Show feedback has been extremely positive

and complimentary from visitors, our sponsors and

trade exhibitors regarding the on-going improvements

to both the Show education and entertainment

programme, together with the extended Showground

infrastructure. We are particularly delighted that yet

again our Family ticket sales hit a new record, a clear

signal that our unique package of ‘All-Inclusive

Entertainment’ is valued by our Show visitors. We will

be reviewing all aspects of the 2013 Show in the

coming weeks with a view to making further

improvements for next year. In the meantime we are

delighted that our widely acclaimed reputation as the

‘Best Value for Money’ and largest inclusive

community event in Hertfordshire has been further

enhanced.

Finally, we would like to again offer our grateful

thanks to the Strutt & Parker Team in St Albans for

kindly increasing their valued Show sponsorship to

fund this 2013 ‘Snapshot’ Review for distribution to

our regular supporters.

A 'SNAPSHOT' REVIEW OF THE 2013 SHOW

Sunshine and Smiles!

Looking very relaxed in the sunshine, our President Stuart Wykes and Chairman Noel Grant at the close of the Show on Sunday evening

•••••PRE-SHOW•••••

Jill combines a quick ‘nap’ with her lunch break!

Friday Lunchtime: The Herts Air Ambulance‘arrives’ for the Show

Chief Steward Stuart Roberts presents the annual Henry Barker award to Kevin White and the Trade Stand Team

Stuart & Mandy Wykes

A thorn between 2 roses: Nikki Lawrence,Mike Harman and Charlotte Lawrence

Maggie, Roger and Jo Smith

Jill Coggins, Simon Pearce, Terry Mitchinson, Nancy & Stewart Hunterand Richard Young

Suzie & Richard Walduck, Pat Grant, Stuart &Mandy Wykes and Noel Grant

Richard Skeates, Lucie Stone, Edward Briggs andPeter Faulkner

Steve & Janet McCurdy, Emma Beale, Maria Ball,Andrew Beale and Carole Haldane

Dave & Liz Arnold

Toby Lambert & Lucie Stone

Maxine & Warwick Crawley with Jo Smith

• PRESS COMMENTS • PRESS COMMENTS • PRESS COMMENTS • PRESS COMMENTS • PRESS COMMENTS • PRESS COMMENTS • PRESS COMMENTS •

Early April: Gemma ‘thanks’ LafargeTarmac for their Show Jumping Ring sandsponsorship

Wednesday before the Show – Nearly ready for the Trade Exhibitors and our Visitors!

Grateful thanks to retiring Debate Steward Ian Pigott

Friday morning: Holding down a Marquee in the ‘Wind and Rain’

County’s best goes onshowWelwyn Hatfield Times

Thousands flock to seeCounty ShowSt Albans andHarpenden Review

Record Breaking CountyShowHertfordshire Life

Locals take Herts bystormChiltern and ThamesRider Magazine

Sun shines on crowds atCounty ShowHemel HempsteadGazette

A County showing offHerts Advertiser

The Show organisers...efforts were greatlyappreciated by theridersHorse and Hound

Food & Farming Debate Chairman Richard Percyand the panelists

Early Saturday morning: President’s briefing meeting

•••••PRESIDENT’S LUNCH•••••Kindly sponsored by

John Wood (Chief Executive of Hertfordshire County Council), RichardH Smith (Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council) and PatronRichard Walduck

••2013 SHOW HIGHLIGHTS••

““

2013 POST SHOW COMMENTS

People have said that the good weather made theshow a success, and yes it was a joy on both days.However, you still need the enthusiasm of thevolunteers to ‘put the show on the road’. Thisenthusiasm was much in evidence… pass on ourthanks to all concerned for putting on such a goodshow.Ginny Roberts, Past President

I am writing to express appreciation for theassistance provided by yourself and your team toHertfordshire County Council in our planning for theHerts County Show.John Wood CE HCC

Beautiful sunny weather was the winning formula forHerts County show this year …..you cannot beat theatmosphere of a quintessentially British County Showon a warm summer’s day.Sue Mitchell, editor of CTR Magazine

The show was very well organised and all themarshals and officials were helpful and happy. I thinkthe sunshine you ‘organised’ helped! Thank you foreverything and hope to be back next year.Horse Showing competitor

I am pleased to say that the show was so muchmore than I had expected and will definitely beattending in future years. It was full of wonderfulactivities and both my daughter and I found iteducational as well as great fun. We enjoyedwatching the animal parades and displays, the circus,spinning wool into thread, as well as buying lots oflovely pieces from the stalls.Visitor

Lovely show, thoroughly enjoyed myself.Horse showing judge

… a most enjoyable day at Herts County. As everefficient stewards, exceedingly generous hospitality,some well filled classes of good sheep…..Alan and Carole Muddiman, Sheep judge

We are very happy to be involved with the Herts Showwhich seems to go from strength to strength. Longmay it continue!Trinity Foot & South Herts Beagles

Just a quick email to say thank you for a wonderfulshow! We had a brilliant weekend, with superbweather!! Please thank the stewards for doing abrilliant job looking after everyone!Sheep Exhibitor

It was simply fantastic! Henry and I attended on theSaturday, had a good walk around, were veryimpressed with the layout, flow of pedestrian traffic,the extra hardcore alongside the tarmac paths andthought the family area was great fun. Martha Cobold, Knebworth House

….. I just wanted to thank you and your team for allof your hard work that went into putting on asuccessful show. Please pass on my thanks to thecattle stewards who did a great job, as it all wentsmoothly from our end. Cattle Competitor

My wife and I have been attending the Herts Showsince 1975, often as competitors.Congratulations on this year’s effort including theweather! We were particularly impressed by yoursupport staff especially those concerned with carparking arrangements.Visitor

… thoroughly enjoyed the show this year. Lots of newthings and the Showground looked very goodPast Secretary

Thank you for your invitation to judge sheep at thisyear's show. My wife and I had a thoroughly enjoyableday. Please convey my appreciation to all involved instaging such a great event. Sheep Judge

Trade Exhibitor Comments

I have been attending the Show for several years andthought that this year our marquee looked its bestyet, and our staff got the opportunity to talk to largenumbers of residents in a relaxed and informalenvironment about our services, so it is a veryworthwhile event for us.Chief Executive and Director – Environment. Herts County Council

….. just a quick note to say thank you for organisingyet another great show last week. We will definitelybe back again next year! Please pass on our thanksto all the team.The Waggy Tails Store

We are extremely pleased to announce that we had avery successful show once again this year and lookforward to returning in 2014. Thank you for all yourassistance; please do also pass on our thanks toeveryone involved.The Event Gallery

Just wanted to say a huge thank you and well doneto you and your team..... It was as ever a fantasticevent.Small Prints

A large number of quality Private Drive vehiclescompeted on Sunday

Rehearsals for the Nativity play starts early!

The colourful Imps Motorcycle Display TeamAnne Lambert with her Rusper Southdown Sheep

Mountain & Moorland In-Hand Champion

Noel and Pat Grant present the Martin Grant HomesShield to Area Trial winner Tracy Priest

Kevin White congratulates Howard Roberts on hisCorn Millers Display

The Hertfordshire YFC wins the best Agricultural TradeStand trophy

David Sapsed of Hitchin wins the SupremeInterbreed Beef Champion prize

••2013 SHOW WINNERS••Grove Farm Meats of Great Gaddesden displaytheir excellent produce

Buckinghamshire based Irish International rider TrevorBreen in full flight

The Roberts family admire the commemorative Henry FBarker Bench

Congratulations to Alan Herod of Stanstead Buryreceiving his 25 years Long Service award

CATTLETHE HERTS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY CHALLENGE CUP Champion Open Inter Breed Calves Dairy Mr & Mrs BA Daw HertfordTHE KIMPTON YFC YOUNG HANDLER CUP Champion Dairy Senior Young Handler Clare Daw HertfordTHE HARPENDEN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION SILVER CHALLENGE CUP Champion Limousin Mr DA Sapsed Nr HitchinTHE HAGUE CHALLENGE BOWL Highest Hertfordshire Points Winner Mr DA Sapsed Nr HitchinTHE LETCHWORTH BACON COMPANY CHALLENGE CUP Champion Simmental Mr DA Sapsed Nr HitchinTHE PRESTON YFC YOUNG HANDLER CUP Champion Beef Young Handler Beef Cattle RVC Farm Animal Clinical Club Potters Bar

HORSE & SHOW JUMPINGTHE ALDENHAM HARRIERS SUPPORTERS CLUB TROPHY Best Exhibit Aldenham Harriers Hunt Country Miss LJ Hodges St Albans

THE GAME FLAIRE TROPHY Best Filly In Hand Sports Horse Herts Owned Miss A & J Smith Stevenage

THE LYELL CHALLENGE CUP Best Filly In Hand Sports Horse Miss A & J Smith StevenageTHE LUCAS-BLOCK CHALLENGE CUP Champion In Hand Sports Horse Miss A & J Smith StevenageTHE HILLSBOROUGH CUP Champion Scurry Driving Miss EF Eldridge Harpenden

TRADETHE MARLBORO' MOTORS TROPHY Winner - Main Trade Stand Competition Herts Air Ambulance Buntingford

THE MANN EGERTON CHALLENGE CUP Best Agricultural Trade Stand Hertfordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Ware

PRIZE CARD AWARD Best Shopping Marquee Stand Love and Lilly StevenagePRIZE CARD AWARD Best Made In Hertfordshire Stand Small and Sweet Luton

2013 HERTFORDSHIRE TROPHY & AWARD WINNERSFor a full listing of all the 2013 Results please go to www.hertsshow.com and click on 'Results' on the Signpost

Titan the Robot – A potential Show Steward forthe future?

In my first report as Chairman of the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society,

I am pleased to report that 2013 was the year of the first double sunny

day weekend for several years and the visitor attendance figures at the

Hertfordshire County Show annual show were up substantially as a

result.

In spite of recessionary pressures in almost every walk of life, the

Hertfordshire County Show gave the people of the County great value

for money, and in particular where families are concerned a very

affordable day out. The children’s free rides and the free circus are a

huge advantage for a family day out, making it great value. The Show

brings to the age of technology a sense of history and culture giving

young people particularly an experience of how things were done in

the early part of the century, and how farming has evolved in the post

war years. To many city dwellers the Show is the first time they encounter farm animals and agricultural

machinery. It is therefore an important part of their education.

The Society has good reason to be proud of the many volunteers who give their time and much appreciated

effort to the running of the Hertfordshire County Show, as without them it would not be possible to organise

the considerable two day event. It is a great pleasure to see how the agricultural aspects of the show draw

people from all areas of the community and it is a very important event in the Hertfordshire social diary.

With this valuable support and progressive reputation, we can all look forward positively to next year’s

128th Hertfordshire County Show with both pride and confidence.

Noel GrantChairman of the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society

Published by The Hertfordshire Agricultural Society - Organiser of the Hertfordshire County Show The Showground, Dunstable Road, Redbourn, Herts AL3 7PT

Tel: 01582 792626 • Email: info@hertsshow.comWebsite: www.hertsshow.com

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

2013 HERTFORDSHIRE PRIMARY SCHOOLSART COMPETITION

THEME: FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY

DONORSEAST OF ENGLAND WINTER STOCK FESTIVAL HNS EQUINEKATIES CONFECTIONS J J BURGESS & SONSMIDLANDS AND EAST ANGLIA HEREFORD BREEDERS MR SWEETIE & COMRS JUNE WALTERSMRS M J PUGHOAKLEIGH FARM LIVERY YARDTRUSSELL'S BUTCHERS

WINNERS:

3 to 6 years: William IvaraSt Johns VA C of E PrimarySchoolLemsford Village

7 to 9 years: Natasha FambisaiWindermere Primary SchoolSt. Albans

10 to 11 years: Daisy Johnston-BarrettKings Langley Primary School Kings Langley

GOLD SPONSORSA T OLIVER & SONS LIMITED

ABP

ARCHANT HERTS & CAMBS

BIDWELLS

BRUCE SHERRIFF

GATES GROUP

JE BUCKLE (ENGINEERS) LTD

LAFARGE AGGREGATES LTD

MAJESTIC TREES

MARTIN GRANT HOMES LTD

MCMULLEN & SONS LIMITED

MR RICHARD WALDUCK, OBE, DL

MRS MARGOT GARDENER

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

QUANTUM CARE LTD

STRUTT & PARKER LLP

SILVER SPONSORSANTHONY MOSLEY PHOTOGRAPHER

AVIATION TURBINE SERVICES LIMITED

BARCLAYS BUSINESS BANKING

BEALES HOTELS LTD

BLAINS TRAILERS & TYRES LTD

GL EVENTS SNOWDENS MARQUEES

GRANITE 5 LTD

HERTFORDSHIRE LIFE

JOHN ANDERSON HIRE

KINGSMEAD MARQUEES (SOUTHERN) LTD

METALWOOD FENCING (CONTRACTS)LTD

NORTH HERTS FARMERS COMPANY

NSR COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

PROCAM AGRICULTURE

ROSETTES DIRECT

T ROBERTS & SON

TITMUSS GRAIN LTD

WILKINS KENNEDY

WILLOWS FARM VILLAGE

SPONSORS

STEWARDS DINNER BRADSONS

BUXTON & HIGH PEAKS SECURITYSERVICES

CLEARAWAY DRAINAGE SERVICES

FIRE PROTECTION COMPANY

GL EVENTS SNOWDENS MARQUEES

GRANDSTANDSONTHEMOVE

HERTS AND BEDS PRINTING

IMPERIAL LONDON HOTELS LTD

M MILES SCAFFOLDING

NEVILLE SYMONDS ASSOCIATES LTD

NSR COMMUNICATIONS LTD

PLYVINE CATERING LIMITED

P W HIRE

ROY PINNOCK & CO

SEVERN VALLEY CATERING

SIGNED BY ME

TARRAGON

THORNS GROUP

Chairman Noel Grant with President Stuart Wykes, Richard H Smith (Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council) and our Patron Richard Walduck admire anddisplay the winning Art Competition entries.