Smithfield move confirmed and a new name too

The relocation of the Royal Smithfield Club’s primestock competitions to Stoneleigh Park has been confirmed with a new event, AgriLIVE Smithfield, launched as a host to them.

The event, co-organised by RASE and the Royal Smithfield Club will, claims a press release from RASE “…..provide a new and exciting platform for the traditional Smithfield primestock classes and will have a very strong technical and commercial focus on husbandry, management and machinery.”

With a focus on meeting the needs of the red meat industry, the event is aiming to bring together producers, processors and retailers to better understand the supply chain.

The event will take place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December 2009, with provisional dates of 3 and 4 December set for 2010.

As readers will be well aware I’ve long been a staunch advocate of Smithfield in all its many guises and while the concept of this event is worthwhile, the name is far from catchy!

Admittedly there are issues with using the traditional “Royal Smithfield Show” brand, but I thought the “Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair” name was working well and said it like it was. The new name is a touch too ambigious for me.

But, that aside, here’s to the future of the Royal Smithfield Club’s competitions in their new home and lets all get behind the event to make it the success it deserves to be.