National Primestock Show to be renamed English Winter Fair

The annual National Primestock Show is to be updated and renamed The English Winter Fair.

The move is aimed at revitalising the livestock show and positioning it alongside its Welsh and Scottish equivalents in the winter show calendar.

George Greaves, show chairman and Staffordshire-based beef farmer, said the time had come for a regional identity for the Stafford-based event which takes place on the weekend of the 17-18 November.

Among the changes is the rescheduling of the major championships which normally over-run into the early evening on the Saturday when ringside crowds have waned, said Mr Greaves

These championships will move to Sunday morning with the supreme champion announced shortly before noon. The change also recognises that many visitors have to return home to tend to livestock and have found it difficult in the past to stay late on the first day.

The afternoon programme will also shift with the auction of stock moving from noon to 2pm.

But one change could spark controversy for the event which has seen three successive supreme champions leave the auction ring unsold after the animals failed to meet high reserve prices demanded.

“Butchers have to be given a realistic chance to buy the supreme champion, display the cup and enjoy the kudos this brings for both the buyer and sponsors – that it what the show is about,” insisted Mr Greaves.

The ethos is to showcase the best animals for meat buyers and butchers and any exhibitor placing an unrealistic reserve on his/her supreme champion will face the prospect of a two-year suspension, he added.

What do you think of the plan? Let us know on the Taking Stock blog.

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