This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jun/11/shepton-mallet-somerset-elgar-country-show

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Elgar sets the tone for England's largest country show Elgar sets the tone for England's largest country show
(4 months later)
Despite the late cold spring upsetting the rhythms of growth and renewal, the Royal Bath & West Show opened punctually and jubilantly to mark its 150th year as "England's largest celebration of rural life". And seeing the cheerful families funnelling in from the car parks towards the entrance gates, it truly had the sense of a great regional carnival – Somerset's own Derby day.Despite the late cold spring upsetting the rhythms of growth and renewal, the Royal Bath & West Show opened punctually and jubilantly to mark its 150th year as "England's largest celebration of rural life". And seeing the cheerful families funnelling in from the car parks towards the entrance gates, it truly had the sense of a great regional carnival – Somerset's own Derby day.
In the building that housed the pigs, among the proud champions were large whites and British saddlebacks, reclining on beds of straw. Excited children on tiptoe were peering into a pen where a great landrace sow was sprawling on her side, apparently fast asleep while 10 suckling piglets frantically jostled and butted, desperate for her milk.In the building that housed the pigs, among the proud champions were large whites and British saddlebacks, reclining on beds of straw. Excited children on tiptoe were peering into a pen where a great landrace sow was sprawling on her side, apparently fast asleep while 10 suckling piglets frantically jostled and butted, desperate for her milk.
In the next hall, amid the statuesque, cream-coloured simmental cattle and the great white charolais, it was a massive red ruby bull that caught the eye. His name was Elgar, and his sire was Nimrod. The literature told of the ruby reds' kind temperament and of genetics that produce perfect hybrids, with high fertility, easy calving and quick growth.In the next hall, amid the statuesque, cream-coloured simmental cattle and the great white charolais, it was a massive red ruby bull that caught the eye. His name was Elgar, and his sire was Nimrod. The literature told of the ruby reds' kind temperament and of genetics that produce perfect hybrids, with high fertility, easy calving and quick growth.
You could see every kind of cutting-edge agricultural technology, or get advice on best business practice and accountancy, but only if you could spare time away from the show rings or from spending money on well-cut tweeds or enticing "Best of the West" produce.You could see every kind of cutting-edge agricultural technology, or get advice on best business practice and accountancy, but only if you could spare time away from the show rings or from spending money on well-cut tweeds or enticing "Best of the West" produce.
And then there was the village green. Muscular farriers sweating in singlets fetched white-hot strips of metal from the fire with their tongs and hammered them into horseshoe shapes on the "beck" or rounded, horn-shaped end of the anvil, the techniques, the heat and the ring of the hammer unchanged through the ages. Horses stood patiently as their hooves were trimmed. On the grass, small children grasped their ribbons anxiously at the maypole, preparing for a first try at the dance.And then there was the village green. Muscular farriers sweating in singlets fetched white-hot strips of metal from the fire with their tongs and hammered them into horseshoe shapes on the "beck" or rounded, horn-shaped end of the anvil, the techniques, the heat and the ring of the hammer unchanged through the ages. Horses stood patiently as their hooves were trimmed. On the grass, small children grasped their ribbons anxiously at the maypole, preparing for a first try at the dance.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.