I apologise but the pictures in this article are not those taken during the 2008 show season, I was unable to attend the shows and hoped to use current photos but this has been vetoed.
Blue Tongue restrictions severely restricted competition in 2008, with competitors unable to travel outside of the various blue tongue zones.
Devon County had the most competitive classes helped by the debut of the Warrens who were also showing Jerseys in the Jersey Conference Show and Laity Farm Primrose 96 was Champion.
The Royal Bath and West had a few less cows than normal but produced for the first time a Guernsey interbreed individual champion, won by Cracker Duchess, as well as interbreed group of 3 winners for Bickfield.
The Royal Cornwall, because of blue tongue, was restricted to Cornish only but provided another win for Primrose 96.
The Royal Norfolk celebrating in centenary produced a first championship for a couple relatively new to the breed but who are making a great success of making all of their milk into soft cheese sold under the Suffolk farmhouse brand. Jason and Katherine Salisbury won with the home bred Sharnford Marigold and she went on to be reserve supreme interbreed.
The Royal Show was ruined by DEFRA’s in action over blue tongue but nevertheless Robert, Sarah and Joe Cole are to be congratulated for supporting the show and winning their first championship.
The Stithians show which is Cornwall’s biggest one day show saw another victory for Primrose, surprisingly she had not won there before.
The Autumn shows will soon be upon us and it’s hoped that numbers will be better now that most of the Guernsey herds are in the blue tongue protection zone and will have had opportunity to vaccinate.