The 2014 Royal Cornwall Show was another big success, say organisers, despite foreboding weather warnings that preceded the event and a drop in numbers attending the event.

Held at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge on Thursday, Friday and Saturday last week, 116,721 people attended the event.

The dire weather predictions during the build-up and pockets of bad weather elsewhere during the three days in the region were the cause of a a slightly lower attendance this year, said show secretary Christopher Riddle.

The crowds who flocked to enjoy the show were treated to a wide range of events and attractions including main ring thrills from the Bolddog Lings freestyle motocross team, the RAF Falcons parachute display team and a first visit by the mounted games association of Great Britain.

Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, this year’s show president, made a two day visit on Thursday and Friday and extensively toured all corners of the show, calling at a variety of stands and events.

“We were delighted that The Countess of Wessex was our president this year and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy her two days with us,” said Christopher.

The show enjoyed close to record entries in the cattle, sheep and pig sections of the show with the standard exceptionally high. Experienced British Blue cattle judge, Graham Brindley from Shropshire, talking to commentator James Morrish said that the line-up in one of the breed classes was “the best he had ever seen.” There was also a big turnout in the equine section and show jumping classes.

The Countess presented trophies on both days during the grand parades of prize winning cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. Her Royal Highness presented the cattle and sheep exhibitors who gained the most points with an oak tray each that had been hand crafted at the Mencap Genesis Orwell workshops. The Countess had visited the Ipswich based project earlier in the year and tasked them with producing her president’s awards for the show.

The Countess also presented long service awards to four local farm workers and prizes to winners from the bi-annual Forestry competitions and to Tim Blackshire of Levalsa Farm, London Apprentice the winner of this year’s Duke of Cornwall’s farm diversification award.

Christopher added: “There was a tremendous atmosphere at the show, demand for trade stand space was very high and early indications are that excellent levels of trade were enjoyed, with one machinery dealer selling 20 machines alone.

“Similarly the Cornwall Food & Farming Pavilion was packed throughout the show, with reports of strong sales and stocks running low.”

Preparations are already in progress for next year’s show which takes place on 4 – 6 June 2015.