English winter fair blows in year late

The inaugural English Winter Fair is on course to go ahead a year later than originally planned.

The new agricultural event at the County Showground, near Stafford, had to be cancelled last year.

The English Winter Fair, which was previously known at the National Primestock Show and Sale, was hit last year by the twin problems of foot and mouth disease and bluetongue outbreaks in the south east of England.

Organisers Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society refunded all exhibitors' entry fees, sponsors' money and trade stand fees to ease the financial burden the industry was experiencing.

It is now going ahead in Bingley Hall on November 15 and 16 running from 9am to 5pm each day.

The indoor show concentrates on top quality livestock and also features breed stands and a trade area. There is free car parking.

There will be an auction sale on the Sunday from 2pm conducted by Bagshaws of Uttoxeter. The show also features the finals of national stock and carcass judging competitions for young farmers teams of 12 with £600 in the prize fund.

There will also be a grand parade of cattle, sheep and pigs on the Sunday.

Other attraction will include a food hall, Christmas fair and cookery theatre in the Prestwood Centre.

There will be competitions for independent butchers for products including sausages, pies and cured meats. The highest placed entry in the pork sausage category will qualify for the British Pig Association Pedigree Pork Grand Final to be held at the Smithfield Show on December 6.

Beef cattle, pig and lamb judging takes place on the Saturday along with forage, cereal and potato competitions.

The cattle, pig and sheep championships are held on the Sunday along with a young handler's competition. There is a £3,000 prize fund in the national beef carcass competition which is being sponsored by leading abattoir group Anglo Beef Processors.

Richard Cracknell, managing director of ABP, says the competition will champion the growing number of beef producers providing what the market wants.

"Every day in our seven UK abattoirs, ABP sees more beef cattle produced to the specification the market needs, but this percentage could be increased without very much extra effort on the farm.

"One way of achieving this is for farmers to see what is being produced by the top percentile of commercial beef producers at the Winter Fair which we are delighted to be supporting. Beef is becoming ever more expensive for the consumer and we need to ensure that the eating experience matches their expectations."

Admission on both days is £5 for adults.

The closing date for entries is October 15.