Royal Highland Show

Last updated
Sheep pens at the Royal Highland Show. Sheep are kept here for display and rest between classes. Sheep pens, Royal Highland Show - geograph.org.uk - 477013.jpg
Sheep pens at the Royal Highland Show. Sheep are kept here for display and rest between classes.

The Royal Highland Show is Scotland's biggest annual Agricultural show. The show is organised by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

Contents

Held annually in June at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, the event attracts over 1,000 exhibitors, 4,500 head of livestock, and up to 190,000 visitors. [1] It is the premier fixture in Scotland's farming calendar and generates over £200 million in business. [2] Exhibitors compete for the prestige of winning not only a prize ticket, but also for prize money and trophies worth over £1 million.

History

The show first started in 1822, and was located at Edinburgh's Canongate on a site now occupied by the Scottish Parliament. From this point until 1959 the show moved around the towns and cities of Scotland, in one of the RHASS's eight electoral areas - Perth, Stirling, Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Lothian, Borders, Dumfries & Galloway and Highland. In 1960 the Ingliston site became the permanent home of the show, opening on 21 June 1960. The move to a permanent location has helped the show develop beyond its original remit, to become a celebration of Scottish food, countryside and its farming.[ citation needed ]

Originally the show operated Sunday to Wednesday, but this was later changed to Thursday to Sunday, over the second-last weekend in June, with Livestock competitions being held on the Thursday and Friday.[ citation needed ]

During the 1948 show held at Inverness, the Royal title was bestowed on the event by King George VI. [3] [4]

There was no show during 2001 because of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [5]

In 2010 it reached the landmark anniversary of the 50th year of the show being held in Ingliston and also the 170th show to be staged. The 2010 event had almost 190,000 people attending, which makes it one of the most visited event in years. [6] [7] The 2014 drew in 8,000 more visitors compared to 2013 with a total of 178,659 people attending the event. [8]

In 2015, the show celebrated its 175th event, with its biggest number of visitors of 188,449 visitors were recorded - almost 10,000 higher than last year and 805 more than the previous record attendance at Ingliston in 2010. The show also had visits from the Princess Royal, Nicola Sturgeon, and Richard Lochhead. [1]

Attractions

Livestock

A range of livestock is exhibited including sheep, cattle, goats, horses, ponies, donkeys, and poultry, with a total of 6000 animals in attendance. [9]

One of the sights of the show is Heavy Horse Turnouts and for the first time ever, in 2006 Ingliston saw the attendance of all UK heavy horse breeds.[ citation needed ] Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons and — first time visitors to Scotland — two teams of Suffolk Punches travelling from Norfolk and Suffolk.

The show's most prestigious livestock honour, the Queen's Cup, rotates between the champions of the various types of livestock — in 2006 it was awarded to the best animal in the 162 strong goat section.

At the 2015 show there were: [10]

Exhibition and trade

The Royal Highland Show is a showcase for Rural and Agricultural products and produce. There are large exhibits of agricultural machinery and supplies, equine supplies and outdoor sporting goods. A wide variety of rural, agricultural and environmental associations set up stall to promote themselves.

The Highland Showground's exhibition halls provide indoor spaces for a shopping arena and a food and drink arena. Both areas are dominated by Scottish producers, but there is a significant presence from other parts of the United Kingdom and form further afield; for instance European wine makers, German salami makers etc. The food and drink arena offers considerable opportunity for taste-testing and has a demonstration kitchen offering visitors suggestions on home to prepare and serve the products on offer. The shopping areas are extended into the main showground by market-style stalls. Other businesses, including banks, supermarkets and food producers have their own arenas to promote their commitment to farming, food production and agriculture.

Competition

Outside of the exhibition halls and livestock rings, there are a wide range of competitive and display events, including international sheep shearing, show jumping, driving, tug-of-war, dog obedience trials, forestry, falconry, farriery and other rural pursuits.

Music

Different bands and musical groups play at two bandstands; bands have included the band of HM Royal Marines and many pipe and drum bands. [9] Typically over 50 different bands and musical groups, including school and rock bands, play at the Show.

Visitors

Along with attracting up to 190,000 visitors annually, The Royal Highland Show has a history of attracting VIP visitors. [11] Some more prominent names include:

Related Research Articles

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called RodeoHouston or abbreviated HLSR, is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It includes one of the richest regular-season professional rodeo events. It has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003, with the exception of 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was previously held in the Astrodome. It is considered to be the city's "signature event", much like New Orleans's Mardi Gras, Dallas's Texas State Fair, San Diego's Comic-Con and New York City's New Year's Eve at Times Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Agricultural Winter Fair</span>

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF), also known as The Royal, is an annual agricultural fair that is held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the first two weeks of November. It was inaugurated in 1922 in the Coliseum, on the grounds of Exhibition Place. It has since been expanded to also take up the Enercare Centre and remains an important exhibit for livestock breeders. Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, was the fair's royal patron. Members of the Canadian Royal Family have also been guests of honour at the fair. It is the largest indoor agricultural fair in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural show</span> Public event exhibiting agriculture equipment

An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show, a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment. The work and practices of farmers, animal fanciers, cowboys, and zoologists may be displayed. The terms agricultural show and livestock show are synonymous with the North American terms county fair and state fair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Yorkshire Show</span> Agricultural show in North Yorkshire, England

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Adelaide Show</span> 9-day agricultural show in Adelaide, South Australia

The Royal Adelaide Show is an annual carnival and agricultural show run by the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia. It is held at the Adelaide Showground, a dedicated venue located in Wayville, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth Royal Show</span> Annual event in Perth, Western Australia

The Perth Royal Show is an annual agricultural show held in Perth, Western Australia at the Claremont Showground. It features informational exhibits, agricultural competitions and animal showcases, a sideshow alley and rides, and showbags. It has been held for over 100 years and is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia. It is held during the spring school holidays, either during the last week of September or the first week of October and at its peak, attracted attendance of around 460,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Royal Show</span> Annual agricultural show in Melbourne, Australia

The Melbourne Royal Show is an agricultural show held at Melbourne Showgrounds every September. It is organised by Melbourne Royal and has been running since 1848. Each year Melbourne Royal Show attracts attendances of up to half a million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Farm Show</span> State fair of Pennsylvania, United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Royal</span> Annual animal show

The American Royal is a livestock show, horse show, rodeo, and barbecue competition held each year in September – November at various sites in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The Future Farmers of America was founded during the annual Royal. The Kansas City Royals professional baseball team derived its name from the Royal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Welsh Show</span>

The Royal Welsh Show is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904. It takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Highland Centre</span>

The Royal Highland Centre, originally the Royal Highland Showground, is an exhibition centre and showground located at Ingliston in the western outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland, adjacent to Edinburgh Airport and the A8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand National Rodeo</span>

The Grand National Rodeo, Horse, and Stock Show is one of the largest rodeo events in the United States. Held annually in the Cow Palace in Daly City, the annual Grand National brings rodeo to an urban audience. The Grand National is also a county agricultural fair, run by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hants County Exhibition</span>

The Hants County Exhibition is an annual fall fair held in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It is known for being the oldest continuously run agricultural fair in North America. It was first held on the grounds of Fort Edward beginning in 1765 and has been running continuously since 1815.The fair has been held at the nearby Hants Exhibition Arena and exhibition grounds since the land was purchased in 1949. September 2015 marked the 250th anniversary of the Hants County Exhibition. Five years later, the fair went virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Bath and West Show</span>

The Royal Bath and West is an agricultural show for the West of England. Held every year at its permanent show ground near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, it is one of a number of County shows in the United Kingdom and is a four-day show. In 2009 and 2010 it attracted over 155,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent County Show</span>

The Kent County Show is an event hosted annually by the Kent County Agricultural Society at their Kent Showground headquarters at Detling near Maidstone in Kent, England. The event is primarily an agricultural show, showcasing the produce of Kent farmers such as soft fruit, alongside a livestock show and various other attractions such as demonstrations of traditional skills like blacksmithery and displays from the Royal Artillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South of England Show</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Jubilee Pageant</span>

The Diamond Jubilee Pageant, also branded The World Comes to Windsor, held between 10 and 13 May 2012 was an equine pageant held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, organised as part of the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Counties Showground</span>

The Three Counties Showground is a showground site in Malvern, Worcestershire, England, covering 90 acres (36 ha) owned by the Three Counties Agricultural Society. The Three Counties refers to the agrarian counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The first show at the site was held in 1958 and was attended by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Ingliston Racing Circuit is 1.030 mi (1.658 km) motor racing circuit that was built at the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston, Edinburgh. The circuit was created by widening and linking the network of access roads at the venue which had previously been used exclusively as an agricultural showground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comic Con Scotland</span> Fan convention

Comic Con Scotland is a fan convention held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland that celebrates films, cult television, video gaming, anime, cosplay and comic books which is organised by UK Events company Monopoly Events.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Royal Highland Show attracts record number of visitors". BBC News. 25 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "UK | Scotland | Edinburgh and East | 167th Royal Highland Show opens". BBC News. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Show history - Royal Highland Show 2014". Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 "UK | Scotland | Edinburgh, East and Fife | Highland Show to have royal visit". BBC News. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "SCOTLAND | Royal Highland Show cancelled". BBC News. 11 April 2001. Archived from the original on 23 October 2003. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Royal Highland Show in record turnover - BBC News". BBC News. 6 April 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Herald Scotland". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Royal Highland Show: Visitor numbers up - BBC News". BBC News. 23 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Royal Highland Show 2018: Everything you need to know". www.scotsman.com. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  10. ↑ "Royal Highland Show marks 175 years". 18 June 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  11. ↑ Robust show... despite the conditions Archived 10 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "A treasured royal memory in Badenoch". 9 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Pathé, British. "Special - Queen Mother At Highland Show". www.britishpathe.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  14. ↑ Pathé, British. "Royal Highland Show". www.britishpathe.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  15. ↑ Redpath, Laura. "Looking back on the Royal Highland Show through the years". pressandjournal.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2019.

55°56′27.59″N3°22′26.44″W / 55.9409972°N 3.3740111°W / 55.9409972; -3.3740111

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.