CROWDS enjoyed two days of agricultural splendour at Dorset County Show.

This year, the show had a bigger offering than ever before with events, stalls, competitions and displays combined with many thousands of people enjoying the numerous displays and competitions along with food and drink from the dozens of trade stands, many of them featuring Dorset produce.

Meanwhile, there was a ‘whole new look’ for the members’ pavilion and a new caterer from the Piddle Valley providing locally sourced food which champions everything good about agriculture in the county.

The Dorset Food Hall, which had traders selling all Dorset produce, was jammed with people getting a taste of the county while a new addition, camel racing, also proved a hit.

Will Hyde, show secretary, said: “It’s gone extremely well, the weather forecast was fantastic across the weekend so everything was on our side for a great show.

“It is one of the best shows we have had in recent shows, I have had some comments from traders, sponsors and livestock exhibitors that there is a bit of a sheen about the showground this year, we really have tried to snag on a few more details.

“Every year the shows expands with another attraction and this year our biggest one is the Fabulous Food and Farming area which is all about the promotion of the origin of food.

“We welcomed 60,000 people over the show weekend and are quite conscious about the way it benefits the Dorchester economy.”

Will added that all of the competition sections saw record entries this year and that the camel racing was a popular twist on the usual event.

Will continued: “We discovered the camels and thought they were perfect. They are traditional but completely different and no one’s had them in Dorset before.”

Both regulars and newcomers agreed that organisers had certainly put on a good show.

Colin Thornton, 49, from Southampton, said: “We come every year. The atmosphere is absolutely amazing and my children just loved the carriage racing.”

He added that the success of the show was down to its wide range of activities on offer.

Sophie Bennett, 33, from Christchurch who visited the show with her sister for the first time, said: “It has been incredible, I especially liked the Camel Racing as it’s something completely different. We will certainly come back next year.” Timothy Spencer, who was there with his wife and three children, said his family had an amazing time

He added: “We have enjoyed going to see all of the animals especially the Jacob sheep which my son loved.”