Royal Welsh Show 2024

Alex Rowe of Gittisham Forge returned to stay with us while stewarding at the 2024 Royal Welsh Show. Alex is a fifth-generation blacksmith working alongside his father, Julian, at their forge just outside Honiton, Devon. He lodged with us while a student at the Holme Lacy Campus doing his blacksmithing course. Alex very kindly gave us two free tickets for this year's show; having also given us tickets for the 2023 Show. In 2023, we went on a Tuesday; this year it was a Thursday - the last day of the show. If you are interested in the show animals, there is an 8-hour video here.

Video 1: Alex & Julian Rowe (aka Gittisham Forge), Royal Welsh Show, 2024

We always find ourselves drawn to the wood-chopping arena with different events occurring throughout the day. I'm sure the various categories have special names - but all are based on the use of aces and saws to chop/slice wood. This one has two men taking turns to chop through a trunk of wood

Video 2: Axe-Chopping Competition (RWS, 2024)

Photo 1: Two-man Chopping Competition

Video 3: More Chopping

Video 4: The Final Cut

We made our way over to the blacksmithing area to see Alex and family and to admire the work of the artist blacksmiths.

Photo 2: The Art of the Blacksmith

Photo 3: Gate

Our attention was drawn to the nearby show ring where a team of dancing JCBs were entertaining the crowds ...

Video 5: Dancing JCBs #I

                                                           Video 6: Dancing JCBs #II

Video 7: Dancing JCBs #III

There were the usual farm animal competitions for sheep, pig, goat, cattle, poultry, etc.

Photo 4: Customary pose for the pigs

Photo 5: Modern Hairstyles?

We stopped briefly to watch the pole climbing competition ...

Photo 6: Pole Climbing

Video 8: Pole Climbing

... and the magnificent shire horses ...

Photo 7: Shire Horses in the Main Show Ring

... before heading back to the coaches waiting to take us to our car.

As with the 2023 show, everything was efficiently organised and there was plenty to do and see. A full day's entertainment. We even left with some free fresh corn on the cobs courtesy of Aldi - they had clearly overestimated the quantity they would sell. We enjoyed them once we got home - not as sweet as the maize I grow in the kitchen garden, but nice enough. Will we go to the 2025 show? Who knows ...