Peterborough to host Smithfield championship

A QUICK reaction to last week's announcement that there would be no Smithfield show this year has seen the East of England Agricultural Society and the Royal Smithfield Club agreeing that the East of England Winter Stock Festival at the Peterborough Showground will host the Royal Smithfield Championships for 2010.

"On hearing that AgriLIVE Smithfield had been cancelled, we immediately contacted the club to offer to host the championships at our event being held on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 November," explained Catharine Pusey, interim chief executive at the East of England organisation.

John Campbell, chairman of the Royal Smithfield Club, added: "We immediately arranged to meet the East of England team last Friday, when it quickly became clear that it would be possible to hold our championships as part of their Winter Stock Festival for the benefit of both societies. "

He added the arrangement was for the current year and it would give all those exhibitors who were planning to show at Stoneleigh the opportunity to compete.

However, the move across country may not suit all exhibitors.

There may also be issues with the event now being held some three weeks ahead of the original date with livestock now being considered "ready" for the November show.

Unlike the Smithfield event with its lengthy pedigree, the East of England show only started three years ago, ironically partly because exhibitors in the east side of the country did not wish to go to venues in the west of England.