Last updated at 14:37, Friday, 11 November 2011

The Cumberland Show is changing date in an attempt to lure more people to the area’s agricultural showcase.

Donella Rozario

For the past 20 years, the show, which attracts thousands of visitors, has been held on the third Saturday in July.

But from next year 2012 its place in the calendar will shift to the second Saturday in June.

It is a move that the Cumberland Agricultural Society, which organises the annual event, hopes will help attract increased numbers of spectators and exhibitors, both in trade and animal sections.

Organisers say the new date will make the Cumberland the area’s first major date of the show season.

It will also mean that the event does not fall inside the school summer holidays, so that hopefully more children and families will get involved.

The date change is the latest move as part of organisers’ efforts to enhance the show, which moved from Rickerby Park to Carlisle Racecourse in 2010.

Society chairman Neil Milbourn said: “This is our next step to develop the Cumberland Show and make it available for more people to take part in.

“The show promotes and celebrates the Cumbrian countryside and products and we want everyone to appreciate what a great day awaits them.”

Next year’s event will take place on June 9.

Until now the show has tended to fall on the day after schools finished for the summer - a date when many tend to pack up and head off on their breaks.

By moving to term-time, it is hoped that schools will be able to get more involved, bringing youngsters and their families with them.

For breeders competing in the livestock sections, it is also hoped that the new date will better suit exhibitors and lure more of them.

Its old place in the calendar sat between the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh Shows, meaning some farmers could not show stock because they had either just returned from Yorkshire or were preparing their animals for Wales.

Show secretary Donella Rozario believes the new racecourse venue is working and hopes to build on that with the new date.

She said: “We’re very pleased with our racecourse site. It gives us a bit of scope for other things. It makes us a bit more professional because of the hard standing and the buildings that we can use.

“Because we have had two wet years there we have not seen it at its best yet. We’re hoping for a nice sunny day in 2012.”

New features that organisers hope to add next year include a world record attempt for the number of pantomime cows in one place, as well as a race and grand parade of those entered. A variety of organisations will be encouraged to take part.

There will also be new features in the main ring, a focus on Cumbrian food and products and more entertainment into the evening.

Next year’s show will again be backed by the Carlisle-based Lloyd Group.

As part of a package of incentives to encourage visitors, under-16s will get in for free when accompanied by an adult. Adult ticket prices will be £10 in advance or £13 on the gate. Parking is free.

The Cumberland Show is now 174 years old.

Before it was staged in Rickerby Park, it was held in neighbouring Bitts Park, where it was held on a Thursday. Throughout its history, it has changed dates several times.

First published at 14:36, Friday, 11 November 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk