In the top row of pictures:

• Fine late-August weather made for a pleasant (even hot) day – attendance exceeds 26,000 (picture)
• Entry no. 1149 – Sanchris Jed Babysue (as she is correctly known) being judged for class 68, cow in milk (picture)
• A Dexter – Beechwood Perrywinkle – in class 129, Dexter cow or heifer in calf (picture)
• 1st Prize winning onions – competitors sow the seeds during the previous November to achieve these results (picture)
• Judging of the honey making classes (picture)

In the middle row of pictures:

• Trade stalls are a large part of the show ... (picture)
• ... including clothing. Whilst not having the status of a uniform, this is typical 'best' attire for shows and gatherings (picture)
• Diversification is increasingly an important theme – alpaca wool being one such scheme (picture)
• The Gillingham Imperial Silver Band, provided musical entertainment throughout the day (picture)
• All in immaculate condition – taking a break from the judging ring (picture)

In the bottom row of pictures:

• Polished ready for the ring, a pair of Shires (picture)
• Pair of black Friesians in the Light Trade Pairs class (picture)
• Pair of Suffolk Punch in the "Trade" Heavy Horse Turnouts (picture)
• Concours d'Elegance (picture)
• The Supreme Beef champion, a Charolais, bred on farmland near Worth Matravers (picture)

Other sites on the web

Maps of the area on streetmap.co.uk:   1:50,000 – detail, 1:250,000 – locality and route to get there

The pictures of Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show in this gallery were captured at high resolution.
This is images of dorset stock photography gallery 018
All photographs copyright © 1998–2003 John Allen