The County Show’s favourite attractions will be back on showground turf once again, but 2009 anniversary show features yet more entertaining displays.

Events such as the three-day show jumping competition, inter hunt relays, the sheep dog and duck show, the vintage display and dog agility trials have become well established as crowd-pleasers over the years.

Lennie the Land Train and Titan the Robot will also be back in business; but what surprises are in store for visitors in 2009, as Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society celebrates its 225th anniversary and the 50th show at the Withybush Showground, and how has the setup been improved?

General Manager Malcolm Crossman told the Western Telegraph that organisers had made the decision to move the stunt displays and entertainment attractions that last year took place at the Ridgeway Arena to the more central locations of the Grand Ring and livestock arenas.

“There are some exciting new displays like the Bold Dogs “Lings” Freestyle Motocross Team, which will be brought to the middle of the ground.

“The space left [at the Ridgeway Arena] will be filled with parking and more agricultural machines. This exhibition has increased in size this year which is good for us,” he added.

Another new act, promising slapstick humour that will have family audiences in stitches, is Dingle Fingle and The Clown Town Crimewatch. Detective Dingle is in pursuit of Slippery Sid the classic car thief in a fast paced comedy featuring bangs, horns, smoke, precision driving, quad and car stunts, water jets and plenty of audience participation.

“The greatest effort has been on marketing. We have produced a leaflet carrying our new logo and we are marketing the show as a great family event,” said Mr Crossman.

“We’ve acknowledged the recession and we are holding gate prices so they are the same as last year.

“At the beginning of June, we introduced online ticket sales which will make entry easier and will save queuing.”

A link to ticket sales can be found on the County Show website at www.pembrokeshirecountyshow.co.uk.

Mr Crossman added that work had been carried out through the winter to improve parking facilities; creating a new space for horse boxes but also forming contingency plans for public car parking in case of wet weather.

“All in all, plans are going very well,” said Mr Crossman.

“Trade stand preparations are running well, cattle entries are up by 51 from last year, pigs and goats are also up and show jumping entries are still coming in.

“Sponsors have been excellent this year- in fact, sponsorship has increased by £6,000.

“We budgeted for £40,000 this year, because of the recession, but we might even make £50,000,” he added.