Stithians Show (the annual agricultural show organised by the Stithians Agricultural Association) takes place on the day after Feast Sunday (the Sunday closest to 13 July) in the village of Stithians, Cornwall. It was first held in 1834 and is recognised as being one of the largest one-day shows in the United Kingdom, regularly attracting in excess of 20,000 visitors, exhibitors, competitors, traders and entertainers.

The show has competitive sections (livestock, fur & feather, show jumping, horticulture and domestic), trade stands, side shows, entertainment, and catering.

Competitive sections The Show is divided into several competitive sections each with its own Committee (usually with a chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer). The main sections of the show are:

Arts, Craft & Cookery (formerly Domestic) Cage Birds, Cattle, Cavies (New in 2013), Dog Show, Dog Agility, Goats, Horse Show, Horticulture, Pigeons, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Young Farmers Club

Trade Stands, Side Shows, and Entertainment As well as the competitive sections, there are many other attractions to entertain, inform and sell:

Community & Churches Countryside Area Craft Stalls Entertainment – Kelly's Entertainment Area and the bandstand. Fairground Catering Steam & Vintage Taste of Cornwall Cornish wrestling Trade Stalls

History The Show Grounds It is unclear exactly where the first shows were held, with references to 'Churchtown' (the land now occupied by the Church Hall [now the Stithians Centre] and the village school) appearing in The West Briton on 27 July 1838. The 51st show (1885) was held in a field next to the Seven Stars hotel. For many years (certainly in living memory) the show was held in the fields which form part of the Ennis and Carbis Farm, with the playing fields in the heart of the village forming the hub from 1938. Fields on the glebe land were used as the Show expanded, and it was increased rental on this land that caused the relocation of the Show in 1992.

In 1992 the Association was fortunate enough to purchase of Kennal Farm and to establish the present site. The Show has now left the heart of the village, but with improved car-parking, access, and permanent water and electricity supplies, this has enabled the Show to become self-sufficient.

The Show was first held in 1834 and has been held continuously since then (except for three years during World War I, and five years during World War II; and there was no show in 2001 due to the nationwide outbreak of foot and mouth disease).

In 2020 and 2021 the show was postponed due to Covid-19. The Show ground was repurposed as a vaccination center.

Former presidents (Stithians unless stated) Year President Year President Year President 1875 Rev F Wright, Vicar of Stythians 1876 Rev F Wright, Vicar of Stythians 1877 Rev H Harmer, Vicar of Stythians 1878 Rev H Harmer, Vicar of Stythians 1879 W S Williams 1880 W S Williams 1881 W S Williams 1882 W S Williams 1883 W S Williams 1884 W S Williams 1885 John Williams, Scorrier House 1886 N J West, Hayle 1887 J C Williams, Caerhays 1888 J C Williams, Caerhays 1889 J C Williams, Caerhays 1890 Colonel Tremayne, Carclew 1891 J Jose, Mellingey 1892 E B Beauchamp, Trevince 1893 John Williams, Caerhays 1894 E P Rogers, Burncoose 1895 N J West, Hayle 1896 N J West, Hayle 1897 J C Williams, Caerhays 1898 Sir E D Lawrence, London 1899 A Bassett, Tehidy 1900 Sir E D Lawrence, London 1901 A Lanyon, Redruth 1902 J C Williams, Caerhays 1903 Harcourt Williams, Truro 1904 Sir E D Lawrence, London 1905 John Williams, Scorrier House 1906 E B Beauchamp, Trevince 1907 J C Williams, Caerhays 1908 Charles Williams, Caerhays 1909 Capt S H Christy, Scorrier 1910 C H Beauchamp, Trevince 1911 A Wallis 1912 GFT Peters, Chiverton 1913 Hon J Boscawen, Penzance 1914 Capt W F Tremayne, Carclew 1915 S H Lanyon, Redruth 1916 NO SHOW World War I 1917 NO SHOW World War I 1918 NO SHOW World War I 1919 Capt W F Tremayne, Carclew 1920 N H Holman, Camborne 1921 T Trounson, Redruth 1922 G P Williams, Scorrier 1923 CH Simmons, London 1924 J Harris, Caerhays 1925 J C Williams, Caerhays 1926 C H Simmons, London 1927 G P Williams, Scorrier 1928 CH Peters, London 1929 W W Bulkley 1930 A Collins, South Africa 1931 W J Opie, Redruth 1932 P M Williams, Burncoose 1933 A C Phillips 1934 Cmdr A G Agnew MP 1935 C J Cooke, Redruth 1936 G Hughes, Redruth 1937 C Hancock, Truro 1938 H J Collins, London 1939 A Philips, St Austell 1940 NO SHOW World War II 1941 NO SHOW World War II 1942 NO SHOW World War II 1943 NO SHOW World War II 1944 NO SHOW World War II 1945 B W Knuckey 1946 J S Richards 1947 W J Andrew 1948 J Mitchell, Perranporth 1949 W J T Peters 1950 W J Dunstan, Camborne 1951 W J Thomas, Cusgarne 1952 P M Phillips, Burncoose 1953 J H Phillips, St Austell 1954 Mrs D M Briddon 1955 A Opie 1956 W F Gluyas 1957 W Opie 1958 Miss J Hellings 1959 C H Andrew, Falmouth 1960 H S Felton, Kettering 1961 H E Phillips 1962 J T Jelbert, Wendron 1963 Rev J R Hose, Perranarworthal 1964 H Prowse 1965 W J Kneebone, Perranwell 1966 W J Andrew, Treskillard 1967 W Prose 1968 L J Richards, Frogpool 1969 RM Berryman, Ladock 1970 E J Brown 1971 Jack R Williams 1972 S Trevena 1973 W Pascoe 1974 Mrs E M Phillips 1975 J R Knuckey, Ponsanooth 1976 B Martin, Truro 1977 Mrs E Jones, Perranporth 1978 S Lean, Redruth 1979 B Dale, Gwennap 1980 E T Paget 1981 Dr C A Biscoe 1982 J M Turnbull, Falmouth 1983 R M Eddy, Redruth 1984 W Prowse 1985 N J Jeffery 1986 Mrs J Green, Longdowns 1987 R Pascoe 1988 H Kneebone, Perranwell Station 1989 H Opie 1990 H D Martin, Trispen 1991 H D J Reed, Radnor 1992 P J R Stephens, Redruth 1993 W P Gluyas 1994 L R Barter 1995 Mrs E F (Lee) Bowden 1996 T K Plummer, Truro 1997 J B G Holt, Probus 1998 Mis K Mead 1999 M May, Feock 2000 T Wills, Warwick 2001 NO SHOW (Foot and mouth) 2002 I Perry, Helston 2003 D C Tangye, Perranwell Station 2004 R Manhire, Illogan 2005 R Pascoe, Colchester 2006 L Roskilly, Ponsanooth 2007 R Bowden 2008 D Nicholls 2009 C Bowden 2010 J Large, Kea 2011 M Tripp 2012 D Oates, Redruth 2013 Rev Danny Reed, Lanner 2014 Mr S Kimberley, Falmouth

References

External links Stithians Show