Artificial show ring surface plan

The show ring has been severely affected by the rain

An artificial surface may replace grass in the main ring at the Royal Welsh Show after a second rain-soaked event in three years.

Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive David Walters said it was something the show's board of management might have to look at.

He said a compromise could be reached where the ring was a mixture of artificial and natural grass.

Meanwhile, the attendance figure for the four days of the show was 220,023.

The figure is about 2,000 below the five-year average.

It is the second time in three years rain has caused problems for the show's organisers.

Testing conditions

Two years ago the main ring had to be ploughed and re-seeded after torrential downpours severely affected the show.

Mr Walters said: "I think we might have to consider installing an artificial surface in the main ring.

"There's a similar surface at the Liberty Stadium (in Swansea). I'm not sure how that would work with animals like cattle and sheep.

"It might be that we have a mixture of grass and an artificial surface.

"It is something the board of management might have to look at.

"But the ring has been shot two years in three and perhaps we will be criticised if we don't look at it."

Chairman of the board of management David Lewis praised the show stewards for their hard work in testing conditions.

"Without them there would be no show," he said.

Visitors

The poor conditions in the ring have resulted in cattle being banned from the show parade, which traditionally occurs on the final day of the agricultural showpiece in Llanelwedd, Powys.

Officials said cattle had been excluded from the parade on health and safety grounds. Horses will be allowed in the ring later, though.

Meanwhile, show officials reported that 220,023 people attended the four-day event. The figure was just below the five-year average of 222,278.

The attendance for Friday was 47,176, 6,000 down on 2008 but an increase of about 2,000 on the five-year average.

The Royal English Agricultural Society visited the Royal Welsh on Thursday.

The Royal Show in Warwickshire closed three weeks ago after more than 150 years.

Officials at Llanelwedd said their counterparts in England were "amazed" with the success of the Royal Welsh.

Mr Lewis added: "They have gone home thinking what have they done wrong."