Spectators seek cheese relief

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TEMPERATURES hit 26C yesterday afternoon, forcing spectators to seek solace under trees and in buildings.

It was a bit too much for some, and the paramedics were kept busy rounding up the victims, squeezing emergency vehicles through crowds which yesterday reached an all-time high.

Coldest place on the showground is the dairy products section, in the South Glamorgan Hall, which is kept at a constant 10-12C.

Needless to say, hot-and-bothered visitors suddenly found the cheese displays strangely compelling.

Second coldest place is the press room, which for the assembled hacks and photographers offers a welcome respite from regular showground dashing.

I'm thinking of selling tickets.

An innovation in the press room is a commercial coffee machine provided by those nice people from McDonald's. Brownies too, but only in moderation.

McDonald's press officers have been wandering around all week offering to make coffee and handing out blueberry muffins.

Best use of a press officer ever devised.

Not sure McDonalds has derived much press coverage from such bribery. But it's left me with a cosy warm glow towards the fast food giant; and a slightly enlarged girth too.

Even coach drivers need a break

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ROYAL Welsh staff are getting a bit excited about the attendance at this year's show.

Wednesday's final figure came in at 69,832. Someone mentioned it was seven more than the previous one-day record. Not sure if it's true - guess we'll find out later.

The traffic problems appear to have eased too. The much vaunted park-and-ride system seems to be working after Monday's teething difficulties.

During the first-day rush hour some northern visitors apparently took two hours from Llandrindod Wells to the showground. It's a trip that, on a non-show day, would normally take 10 minutes.

One rumour going around lays the blame on the scheduling of drivers, who began working at 7am on Monday, as arranged.

Apparently no one had realised they are obliged to take a break after four hours: so at 11am all downed tools for a 40-minute coffee break while visitors hung around in ever-growing queues.

Again, don't know if it's true, but it sounds plausible.

Car parks and goatee beards

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MUCH better journey to the Royal Welsh showground this morning, thank you. Last night organisers promised to fine-turn the show's new park-and-ride system: perhaps it was my imagination, but motorists were being waved straight through, irrespective of car stickers, which seems to negate the purpose of having a park-and-ride system at all.

Maybe it will come into effect later in the day, when the rush hour begins.

Each year parking becomes a bigger issue at the Royal Welsh. Fuel prices are on the rise, but Llanelwedd is a venue which offers few alternative forms of transport, especially from the north.

Park-and-rides schemes are really the only long-term solution. I just wish they'd put them on the right side of the road: on both northern approaches motorists must cross over to reach the car parks, requiring a three-way traffic light system.

On the way out last night, I stopped for a moment by the BBC building (the tardis is still there) to watch the Cossack riders. All the horsemen are cossack caricatures - shaven heads and goatee beards - but, boy, can they ride.

They provided fantastic entertainment, and the Royal Welsh crowds, which are steeped in equine knowledge, were very appreciative.

They finished just before 9pm, just as the sun was casting over low shadows over the surrounding hills. It was a beautiful scene.

Three cheers for Glyn

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IT'S now 8pm and I've just bumped into Glyn Owens, the Ruthin auctioneer.

He looked quite pleased to see me. In fact he looked quite pleased so see everyone on the showground. And not just because he had a winning ticket in the commercial lamb classes today.

"Had a bit to drink," he smiled. "Just to celebrate."

He was being propped up by a very attractive lady. Or was it the other way round?

"I'm off to wash my bullocks for the morning," he said with an unsteady wave.

At least I think that's what he said.

Red faces and black bombers

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ONE down, three to go. The opening day of the Royal Welsh has, all things considered, been one of the best for years.

Rain? What rain? The sun beat down on Llanelwedd from the start of the day until the end, producing a one or two red faces.

They included, I couldn't help noticing, show director Harry Fetherstonhaugh, who has been dashing around the showground trying to traffic hiccups in between hosting Princess Anne.

It was the Princess Royal's sixth agricultural show of the season. By now she must be suffering show fatigue, Royal Welsh bosses admitted.

But Her Highness went home with three Duff Orpington chickens, courtesy of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, and two truckles of Black Bomber cheese, so she seemed happy enough.

By lunchtime it was getting quite hot. I almost felt sorry for the two dwarves hired to wear sheep outfits to publicise a new S4C childrens series.

They were only allowed inside the costumes for 20 minutes at a time, less they overheat - unlike the young farmer forced to wear a giant pair of red lips for most of the morning.

Red lips? Don't ask, it's what young farmers do.

Those magnificent men in their vintage machines have just finished their display of restored tractors in the cattle ring.

Staged by the Clwyd Vintage and Classic Tractor Society, I know how hard many of them have worked to get the collection down to Builth Wells.

I was looking out for the Ivel, Britain's oldest tractor, but didn't see it. Apparently it's worth a cool £250,000.

Hope no one's nicked it.