To the strains of God Save The King from St Stythian’s Band, the flag was raised on the 190th Stithians Show on Monday, July 15. Despite soggy weather, showgoers turned out in their thousands and exhibitors were stoical for Cornwall’s biggest one-day agricultural show.

“The show has gone really well despite the weather,” said show secretary Claire Watters. “People have embraced it in their waterproofs and even their flip-flops.”

Pigs made a welcome return for the first time since 1880, with an enthusiastic turnout that is likely to come back bigger and better next year.

The supreme champion sash went to Royal Cornwall Show breed champion Nancenoy Hilda, known affectionately as Heidi, a four-year-old British Saddleback due to have piglets in a few weeks’ time.

She was shown by breeder Caroline Dunstan of Constantine, who praised the show team for putting the pig show together from scratch.

“They have really pulled it out of the bag,” she said. “It’s a show people will really look forward to coming to with their pigs – definitely one for the calendar.”

The pig classes were followed by an agility show and a fancy-dress contest, featuring a prize sow dressed as Elsa from Frozen and a handler in a Tarzan-style loincloth chasing a British Saddleback with an inflatable mallet.

In the cattle classes, the overall cattle supreme and dairy champion was named as St Buryan Holstein second calver Bartinney Alta Velvet Chassity, who hung onto her 2023 title. Farmer James Warren also earned rosettes for his Jerseys and Guernseys: “It’s been a really good show,” he said.

British Simmental heifer Angwelha Fantastic Pippa, bred by Steven Buckland, also from St Buryan, was named reserve cattle supreme and beef champion. “I’m delighted – she’s 18 months old and it’s only her second show,” said Mr Buckland, who is vice-chairman of the Cornwall Simmental Club and has chosen the herd prefix Angwelha, meaning “best” in Cornish.

Of the weather, he said: “You just have to grin and bear it – you can’t change it. As long as your livestock are well behaved, you’ll have a nice day.”

In the sheep section, the supreme champion was a shearling ewe - a sheep in her second year who has not yet had her first lamb - bred by Brandon Roth from Tolgus Suffolks of Redruth. The reserve title was bestowed upon Badgerface Texel shearling ewe Tordown Elle, exhibited by Steven Ley and Hannah Payne from Liskeard.

One of the youngest competitors was Tilly Daw, two, from Callington. She competed in the under-10s young handlers class with a Texel sheep. Astonishingly, this wasn’t her first rodeo: “She came fourth at the Royal Cornwall and second in Liskeard,” said proud mum Xavia Flashman.