THOUSANDS of visitors enjoyed a day of family fun at Reaseheath College Festival on Sunday.
The Nantwich college’s annual event offered hundreds of activities, topped by action packed finales from international stunt riders The Devil’s Horsemen and The Knights in Battle, who fought medieval-style on the front lawn.
Singers, musicians and dancers who had entered the Reaseheath’s Got Talent competition had their own battle in the main marquee, with the title eventually going to national diploma in animal management student Pippa Jenkins, 16, who just pipped team leader for sports studies Kevin Cunningham in a sing-off.
Pippa won £100 for her version of the popular song Hallelujah.
She said: “The competition was great fun. I love singing and showmanship and it was great performing in front of such a big audience.”
In the farmyard, agriculture students prepared and showed calves from the on-site Genus Moet herd under the expert eye of international judge Ray Brown from Middlewich.
Champion handler was Beth Ford with Fflur Davies in reserve and Tom Broadhead in third place. All three are aged 17 and are national diploma in agriculture students.
Also in the championship line-up were Jade Fisher, Natalie Chesters, Tom Jones, Josh Booth-Millward and Oliver Bayne.
Beth received her trophy from Nigel Moreton, who presented the prize in memory of his mother.
Ray Brown said: “I have judged this show for many years and the standard keeps getting higher. There were a lot of talented and very professional students and it was very difficult to choose between them. The calves were presented to a very high standard.”
Becky Oakes, a 17-year-old student on the first diploma in agriculture course, took the championship honours in the sheep show. Malbank School pupils Sophie Lightfoot, 15, and Annabel East, 12, were second and third. Both attend Reaseheath on one day a week to gain practical experience in agriculture.
First diploma in agriculture students Jonny Clorley and Sammy Winstanley, and another Malbank pupil, Jack Harding, also qualified for the championship.
Horticulture students created a garden against the clock, the theme this year being the most innovative use of recycled and reclaimed materials to be found on campus. Most public votes went to a garden designed and built by national diploma in horticulture students Jacob Herbert, David Buckley and Callum Yusuf.
Families sampled cheese, toured the college’s collection of exotic animals, birds and reptiles and watched celebrity chef Richard Fox as he demonstrated how to dish up gastronomic masterpieces from leftovers.
Richard said: “I wanted to show people how they can save money by using ingredients they already have in their cupboards and food that they may otherwise have thrown away. It has been a lovely day and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
In another culinary trial, 71% of the audience preferred sausages made from Reaseheath high welfare pork by Nantwich butchers Clewlows when compared to a catering quality pork sausage.
Other activities included horse riding, dog agility, archery and carving by environmental sculptor Andy Hancock and countryside students.
