The Southern Show goes back to 1914 but agricultural shows in the Island began in 1800 when the first was held by the Manks Agricultural Society founded by John Christian Curwen, who had estates at Milntown near Ramsey and in Cumbria and was the only man ever to sit in both the House of Keys and House of Commons.

The last 'Manks' show was held in Athol Street, Douglas, in 1812. The Society failed because it did not attract the support of the ordinary people but the gentry turned out in all their aristocratic glory.

A second agricultural society lasted from 1841 to 1845, travelling to a different location each year in an attempt to gain interest but a wet and windy promotion in Peel in 1845 sounded its death knell when few people turned up and the society faced bankruptcy.

By 1858 the Island had a more equable state of society although there was still a huge gap between the rich and the poor. Nevertheless the gentry who owned the land, the tenants who farmed it and the men (and women) who worked upon it were beginning to cooperate in harmony.

So when the Isle of Man Agricultural Society was formed in 1858 it attracted support from all section of the community.

The show was committed to be held in all three districts of the Island, around Douglas, in the South and the North in subsequent years.

But the promise of holding the show 'over the bridge' in the south was not kept and the last in the Castletown district was in 1893. Despite some stormy meetings of the Isle of Man Society when southern farmers and tradesmen protested vehemently at the show no longer coming south, no progress was made and, in 1913, they walked out of a council meeting in Douglas and vowed to launch their own show.

They did so with the first meeting of the Southern District Agricultural Society held in Castletown in late 1913 in time to plan its own show in 1914 at Billown, Ballasalla.

It was a great success with 1,500 people paying £60 for admission but it was to be the last show until 1920 because the First World War left no time for anything but a major conflict.

Since 1920 an annual show continued except for 2001 when a foot and mouth scare in England stopped it. But last year when a similar outbreak in the UK halted the Royal Manx Show the Southern Show was held a week before it was confirmed.

Now the stage is set for one of the biggest events of a Manx summer and, barring any untoward interference, the 2008 Southern Show will continue as usual.

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Plenty for us all to enjoy

ROBERT Sayle heads the organisation of this year's Southern Show as the organising society's president.

He lives at Ballakillowey and has a particular interest in poultry and the fur and feather section in general. His will be the task of welcoming Deemster Michael Kerruish, who will tour the field before presenting the principal awards.

The society's vice-president is Mark Bygroves of Pooilvaaish Farm, Castletown, backing up Robert and heading for top office next year.

Jan Cook will be the secretary of her seventh show, giving her enough experience to ensure its smooth running, a vital necessity for such a massive occasion.

Handling all the money a major show generates is Ian Lowey, a supporter of the society over many years and now its honorary treasurer.

Among the attractions will be Steve Colley, motorcycle stunt expert, attending under the sponsorship of Bradford and Bingley. Food will again be in the spotlight — the main purpose of the farming industry — with the Department of Agriculture staging a special exhibit and a farmers' market in operation.

Entries in the livestock classes are on a par with previous years with an increase in sheep numbers and lots of new names among the light horse exhibitors.

So there should be plenty for everybody at a show with a 94-year- old history.

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Coveted Rosebowl up for grabs

A YOUNG pedigree cattle breeder swept to glory at last year's Southern Agricultural Show when he won the coveted Rosebowl with a Limousin heifer adjudged the best animal on the field.

Brian Leece from Lhergydhoo, near Peel, was scoring his first supreme win at the Southern although he sprang to prominence the previous year when he took the Royal Manx supreme, again for the first time, with a different Limousin.

Supreme judge Howard Kelly from Colby picked Brian's animal for the top of the Grand Parade closely followed by a five-year-old Hereford bull from Derek Griffin, another western farmer, and husband and wife Alan and Alison Rothwell, grazing their sheep at Ballagyr near Peel, taking second and third reserves with sheep after their Texel took short wool honours and Border Leicester the long wool best award, unique placings in a Manx show.

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TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

Saturday, July 26
9am — judging for light horses (three rings), judging carries on throughout the day with a break for lunch, in both fields;
9.30am —Young Farmers' stock judging, cattle and sheep; dog obedience tests, held in the dog ring.
10am — judging of young handlers; judging of cattle sections, Holstein, other dairy, Young Farmers' inter club dairy competition; judging of shortwool sheep classes; judging of longwool sheep classes; judging of heavy horses in main ring; judging of exhibits in the Womens' Institute marquee in the top field.
11am — judging of vintage exhibits in exhibition area; judging of craft and produce classes; judging of light horse driving classes; Young Farmers' inter club sheep judging.
1pm — judging of dog agility tests in dog ring.
2pm — Deemster and Mrs Kerruish arrive and tour the showfield.
3.15pm — grand parade of all winners in the main ring then judging of the supreme champion. Main trophies presented by Deemster Kerruish, main prize money presented by Agriculture and Plant Services Ltd, Foxdale, in association with same. Presentation of Milk Quality Awards.

Sunday, July 27
Details correct at time of going to press, there may be additions or amendments.
Throughout the day — Young Farmers' cookery competition and line dancing; demonstrations of various crafts by members of the WI in their marquee.
Midday — showjumping in the light horse field; working hunter classes commence in the light horse field; dog agility demonstration; companion dog show, enter on the day, run by Castletown Pets and Analouga Stud; vintage display in the main ring.
1pm — Steve Colley, motorcycle stunt rider in the main ring.
2pm — children's sport in the main ring; Young Farmers' inter-club cookery competition.
3pm — Steve Colley in the main ring.
3.30pm — vintage display in the main ring.
3.45pm — Terrier and lurcher racing in the main ring.