Smithfield Show 2006 Cancelled
03/03/06

The Smithfield Show, the livestock and farm machinery exhibition held in London, has been cancelled as a result of poor bookings from machinery exhibitors.

28 February 2006, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire:

There is now a clear indication that the agricultural industry no longer has an appetite for a major agricultural machinery showcase in London. As a result, the decision has today been taken to cancel the Smithfield Show, due to take place on November 30 to December 2, 2006.

"We have taken this decision based on feedback we have received from the industry," says Jake Vowles, director general of AEA (Agricultural Engineers Association), co-owner of the Smithfield Show with The Royal Smithfield Club.

"It takes many months for exhibitors, as well as organisers, to plan a major event such as Smithfield, so once it became clear that the industry was no longer prepared to support a London-based event, we felt it was appropriate to take the sensible decision to cancel. We wanted to give those who had chosen to support the event plenty of time to make alternative plans," he said.

William Cumber, deputy president of The Royal Smithfield Club, commented: "It is very sad that a show that has run as long as The Smithfield Show is not continuing to receive the support of the industry. The supreme primestock championships have been a well-loved and popular feature of the Smithfield Show and will be sorely missed on the winter fair calendar. The Royal Smithfield Club (RSC) will be working very hard to find other ways to promote primestock championships."

"The industry has driven this decision," said Professor John Moverley, chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. "We remain in a unique position to reshape, restructure and refocus the UK’s agricultural events. We have a strong portfolio of highly-regarded, market-leading events and remain committed to providing these as a platform for the agricultural and rural business sectors. We will continue to work closely with AEA and the RSC as we all seek to meet the changing nature of our industry."

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