The English Winter Fair, which is organised by the Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society and held annually at the Staffordshire County Showground, celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2025. In 2026, it will be held Sat 21-Sun 22 November.
The Royal Smithfield Club is involved in a number of important competitions and has awarded many of its trophies in recent years. These include the Beef Ribs & Saddle of Lamb Competitions, presentation of The Duke of Norfolk trophy, Young Farmers award, RABI trophy for Butcher’s Lamb and the Duchess of Devonshire trophy for the Traditional Pair of Pigs. For Beef Ribs & Saddle of Lamb competitions, please click HERE for the schedule and HERE for the entry form. The closing date for entries is 18th November. Please note that any entries received after 3rd November won’t be printed in the catalogue but will of course still be shown and judged. Online entry is also possible at www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk where there is a link to www.fieldgateshowentries.co.uk .
The Club and the Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society is honoured that His Grace The Duke of Norfolk will be attending the event in 2026 and presenting a number of awards, including the Duke of Norfolk trophy. The Royal Smithfield Club Duke of Norfolk Perpetual Trophy was presented for the first time at the English Winter Fair in 2019. Regarded as one of the country’s most prestigious primestock trophies, it is awarded for the best group of three purebred beef animals and was presented by His Grace the 16th Duke of Norfolk (1917-1975). The competition is open to pure bred bulls/steers and heifers that are entered in either the English Winter Fair pedigree classes or the National Pedigree Calf Show. Each Breed Society is invited to select a group, to consist of three males or females or a mixture of both sexes, to represent their breed. The competition will be judged on Sunday 22 November.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Show, which has previously been called “The Birmingham Fatstock Show (when held in Bingley Hall in Birmingham) then the “National Primestock Show” before it became the “English Winter Fair”, is a specialist event for the agricultural and butchery industries. Despite the name changes over the years the objective of the Show has remained the same – to promote the best of British Livestock. In consequence, the Show has competitions for live cattle, sheep and pigs together with competitions for beef, pork and lamb carcases as well as poultry. The Show concludes with an auction of both the livestock and carcasses the highlight of which is the sale of the Supreme Beef Champion. Moreover, as we realise the importance of encouraging the next generation of livestock farmers, the EWF is proud to host the National Stock Judging & Carcase Judging Competitions for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs which attracts over two hundred entrants from across the country.