ONE of the UK’s leading primestock organisations, the Royal Smithfield Club, has ended its involvement in the East of England’s Agricultural Society’s Smithfield Festival after seven years of association.

As a result, East of England will stage it’s own winter primestock festival, with the Smithfield Club pursuing other initiatives.

Since the beginning of the joint venture there was little impact by the primestock show at Peterborough on the showing scene. Now, both parties have agreed that it’s now time to refocus activities for each organisation.

Julian Hopwood, a former chairman of the club, said: “We felt the show was becoming more of a regional event and that we as a club did not have the same connections around that area, compared to the East of England Agricultural Society.

“There are a lot of fresh ideas as to what will happen next, but we do hope we can do something with the famous Smithfield cabinet, as we are aware of how commendable they are.”

Honorary secretary, Geoff Burgess, said: “The Royal Smithfield Club has a broad remit that extends from the breeding of all classes of livestock through to delivering public benefit to the consumer.

“It is clear the East of England Agricultural Society now has the resources and expertise to run a successful primestock event, which frees the club to develop other ideas.”

There will, however, still be a winter primestock event at Peterborough, according to William Haire, development manager of the East of England Agricultural Society.

“The society remains committed to providing a primestock event which will not only provide a strong competitive element for producers, but will also enable us to fulfil our charitable objectives.”