THIS YEAR'S Royal Highland Show livestock competitions can still go ahead on the Ingliston Showground just outside Edinburgh – but there cannot be a live audience on site, as the event will be closed to the public.

In light of continuing official caution over the progress of the Covid-19 pandemic, the directors of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland this week agreed that they had no option but to shelve plans for a traditional 2021 Royal Highland Show and instead consider options for what will be possible in the current climate of social distancing.

The concept now up for discussion with exhibitors and society members would see all the event's livestock judging, show jumping and competitions taking place behind closed doors, but recorded and streamed to a global audience via a 'state-of-the-art' online presence.

Dialling in to the society's scheduled March board meeting, directors heard that this concept would give exhibitors a 'Royal Highland Showcase' for their livestock, while RHASS members would be given VIP access to the livestreaming for free.

Along with livestock and equestrian, it is proposed that other key elements of the show will be included in this grand online package, including young handlers, technical innovation, cookery and handcrafts, together with farriery, forestry and sheep shearing.

With the approval of the directors, the planning team have been tasked with building on this concept further with a view to presenting comprehensive proposals following wider consultation with exhibitors, sponsors and industry stakeholders.

RHASS chairman Bill Gray said: “We had hoped beyond hope, particularly with the direction of travel before Christmas, that the vaccination rollout would enable the show as we know it to go ahead. However likely restrictions, combined with advice from senior level Scottish Government officials, left us with no other choice but to seek an alternative from the staging of the traditional Royal Highland Show.

“While deeply disappointing, what is possible is genuinely innovative and exciting and we are confident that with the power of the latest streaming technology and the finest elements of the show, we can create something truly special that is a true reflection of Scotland’s rural industries.”

Chief executive Alan Laidlaw said: “At the time of the cancellation of the 2020 show, RHASS directors made a firm commitment to do whatever was possible to enable the 2021 Royal Highland Show to go ahead. We have left no stone unturned in living up to this commitment and while it is not possible to deliver what we had planned, we are however pushing ahead with the development of a fitting showcase of Scotland’s food, farming and rural sectors.

Mr Laidlaw added: “We are grateful to everyone who has and continues to support the Save your Show campaign. The funds raised so far will help us to stage the RHS showcase event and continue to meet contingencies following the pandemic. With the cancellation of the 2021 Show, it is more important than ever that the Save your Show fundraising campaign continues, to allow us to provide a sustainable future for the Society and the Royal Highland Show, for the generations to come.

“The Royal Highland Show is an agricultural show and livestock exhibitors, competitions and equestrian are the backbone of this event so this will be our focus and we have some great ideas as to how we can make this work," stressed Mr Laidlaw. "We will collaborate with our industry partners, sponsors and sector bodies over the coming weeks and hope everyone will get behind us to make this the best showcase possible.”