ROYAL MANX SHAPING UP TO BE A BUMPER EVENT IN 2022

This year’s Royal Manx Agricultural Show, sponsored by Manx Telecom since 2012 and the Island’s best known celebration of farming and rural pursuits, is shaping up to be a bumper event.

The “Royal” will take place on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August 2022 at Knockaloe in Patrick. In addition to all the usual entertainment and exhibits, this year’s event will feature a number of exciting acts from the UK as well as some off-Island judges following the removal of COVID restrictions in place last year.

New to the Show for the first time is the Land Rover Experience Display Team who will be offering passengers exhilarating rides as they put their trusty vehicles through a mobile course designed to make the vehicles show off their capabilities and get the passengers’ hearts racing.

Also appearing will be quad bike stuntman Paul Hannam from North Devon who will be thrilling the crowd with awesome jumps and tricks on a range of quad bikes. A former racer at British Championship level, Paul will be accompanied by a special guest from the world of quad bike racing. Between displays, visitors to the show can drop in at Paul’s interactive stand where they can get a closer look at the bikes, meet the riders and get a photo.

Manx Telecom will be providing family entertainment for all: Isle of Play will be back to help youngsters play, make things and use their imagination, while there will be multi-player fun with Matrix in their virtual reality arena, and various gaming experiences featuring the latest consoles and AR headsets in partnership with Energy FM. 

All the familiar arts and crafts, animal husbandry and pet competition entries will be on display and the popular dog obedience and agility shows and vintage transport parades will take place on both days. Finn Partington will be giving sheep shearing demonstrations, and there will also be Pony Club Games and carriage driving competitions and exhibitions. A wide variety of food and drink outlets will cater for all tastes.

Organisers continue to focus on reducing the environmental impact of the Royal and, as in previous years, will be providing water points for visitors at various places around the showground to reduce the amount of single use plastic being used. Visitors are also encouraged to bring their own hot drinks containers and Beach Buddies and the Western Civic Amenity Site will be in attendance to help promote positive action around plastic waste and recycling.

Carol Kennaugh, secretary of the Royal Manx Agricultural Society, said it was wonderful to be able to once again organise the Show without the restraints of COVID, and in particular to bring judges from off-Island to the event.

“Our exhibitors work long and hard to bring animals of an immensely high standard to the Show. Whilst we will still continue to use some locally-based judges, we recognise how important it is to invite judges from off-Island to acknowledge the dedication of the exhibitors and the high standards they achieve.

Carol said the RMAS was indebted to Manx Telecom for their continued sponsorship, guidance and assistance “in so many ways”.

“Without Manx Telecom and our other sponsors, it’s impossible to imagine how the Show would run,” she added. 

Manx Telecom CEO Gary Lamb said the Royal Show was a summer highlight for everyone involved and one of the key community events in the Isle of Man.

“The Show is an opportunity to learn, appreciate and enjoy everything associated with farming and the countryside,” he said. “It’s so easy for us to forget about all the hard work and pride that goes into raising animals, growing crops and looking after the environment.

“The organisers have pulled out all the stops to make the 2022 Royal Show a spectacular event. We are often told that the Show takes a year in the making and we’d like to thank everyone involved for the incredible amount of time and planning they have put in to create such a wonderful family-friendly experience, as well as the volunteers who will be helping out to make it all happen.”

Tickets for this year’s Royal Show are on sale from outlets around the Island including Manx Telecom’s Strand Street store, Thompson Travel, Celtic Gold and Whim Boutique. They are available online at www.royalmanx.com