IN PICTURES: Images from opening day of 2022 Royal Welsh Show

The agricultural spectacle, the jewel in the crown of the Mid Wales annual calendar, has returned to the Llanelwedd showground at Builth Wells following a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, taking place from Monday, July 18, to Thursday, July 21.

The supremely popular summer show celebrates all that is great about Welsh agricultural, produce and the countryside, and, with the crowds desperate to revel in the special atmosphere one of Wales’ premier events creates – even despite the threat to health due to the heat wave engulfing Wales this week.

Action from the axe fling

Visitors seek some shade and respite from the heat.

Lowri Evans (10) and Deio Evans (5) enjoy the sunshine

Although the crowd today, and indeed this week, is unlikely to match record figures of previous years, with green patches of grass still left unoccupied as some Welsh businesses unfortunately fell by the wayside during Covid while livestock entries are reported to be down, there was still a buzz about the showground on Monday; with the fear that Monday’s weather might reach a reported high of 36 degrees failing to deter people turning out in their thousands.

Rob Holmes from Rhayader, first with his broad beans and best in show for veg section.

Pic by Matt Jones

Highlights in the Main Ring this year include the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery performing a musical drive – one of the most spectacular displays of horsemanship in the world – and the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh, one of the very few all-brass bands within British Army music.

Shane Lewellyn-Jones (r), who runs the Bee Welsh Honey Company in Builth. Phil Blagg. PB070-2022-21.jpg

Black Mountains Falconry will return with an impressive display of birds of prey, along with Meirion Owen and the Quack Pack, who are, once again, set to entertain the audience with a comical sheepdog and duck display.

The official opening of this year's show.

Performing for the first time at the Royal Welsh Show are the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, the UK’s premier military parachute display team, with an exciting free-fall display at speeds up to 120mph, and Paul Hannam, a quad bike stuntman from Devon with his thrilling and popular quad bike stunt show.

But that's not all. The Food Hall will be a hive of culinary activity, showcasing the best food and drink produce that Wales and the border counties have to offer.

Check out some of our images from the opening day of the 2022 Royal Welsh Show.

Action from the show ring. Pic: Phil Blagg.

Crowds return to the showground.