Valerie Drebart, the chief horse steward said the crowds have been really interested in the horses and as for the competitors themselves, she said: "our entries are up".

During the morning, the championships were held in rings 1 to 5. The winners of these classes then qualified for the Cuddy Championship in the Main Ring. This undoubtedly popular and highly watched final horse event of the day means the winner will go on to compete at the famous Horse of the Year Show, later on in the year.

The winner of the Hunter Pony Championship said: "It's a very hard competition because everyone is competing for the championship this afternoon".

Mr Bob Ellis is one of the only 15 qualified Olympic course designers for the show jumping events, and he said of the day: "It's gone really well; it was good jumping and a good crowd watching the riders. It is quite an important competition."

Bob Ellis was one of the three choices to design the Beijing Olympic show jumping course but he still made time to design the Bucks County Show events. He said the turnout has been excellent this year and having famous riders such as Matt Williams from Australia and Nigel Coupe from Lancashire helps to pull in the crowds.

In the food tents, local suppliers and farmers were out in force, armed with homemade chutneys, cheeses and pies. Roger Schmid, who makes home made beers and is the owner of the Spyder Ginger Beer, said: "Everybody is out and about. It's like an English summer day without the sun, which is quite normal. Everyone is happy to be here."

The local Waitrose branches from Milton Keynes had a popular pitch that supplied apple juice from the Watergull Orchards in Cambridgeshire and ales from Oxfordshire.

These suppliers came down to the show ground to promote the importance of locally sourced produce.