Organisers of Wales’s premier agricultural show have today hailed last year’s show a massive success – revealing it had netted a profit of more than £370,000 – one of the best recorded.

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society said last year’s Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells recorded a profit of £370,228, one of the best performing shows in its 34-year history.

The news comes just 12 months after it reported a loss of £171,487, when heavy rainstorms and atrocious muddy conditions were blamed for 2007’s figure.

David Lewis, chairman of the Royal Welsh board, said the show society’s two other annual events – the Winter Fair and the Smallholder and Garden Festival also made healthy profits in 2008.

The winter event made £107,251, with the smallholder festival turning in a profit of £14,341.

He said: “There was a striking performance by our three major events in 2008.”

However, it was not all good news, as the recession hit the society in other areas.

He said: “But the disappointing results of the society’s investments with valuation losses of more than £190,000 over the year due to the depressed state of the financial markets and the escalating costs of maintenance coupled with high levels of depreciation reduced the overall surplus to £183,293.”

However, Mr Lewis said he was pleased with the recovery, but warned of further impact on society funds from the global recession.

This year’s show takes place from July 20 to 23.