Local produce, arts and crafts proved to be the icing on the cake with over 12 first place wins.

Cambewarra’s Faye Suffolk is a veteran exhibitor of porcelain painting with a cabinet full of ribbons.

“I’ve exhibited at local shows for about 30 years and at the Royal for around 14,” she said.

Ms Suffolk took out first place in the portrait/full-figure class for Old Cowboy.

“My daughter found him on the internet. He was an old American cowboy with a great hat and I really wanted to paint all those wrinkles,” she said.

Ms Suffolk said she also placed first in the figure of model class with her “little French boy”, As I Like It.

“He was a little period piece in French shepherd-like clothes. His name is Francois and I also did a little girl called Francine. I think I’ll enter her next year.”

The final first was for the monochromatic and white class exhibit called Through the Fence.

“I entered six exhibits this year and placed with all of them so I’m quite happy.”

Ms Suffolk said she began porcelain painting after a friend took lessons in Gunning.

“I was young so I thought I would have a go at something new. I saw an ad in the paper for porcelain artists,” she said.

“It’s very addictive. Once you start, you can’t stop.”

Ms Suffolk said she spent eight days in Sydney working on the Southern Districts produce exhibit.

Nowra’s Paul Bradshaw put his rare leather-working skills to the test again this year to take home two first place prizes.

He said his side saddle was a spectacle this year.

“I started work on it late last year and made it piece by piece,” he said.

“It’s probably the most intricate and time-consuming work I’ve ever done.

“It’s basically made out of English hog skin with gold floral patterns that I hand-stitched all over it, from where the lady would sit to a pocket on the other side made for holding gloves.”

Mr Bradshaw said he had to punch holes into the leather first before making each individual stitch.

“It took a really long time, but I really enjoyed this project.”

Mr Bradshaw also placed first for his dray saddle used for heavy horse harness work.

“This one was black patent leather with chrome work and three bells on top that jingle as the horse goes along.

“It’s also designed to pick up the reflections and colours of the horse.”

Bomaderry’s Anthea Parsons put her passionfruit butter “through the ringer” this year and churned out a first place.

“It was a joint effort between my mum, Margot, and I,” she said.

“This recipe has won a first place at Sydney Royal three times.

“Cooking is in our veins and we’ve built a tradition of products over the last seven years.”

Ms Parsons said they loved to be involved with local shows and the Royal to continue the show tradition and encourage the younger generation to keep it alive.

“It’s great to have your product endorsed by renowned judges,” she said.

“They look for consistency – in terms of the passionfruit butter they want seeds, but not too many. You don’t want to hand over a butter that looks like a jar filled with dead flies.

“Flavour will always win though.”

Linda Colligan from Culburra Beach won most creative cake for her Cuckoo Clock and Nowra’s Unicorn Cheese/

Snowbrand Australia received gold in the cheese, mould ripened, to contain white mould class for their Deli Selections Camembert. 

Berry Rural Co-Operative Society in Berry had a knock-out year with four gold medals in the dairy section for their Organic Lite 98 per cent fat free and skim milks.