This was an increase of £13 on the 1902 show, with the numbers being boosted by 900 people who travelled on the special train run for the second day (Thursday).

Even though the Shoalhaven Agricultural and Horticultural Society had been founded 35 years earlier, this was the 29th show.

In modern times Holsteins have dominated the cattle sections but this was not the case in 1903 when classes for this breed were "not well filled" and most prizes were taken by Alex Lamond.

On the other hand, more than 60 Ayrshires made an outstanding exhibition, with the Coolangatta sire Jamie of Oakbank winning the major award, and Philip Morton's bull taking the two-year-old class.

David Hyam dominated the Jersey classes, while Morton also enjoyed some success in the Shorthorns which attracted 37 beasts.

The parade of prizewinning cattle was a feature of the show.

One notable winner in the horse classes was Tony Lovegrove's Darkie which took out the pony hunters' contest, ridden by Ted De Mestre, son of Etienne the retired horse trainer who then held the record for five Melbourne Cup victories.

De Mestre had been aboard Darkie the previous week when he took out the pony high jump at the Berry Show.

In all there were 79 entries in the pony classes, and the champion mare was a "pretty grey" exhibited by Nowra publican Fred Robinson.

As always the high jump attracted attention, and Harrie Morton's Desmond cleared 5-ft 9-in to take the honours.

Controversy raged in the swine section where judges doubted the age of the only boar entered in the class under 12 months.

However they agreed to the prize being awarded once owner Thomas Gibson provided proof of the pig's age.

In this section, good quality was seen in the Berkshire, Yorkshire, Poland and China breeds.

Cattle dogs were said to be up to the usual high standard, and there were good entries in the greyhounds.

Awards for ploughs were shared by Berry and Nowra exhibitors, and local saddlers were prizewinners in the leather classes.

Nowra tradesman William Corfield was the only exhibitor in the boots, and he received prizes for both his collection and for a pair of balmorals.

There were many highlights in the pavilion, including the immense water melons grown by Hugh McKenzie and Joe Hyam.

Berry banker Alex McConaghy took 24 prizes with his flowers, while Miriam Moss was unbeaten in the bouquet classes.

Sydney artist Louis Frank had a non-competitive exhibition of 10 oil paintings, mainly of the Shoalhaven district.

They were sold at auction the week following the show by Stewart & Morton.

With no floodlit ground as is the case today, there was not an evening program for the show.

This void was filled by Foley's Circus which was in town, and it reported large audiences at performances given on both nights.