One Royal couple, 850,000 people, 1.4 million showbags and an avalanche of Waffle Dogs that was some Easter Show

Forget royals and rides. Waffle Dogs were the true star of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, with one of these batter-coated hot dogs selling every two minutes.

Goin’ Ape ‒ Gorillas in our Midst was a new show that featured performers giving an incre

THERE was a visit from the Royal couple, Prince William and Kate, but the hit of the Sydney Easter Show was the Waffle Dog, with one sold every two minutes over the 14 days.

The tasty treat was a new take on the popular Dagwood Dog, with the hotdog encased in a combination of pancake and waffle batter.

It out-sold other favourites consumed by the crowds, including 80,000 cheese toasties, 40,000 cheese-on-a-sticks and 1400kg worth of ribbon fries.

The Waffle Dog, a new twist on the Dagwood Dog, was the biggest hit of this year’s Royal Easter Show, with one sold every two minutes. Picture: Supplied.

Jeremy Packer, 5, was among those who consumed 100,000 sticks, packets and buckets of fairy floss over the fortnight. Picture: John Fotiadis

Around 850,000 people visited this year’s Show before it closed on Wednesday night. They took home 1.4 million showbags, with the top-seller honours going to Bertie Beetle, Darrell Lea and newcomer Monopoly.

Cute animals continued to be a Show favourite, with 2750 people visiting the Farmyard Nursery and Food Farm every hour and 140 cows milked twice a day to produce 29,000 litres of fresh milk.

Royal Agricultural Society of NSW chief executive Michael Kenny said the RAS set out to engage, educate and entertain, and leave visitors with no choice but to let their senses run wild at this year’s Show.

Goin’ Ape ‒ Gorillas in our Midst was a new show that featured performers giving an incredibly realistic insight into a family of mountain gorillas. Picture: Phillip Rogers

“We brought in new entertainment — Australiana In All Its Glory, Dinosaur Adventures and Goin’ Ape ‒ Gorillas in our Midst — and we staged our first ever Talk & Taste sessions to extend our gourmet food offering and showcase Sydney Royal medal-winning products,” he said.

“City people were given the opportunity to learn about Australian agriculture, the hard work of our farmers and where our food and fibre comes from.”

With 100,000 sticks, packets and buckets of fairy floss eaten, vomiting was unavoidable for some people on the popular rides, with the Mega Drop plummeting 3640 times during the show at 204km per hour each time and the Flying Swings spinning over 48,000 times.

Seat of power ... Maya Kerin, 6, was among the riders on the Flying Swings, which spun around more than 48,000 times during the Easter Show. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

The two weeks of daily entertainment saw the Freestyle MotoX Team rack up a 224 motorbike flips and 420 jumps, while Simi, the woman with the world’s strongest hair, lifted a total of 780kg.

The number of international visitors has continued to grow, with tourism initiatives contributing over $20 million to the NSW economy, Mr Kenny said.

“This year the Show sold 21,200 tickets via inbound tour operators and airline partners in China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. This is a 22 per cent increase on tickets sold via these channels in 2013,” he said.

35,000 people, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, saw nearly a tonne of merino wool shorn from 188 sheep. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Sydney Royal Easter Show by the numbers

● Around 850,000 people attended

● 50,000 pieces of fruit and vegetables were judged

● 29,000 litres of fresh milk came out of the Working Dairy, with all 140 exhibited cows milked twice a day, every day

The vegetable judging included this winner of the Best Decorated Pumpkin in the NewsLocal Great Backyard Pumpkin Challenge. Picture: Craig Wilson

● 4100 chicks were hatched over the course of the Show and 4300 eggs were laid

●Tourism contributed $20 million to the NSW economy, with 21,200 tickets sold from tour operators and airline partners in China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

● There were 15 international judges hailing from Italy, UK, USA, Japan, Canada, NZ, South Africa, Germany, Singapore and The Netherlands

These piglets were just a few of the 25,000 animals that called the Show home over two weeks. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

● Around 2750 people went through every hour at the Farmyard Nursery and Food Farm, with the animals lapping up 10,500 litres of water

● 25,000 animals called the show home over the two weeks

● 10,000 people wrote “Thank a Farmer” notes

No kidding ... the cute factor ensures the Farmyard Nursery is a perennial favourite, allowing children like Madeleine Wyse, 8, of Penshurst, to get up close to baby animals. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

● 1600 children got their in-Show tractor licences and 3000 participated in the SunRice cooking classes

● Nearly a tonne of merino wool was shorn from 188 sheep in front of 35,000 audience members, with the largest fleece weighing in at 16kg

● 25,000 people watched the “Wash a Pig” demonstrations

Cream of the crop ... the Country Women’s Association sold 42,000 scones over the two weeks. Picture: News Limited

● 100,000 sticks, packets and buckets of fairy floss were eaten

● 14,000 people had their tastebuds set on fire when they braved the Carolina Reaper Chilli samples handed out in the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome

● The Country Women’s Association sold 42,000 scones, which were made by 425 volunteers with two tonnes of flour

Alex Banton, 5, of Blacktown, prepares to tuck in to his ribbon fries. Only 1399.9kg to go, Alex! Picture: Melvyn Knipe

● 350,000 oysters were shucked and around half a million prawns plated up

● Classics eaten include 80,000 cheese toasties, 40,000 cheese-on-a-sticks and 1400kg worth of ribbon fries, along with 80,000 lemons’ worth of lemonade

● One waffle dog was sold every two minutes

Almost 250,000 people whizzed down the Super Slide, including Warren Bell and his daughters Taylor, 8, and a slightly nervous-looking Alex, 2. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

● Nearly a quarter of a million people ‒ 241,920 ‒ slipped their way down the Super Slide

● 20,000 enjoyed a spin on the Double Decker Carousel

● Over 30,000 people crept through Hollywood Horrors, while the Mega Drop plummeted 3640 times during the show at 204km per hour each time

Ruby Templeton was one of the 20,000 people who enjoyed a spin on the new Double Decker Carousel. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

● The Flying Swings spun around over 48,000 times, and 45,000 kids bumped their way through the Kids’ Dodgems

● 1.4 million showbags were taken home

● Simi, the woman with the world’s strongest hair, lifted a total of 780kg during the course of the Show

Beep beep ... Aaron Smith, 5, of Blaxland, was one of the 45,000 youngsters who bumped their way through the Kids’ Dodgems ride. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

● The Lizard Man put 30 nails up his nose and Ariel Manx performed 100 sword swallowing tricks

● Over 200,000 people explored the Dinosaur Adventure

● The Isuzu Team DMAX Precision Driving Team clocked up 364 laps of Spotless Stadium, travelling 175km in the process

The Isuzu DMAX Precision Driving Team clocked up 364 laps of Spotless Stadium. Picture: Phillip Rogers

● Showtime Freestyle MotoX Team racked up a 224 motorbike flips and 420 jumps

● 40,000 people boogied their way through the Silent Disco, and 10,000 people walked out with balloons, save for a handful of escapees

● The Fireworks Finale at the end of the Australiana In All Its Glory show used four tonnes of fireworks, with 14,400 computer cues to set them off