A return to traditional farming demonstrations at the 38th North Yorkshire County Show

The 38th show, held at Otterington Hall, South Otterington, saw record crowds fill the showground and traffic piled back almost five miles to Busby Stoop – forcing organisers to slash ticket prices mid afternoon after gate stewards ran out of change.

Show secretary Alan Andrew announced best ever entry numbers for sheep and cattle, and other classes including fur and feathers and vintage tractors were also as healthy as ever.

Instead of a high-octane motorbike spectacular, which have become popular with agricultural shows in recent years, organisers opted for a showcase of straw balers through the ages, with an exhibition and demonstration of modern and classic machines.

Mr Andrew said he was pleased to see how well-received the attraction proved to be.

“It was the idea of our chairman, Colin Johnson, and we don’t think it has been done at a northern show for many years.

“We had to borrow the straw bales from a local farmer and we took them all apart so the balers could put them all together again.

“It is good to give visitors and idea of how things are done, and how the big black bales of straw get like that.”

Supreme sheep champion was awarded to Kenton Foster and his nephew Sam Ward, 14, who was showing the two shear British charollais ewe.

Mr Foster, from Bellerby, said: “This is the first time I have shown here for around 15 years, although I have been stewarding here every year.

“My nephew has shown an interest in the last couple of years and we are very pleased to have done so well.”

Mr Foster, who has a flock of around 120, said he has another group of sheep he intends to take to the Great Yorkshire Show next month, but will also take his winning ewe.

“I don’t like to show them before the Great Yorkshire Show because it takes a lot out of the sheep – but it is good to see a young lad taking an interest.”

Sam added: “I’m really pleased we won – I didn’t expect it."

Supreme beef champion was Mick Rodney, from Masham, with his one-year-old British Blue heifer.

“It’s only my second time at this show and didn’t do that well last year so really didn’t expect this,” he said.

His son Liam added: “She is perfectly footed and is very tidy – that’s what will have impressed the judges.”

Dairy champion was a two-calf Holstein shown by James Pratt from Bellerby, who provides milk to the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes.

He said: “There is very good competition among the dairy for just a one-day show so we are really happy.

“Winning awards from the shows does make a difference to your business.”

Show president Len Cragg said the show had been a tremendous success.

“We have had a very big crowd. Despite there not being any motorbikes we have kept everyone entertained with traditional farming demonstrations – it is nice to see how it all happens.”

Mr Andrew added: “We must have had in excess of 10,000 people here today, compared to the average of around 8,000 or 9,000.

“At 1pm we still had cars queuing all along the lane into the village, and we ran out of change so had to reduce the price to £5 – we thought we had prepared by having £2,000 worth of change but clearly it wasn’t enough.

“We had to get people in so we made that decision. We want to thank all our volunteers, and all the local businesses and farmers from the local community that come out to support us. It is a really community show.”

Trophies.

Sheep. The S&S Gibbons Trophy: J&S Wilkinson. The David Johnson Memorial Shield: TS Goldie. The Alan Weighell Trophy: N Peacock. The Martin Brown Shield: M&B Allen. The Charollais Society Cup: K Foster. The Tom Hollins Trophy: K Foster. The Hampshire Down Trophy: J&G Galbraith. Messrs T&F Hunter Perpetual Challenge Trophy: M&B Allen. The Ciba Geigy Perpetual Trophy: Wilson and Dunning. The Alan Weighell Perpetual Cup: Wilson and Dunning. The North of England Mule Sheep Association Tankard: Wilson and Dunning. The NYCS Native Breed Cup: David Coupland. The JM & SM Davidson Trophy: A Ireson. The J Parlour & Son Perpetual Challenge Trophy: A Bailey. The Tony Lees Perpetual Trophy: P&K Brannon. The Agripharm Animal Health Perpetual Challenge Trophy: N Bell. BOCM Plaque: A&L Fawbert. The J&S Shaw Perpetual Challenge Trophy: A Fisher. The Yeoman Perpetual Challenge Cup: S Kirby. The Northallerton Auctions Perpetual Challenge Trophy: S Kirby. The Ray Green Perpetual Challenge Trophy: JA & F Elliot. R Newby Trophy for Supreme Champion: K Foster.

Cattle. The North Yorkshire County Show Cattle Committee Perpetual Challenge for most points: JL Miles & Sons. The North Yorkshire County Show Trophy for supreme dairy: J Pratt & Son. The Midland Bank Perpetual Challenge Trophy: M Rodney. A Perpetual Challenge Trophy for champion Holstein: J Pratt & Son. The Associated Co-operative Creameries Ltd Perpetual Trophy for best cow in milk: J Pratt & Son. The Jersey Cup: J Almond. The Peter Tweddle Challenge Trophy for best group of three: JL Miles & Sons. The Frank Hadfield Perpetual Challenge Trophy for champion calf: TD Goldie & Son. The Lysis Computers Perpetual Challenge Trophy for young breeders: TD Goldie & Son. The Surge Milking Equipment Perpetual Plaque for junior showman: A Goldie. The Barker Trophy for best showman: L James. The Hornby Grange Perpetual Challenge Trophy for champion Aberdeen Angus: TA & P Johnson-Haymount Willinger. The Halifax Building Society Trophy for best Aberdeen Angus bull: TA&P Johnson-Haymount Willinger. The Darwin Cup for champion commercial beef: Harryman and Warriner. The Handelsbanken Perpetual Trophy for beef handler: L Corner. The Kenneth Wilson Trophy: T Atkinson. The Albion-Gilven Challenge Cup for best beef shorthorn: G Turton. Best Belgian Blue in Show: M Rodney.