A WET and windy day on the moors did nothing to dampen the spirits of visitors to the 120th Egton Horse and Agricultural Show.

Despite near torrential rain at times, and with the Egton showfield becoming increasingly muddy, the show went ahead as planned.

Hundreds of exhibitors took part in the traditional horse, cattle and sheep events, while there was an excellent turnout in the produce, horticulture and arts and crafts categories.

The show was celebrating the 25th anniversary of its chairman, Nick Gallon, who has been involved with the event for many years, as he used to enter the produce and horticulture competitions.

Mr Gallon said: “I took on the role of chairman for just one year, and here I am 25 years later. I love being involved with the show, especially organising it, which I do with the help of the committee.

“I love meeting people and the show is a great place to do that. I’ll carry on for as long as I can because I enjoy it so much.”

Mr Gallon was joined at the show by his grandchildren, some of whom had travelled from Brighton to celebrate the day.

by Vicki Henderson vicki.henderson@dst.co.uk His grandson, Danny, 15, said: “We love coming up to the show and we will for many years to come, hopefully. I’m so proud of my granddad and what he does every year. It’s a great show.”

Organisers estimated that visitor numbers were similar to last year’s event, which was also hit by unseasonable weather.

Local farmers turned out in force to exhibit their animals, with dozens of categories open to competitors.

In the cattle competition, the supreme championship was awarded to Keith Thompson, farm manager at Mulgrave Estates, Lythe, near Whitby.

The four-year-old Ayrshire he brought to the event is owned by the Dowager Marchioness of Normanby.

Mr Thompson said: “She won the supreme championship and she won the best local cow in milk class as well. She was very successful at the Great Yorkshire Show earlier this year.

“I was hoping for this today, after she did will in the Great Yorkshire. She is a tremendous young cow and I’m pleased she has done well again.”

In the sheep events, the supreme championship was awarded to six-time champion Kenton Foster, of Garriston Farm, near Leyburn, who farms the Charollais breed.

Mr Foster said: “We always come to Egton. It’s a good little show, and we always give it a good go.

“This year, we’ve had five firsts, two seconds, three thirds and been named supreme champions, so it’s been a good day.”

And in the horse categories, the supreme champion in the Shetland pony classes was awarded to Bryan Plews, who lives at Stillington, near Easingwold, together with his partner, C Readman.

Their prized animal, Bantac Fleur, wowed the judges.

Mr Plews said: “We show at quite a few places and she has previously been reserve champion.

“For her to be named supreme champion makes me very, very proud.”

Other events included a dog show, which attracted more than 50 entrants, and the show jumping competition, which was only slightly delayed by the weather.

General secretary of the show, Daphne Jackson, said: “Everything has run very smoothly despite the weather, although there is nothing we can do about it.

“We’ve had a reasonable amount of visitors and nothing has been cancelled – we were not going to let a bit of rain get in the way of anything.”

Show president for 2009, Ann Hawker, whose mother and uncle have been past presidents of the show, said she was delighted with how the event had turned out.

“It is so sad the weather has let us down, but everyone has pulled to and it’s been a great show.

“It’s a big very well done to all the organisers who do a difficult job every year to pull off a show on this scale."

* Full results are in today's Darlington and Stockton Times.