Thousands flock to Gargrave Show

With the weather forecast predicting heavy rain for much of the day, organisers were grateful the rain held off until early afternoon.

“The weather hasn’t dampened people’s spirits,” said show secretary, Sue Brown, of Bordley.

One of this year’s memorable moments was the presentation of a memorial trophy for Tom Bannister, the managing director of Coniston Hotel who died in a car crash in June.

His parents, Michael and Ethne Bannister, donated the Tom Bannister Memorial Trophy for the best ridden hunter, which was presented to supreme champion Mary Naylor.

“This was a very sad privilege for us,” said Mr Bannister. “My son loved horses and loved his hunting and racing. It’s very special for us to make this presentation.

“All of the family has been involved with Gargrave Show over the years. My father, Harry Bannister, was a two-time president, and my father-in-law, Tommy Garnett, was also president.

“Gargrave Show brings together the local community and the Craven area is so renowned for its quality of stock.”

Gargrave residents Sam and Adele Allen, brought their two children to a show that they attend every year.

“It’s a good local agricultural show,” said Sam. “You see lots of people you know and there’s lots for the kids to do.”

Their son Archie, eight, ran in the fell race and daughter, Jessie, five, took part in the children’s sports races.

Another Gargrave resident, Yvonne Balmforth, was cheering on her husband, Joe, in the men’s fell race.

Mrs Balmforth, who was attending Gargrave Show for the second time, said: “It’s a well supported good, old fashioned show with lots of things to see. There’s a good village community around here and the animals they have at this show are immaculate.”

Holidaymakers Mike and Tracey Fothergill, of Birmingham, and Sarah Wise, of London, called into Gargrave Show to see what it was all about.

“We’re all townies, so this is all quite different for us,” said Mr Fothergill.

Mrs Fothergill added: “I really like the poultry. There are so many varieties that you’d never see anywhere else.”

One of those animals included Currerwood Melissa, a Shire horse that took first prize in the brood mare class.

Owner Gladys Emmott, whose husband George is a past president at Gargrave Show, said: “We’ve shown here for 40 years and have lived at Currerwood Farm in Steeton for 53 years. This a lovely show, the best there is in the area.”

“Gargrave Show is a traditional agricultural show with very few gimmicks,” said this year’s show president Ian Smith, of Gargrave. “It’s a great meeting place for farmers, countryside people and anybody who wants to come along.”

Trophy winners

Cattle: Silver Challenge Cup (best dairy animal): DE MA & JA Booth; George Thompson Memorial Trophy (most points in dairy section): Thornber Family; Aireville Rosebowl (best local animal bred by exhibitor): DE MA & JA Booth; Craven Tenant Farmers’ Cup (champion exhibit in calf handling and YFC classes): Jennie Booth; Aireburn Cup (best registered Holstein Friesian cow in milk): DE MA & JA Booth; Preston Farmers Rose Bowl (best registered Holstein Friesian Heifer in milk): DE MA & JA Booth; Hesper Cup (best Holstein Friesian bred by an exhibitor): DE MA & JA Booth; Moorhouse Silver Cup (best Ayrshire cow in milk): Thornber Family; Mrs Coulthurst Silver Challenge Cup (best Ayrshire cow or heifer in calf): Thornber Family; Howarth Silver Jubilee Cup (best Ayrshire cow or heifer in milk): Ian Patrick; Marigold Cup (best Ayrshire bred by an exhibitor): Thornber Family; Leslie Howard Perpetual Memorial Trophy (champion Jersey): Mr R Acey & Mrs G Barker; Francis and Rosie Kitchen Cup (best Jersey bred by an exhibitor): Mr R Acey & Mrs G Barker; Heslaker Challenge Trophy (champion shorthorn): G & PS Fleetwood; Agricultural Section Committee Rose Bowl (champion shorthorn): G & PS Fleetwood; Ibbotson Rose Bowl (best Jersey heifer in milk): R Acey & G Barker; Heselton Trophy (best beef exhibit): J Stephenson; Keelham Farm Shop Trophy (champion commercial beef): J Stephenson; Haighton Cup (best YFC calf): Fiona Bland.

Sheep: McKell Family Trophy (champion sheep): Alan Barnes; Beckwith Cup (most points in sheep section): JJ Beckwith & Sons; Gargrave Show Centenary Cup (champion Dalesbred): RH Close; Binns Cup (champion Texel): R Newby; Reeday Cup (champion Suffolk): Thomas Harrison; Caton Cup (champion Mule): Alan Barnes; Throup Jubilee Cup (best half-bred Masham lamb): Margaret Watkinson; Irving Cup (most Swaledale points): William Wade; Craven Cattle Marts Trophy (best junior sheep handler): Thomas Purcell; Windle, Beech and Winthrop Trophy (champion Beltex): Emily Jennings; Hurrsdale Cup (champion Jacob): K Gaskel.

Shire Horses: George Lowther Cup (best brood mare with foal): GH & G Emmott; Isherwood Cup (best colt or filly foal): GH & G Emmott; Emmott Cup (champion heavy horse): Richard Bedford; Whitter Cup (junior champion horse): Richard Bedford.

Hunters: Brook Cup (working hunter pony): Mary Naylor; Moseley Cup (novice working hunter): Nicole Booth; Coulthurst Trophy (brood mare): Jane Pighills; Tom Bannister Memorial Trophy (best ridden hunter): Mary Naylor.

Shetlands: Ribblesdale Cup (champion pony): JL & KM Lowthian; Partlington Trophy (best yearling colt, filly or gelding): Mrs A Eames; Stockaclose Trophy (miniature pony, three and under): Mrs S Webb; Sheriff Cup (champion foal): Eileen Barnes; Craven Shetlands Cup (best opposite sex to champion): Mrs A Eames.

Show Jumping: Anchor Inn Cup (novice pony): Jess Davis; Pennine Motor Services Cup (open pony): Jess Davis; Humphreys Cup (novice horse): Holly Baines; Brian Reeves Trophy (intermediate class winner): Sally Coates; Holmes Cup (open horse): Michaela Bowling.

Produce and cakes: Coulthurst Cup (most points in handicrafts section): Barbara Smith and Jack Richardson; Cockshott Cup (most points in the produce and cakes section): Jimmy Fitton; Village Hall Ladies Trophy (ladies section member with most points): Sylvia Jennings and Caroline Thompson; Susan Graveston Trophy (most points in the baking section): Cathie Cromarty; Clough Cup (most points in children’s baking): Hannah Booth; Swales Trophy (most points in children’s handicrafts): Jade Beard.

Horticulture: (results not submitted) Poultry: Carlos Bros Cup (best hard feather): Sam Burman; Irving Cup (best soft feather bantam): Jack Butterworth; Caton Cup (best in show): Jack Butterworth; Johnson and Johnson Shield (best large bird): Jack Butterworth; Alcock Trophy (best Sussex bantam): Steve Ormerod; Procter Cup (best waterfowl): Hanna Winfield; Windle Cup (best true bantam): R Bristow; Procter Challenge Cup (best soft feather): Jack Butterworth; Don Hutchinson Trophy (best eggs in show).

Sports: Mckell Cup (highest placed local fell race competitor): Josh Atkinson; Weatherill Trophy (highest placed local female fell racer): Beth Roberts; Silentnight Trophy (senior fell racer): Jack Simpson.