VISITORS, exhibitors and supporters braved rain showers and mud under foot to take part in the 113th Gargrave Show on Saturday.

"It was a very successful day," said Gargrave Show president Bobby Clarkson. "The weather just let us down. It was showery most of the day and mucky under foot, but otherwise it went very well."

"Considering the weather attendance was good, similar to last year," said show secretary Paul Watson. "We tried our best to put something on and there was plenty to see and do.

"Because of the weather conditions a lot of people had to be towed on and off the field."

Mr Clarkson, who farmed at Embsay for 50 years before retiring to Carleton-in-Craven, said: "The show committee buckled in and worked very hard to keep everything running smoothly."

Mr Clarkson, who has run the show's sheepdog trials for 30 years, was Gargrave Show president for the first time.

He said: "It was an honour and a privilege to be asked to be president.

"It's a very sociable event and is a good day for vice presidents and show members who pay an annual subscription.

"There was a good turnout of vintage cars and tractors," he said. "There were more this year than they've had for quite a few years.

"The domestic section had a quite a lot of children who entered and the horticulture section was well supported.

"There was good stock and a good turnout of entries in the sheep section, as well as the dairy and beef cattle sections."

Shire horse entries were up, and both Mr Clarkson and Mr Watson said the committee decided early on not to go ahead with the popular poultry section because of restrictions caused by avian flu.

Mr Clarkson said the show concluded with a egg throwing competition and then the highly entertaining terrier races.

Gargrave Show's overall champions and trophy winners for 2017 were: Cattle: Beef Champion - John Mellin and Clare Cropper, Reserve Champion - J Daggett, Dairy Champion - Rebecca Stapleton with a Jersey, Reserve Champion - Edward Fort with a Holstein; Sheep: Champion - Mr J K Foster with a Charolais, Reserve Champion - M Perrings with a Texel; Silver Cup for Adult Handicrafts - Kate Darley; Cockshott Cup for produce and adult baking - Jimmy Fitton; Gargrave Village Hall Ladies Silver Trophy for adult handicraft, produce and baking - Caroline Thompson; The Susan Graveston Trophy for adult baking - Margaret Airey; Clough Cup for children’s baking - Holly Fawcett; Silver Cup for children’s handicrafts - Samuel Bakewell; Veronica Sharp Memorial Trophy for best exhibit in children’s baking - Emily Claxton; Silver Cup for best exhibit in vegetable classes - Billy and Anne Robinson; Silver Cup for best exhibit in flower classes - Raymond Pollard; Silver Cup for best exhibit in floral arrangement classes - Heidi Cannon.