Malham Show sets the standard (From Craven Herald)

Malham Show sets the standard

1:55pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in News

Standards at this year’s Malham Show were as good as many national shows, according to president Bill Townson.

Mr Townson, managing director of Hellifield -based Townson Tractors, said it was an honour and privilege to preside over the show, held “in one of the best venues in the world”.

“People come from far and wide to compete and to meet up with friends,” he said. “I am pleased with the number of entries this year and with the standard of work and talent in the Dales. It is not easy to keep country shows going with all the red tape.”

Forecasts of heavy rain failed to keep away the crowds, with attendance similar to last year.

“We had a few showers, but the weather was much better than was forecast,” said retiring secretary Judith Bradley . “It has been a good day.”

And new chairman Jo Smith added: “We had an excellent show. The weatherman got it wrong and we only had a couple of showers. There was something for everyone with some wonderful exhibits, the children’s activities and the various attractions. We are looking forward already to next year.”

Main attraction this year was the 3Sixty Mountain Bike Display Team whose riders wowed the crowds with daring feats.

Entries in the heavy horses were the highest for several years and the championship was won by Keith Downs, of Gilstead, with his three-year-old homebred barren mare, Milnerfield Emma.

In the dairy cattle section, top honours went to an in-calf Holstein heifer, Bailmoor Buckeye Sweet, being shown by GW and M Coates, of Baildon.

The family has strong connections with the Craven area – Geoffrey Coates was brought up in Airton and his daughter-in-law, Rachel, is the daughter of former Craven Court manager Judith Addyman and the granddaughter of George Leatt, who ran Skipton ’s High Corn Mill.

Swaledales were to the fore in the sheep section, taking both the inter-breed championship and reserve championship.

A ewe from Stephen Raine was awarded the Show Committee Trophy for the champion sheep while the reserve prize and local championship went to a gimmer shearling shown by Bill Cowperthwaite.

“The quality has been very good,” said Mr Cowperthwaite, who took the championship at Gargrave Show last week.

“I am very pleased with the results.”

The effects of the wet weather could be seen in the horticultural tent, with a drop in the number of exhibits.

But triple trophy winner Andrew McInnes said: “While entries are down, the quality is really high.

“It was a struggle early on in the season, but we seem to have caught up now.”

For the eighth successive year, he won the cup for the most points in the horticultural section, along with the Vera Fell Trophy for the best flower and the silver trophy for the best vegetable.

“I will be back to defend my title again next year,” he said.

The Chris Riley Trophy for the most points scored by a family went to the Booths, of Wigglesworth, who won an amazing 49 prizes.

The fell races were also keenly contested, with the senior title going to H Coates, of Newcastle, who crossed the finish line in 18 minutes and 31 seconds - 92 seconds head of his nearest rival.