Mud, glorious mud fails to disrupt Kilnsey Show’s success (From Craven Herald)

Mud, glorious mud fails to disrupt Kilnsey Show’s success

2:06pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in News

Despite torrential rain earlier in the week, the sun came out for Kilnsey Show on Tuesday.

President Malcolm Dibb, of Old North Cote Farm, Kilnsey, said the show went very well despite most of the field being wet for much of the day.

“It was one big puddle, but it got drier and drier as the day went on,” he said.

His wife, Hilda, said everyone enjoyed themselves and the couple were particularly proud of their daughter, Gillian Dibb, who ran in the fell race to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“She’s not a fell runner, so it made the day more special to see her run,” said Mr Dibb.

Chairman Robert Lambert, of Conistone, estimated that between 8,000 to 9,000 visitors came through the gates and were treated to a “fantastic show”.

“It went better than I expected, considering the torrential rain we had yesterday,” said Mr Lambert.

He added new events proved very popular. They included a working gun dogs display, a freestyle motorbike show and an aerobatics display by pilot Tom Cassells of Skyboard Aerobatics Ltd.

“Every single head on this field was looking towards the sky when that was on,” said Mr Lambert.

With the exception of cattle and sheep dog classes, entries were slightly down.

“With the way the weather has been this year, the farmers have had so much work to do just to get the crops in,” said secretary Kathy Lambert. “They haven’t had the time to prepare animals to show.”

That did not stop John Bradley , of Litton, whose Dalesbred shearling won the Upper Wharfedale National Farmers Union Cup for best sheep in show. Mr Bradley’s shearling also won four other trophies on the day. He said: “He’s very quiet and hasn’t been handled much, but he’s a bit of a show-off who fancies himself.”

John Stephenson, of Bordley, won the Holdsworth Trophy for most points in the sheep and cattle sections as well as four other trophies.

A cow raised by Threshfield farmers AL Dean & Sons also impressed in the dairy classes, winning three trophies including the Jeff Dibb Memorial Trophy for supreme dairy champion.

Angus Dean, who showed the cow, said: “It’s the first time we’ve shown in about 15 or 20 years. But we thought this year we’ve got to do it because she (Threshfield Duplex Anna) is a very upstanding cow. She gives 40 kilos of milk a day.”

Gordon Jackson, of Cracoe, one of the vice-presidents, and his wife, Kathleen, have been coming to Kilnsey Show for 50 years.

Mrs Jackson enjoys the flower and baking exhibits and her husband likes watching the sporting events.

Mr Gordon said: “I won the first ever junior crag race that was held. It was an under-16 event and I was 14 at the time.”

Rebecca Stansfield, of Haworth, has been coming to Kilnsey Show for the last 15 years.

This year she came with her husband, Craig, children Matthew, six, and twins Ben and Jake, both one, and their grandparents, Adele and Philip Stansfield.

The family had trudged through a big puddle near the trade stands, but they managed gamefully and did not let the muddy conditions slow them down.

“We expected it to be like this, so we came prepared,” said Rebecca. “This is our favourite show. A lot of effort goes into it and it shows. It’s good value for money.”

Becky and James Bowers, of Sutton-in-Craven, brought their three children, Poppy, four, William, two, and Seth, eight months, to Kilnsey Show for the first time.

Mr Bowers was particularly pleased about the children’s activity marquee.

“Because the ground’s so wet, to be able to put Seth down so he could move about freely is great,” he said.

Mandy Bainbridge, who came from Reeth with her husband, Andrew, who judged the sheep, added: “Kilnsey is a proper Dales show. It’s good for all the locals to get together and have a chat.”