EARLY rain showers at Kilnsey Show and Sports last week quickly cleared away with the thousands of people enjoying a dry and sunny day.

Exhibitors, locals and visitors from far and wide poured through the gates to enjoy the ‘premier agricultural show of the Dales’ - and for some the last of the summer.

Some travelled hundreds of miles, including one entrant in the sheep classes who travelled up to the Dales the day before with her Suffolks and stayed overnight to make sure her animals were in tip-top condition.

Another exhibitor had loaded his 1955 David Brown tractor onto a trailer and was on his way to the show from Keighley when his vehicle blew a tyre.

He abandoned it and the trailer in a layby, unloaded the tractor and drove it the final mile or so to the show.

Owner, Ian Townend said the tractor, which had originally belonged to his father, had been left in a shed for six years, and on the second anniversary of his father’s death, he and his own son had got it up and running again.

A packed showfield included a variety of stalls selling all sorts of clothing, financial services, and tasty snacks, such as Wharfedale Rugby Club, whose members were selling hot dogs to raise money for club funds, and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.

A team from Grassington Fire Station invited children to look round a fire engine cab, and there was a demonstration of what happens when someone is trapped in a vehicle.

A ducking stool raising money for Wharfedale U-16s rugby tour proved very popular, with people paying £1 to see one of the young players plunged into a cold bath.

There was always a crowd to watch one of the aways entertaining sheep shows and the York Bird of Prey Centre was also a hit. Children were invited to get up close to some of the birds, including a young golden eagle, which its handler said had the appropriate name of ‘Assassin’.

An activities tent for youngsters kept children entertained with games and crafting, and there was music from the Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Band, the last remaining brass band in Nidderdale.

Dozens of vintage tractors, some with implements, gleamed in the sunshine while children clambered over them; and there was a mini-steam engine giving rides for youngsters.

Queues formed outside the craft and produce tent following judging, as people waited patiently to see what was inside, and whether they had won a prize. Inside, a one-way system took people l Continued on page 5 around tables heaving under the weight of cakes, pastries, pies and tray-bakes, as well as floral displays, photographs and art.

Heavy horses and the Thwaites Shires and dray paraded in the main ring, which also played host to an exciting mounted games competition by pony club members.

The annual drystone walling competition got underway early, with the wall being dismantled, as it is every year, before the several competitors spent the rest of the day rebuilding it to be in with a chance of winning the Yorkshire Dales National Park Shield.

For the first time, two giant screens in the main arena meant people could see what was going on across the showfield - including being able to see what was going on in the crag race - to the top of Kilnsey Crag.

Winner of best sheep in show went to John and Alison North with their Texel Gimmer Shearling which had also won at Gargrave Show in August.

Mark Lamb was winner in the senior crag race for the second year running, with a time of eight minutes, and 13 seconds, and Amelie Lane, from Ilkley, was the first female in a time of nine minutes and 46 seconds.

Ending the show was the harness racing and the last appearance of commentator Peter Deighton after 50 years. Peter, 84, told the crowd he didn’t know where all the years had gone and how Kilnsey had given him a lot of pleasure.

It was the first show for new president Andy Barrett, show vet for many years.

Chris Windle, show chairman, said: “We are very pleased with how the show went, there was a bit of early rain, but that soon cleared out and the sun shone for the rest of the day.

“We had a bumper crowd, it looks like one of the biggest for a number of years. There were a huge number of entries across all sections, in particular the sheep, produce and handicrafts. The two big screens in the main ring proved a very popular addition.

As ever the foot races, in particular the Crag races, were well received, and the crowd stopped on to watch the Harness Racing and the Speed Shearing.

All in all it was a fantastic show and a credit to the hard work put in by a large number of volunteers.”

 

TROPHY AND PRIZE WINNERS (Sheep and Cattle)

Sheep: Best Zwartble - MD Smith.

Best single Texel Ram Lamb - D&R Taylor.

Best animal in the Teeswater section - SG Benson.

Best animal in the Dalesbred section - J Bradley.

Best two Masham Gimmer Lambs - RW Wallis and Sons.

Best local Mule Gimmer Lambs - F and V Brown.

Prime Lambs - M/B Allen Best animal in Jacob section - Clive Richardson.

Best animal in the AOPB Sheep section - Kate Crossley.

Best animal in the BFL section - CD and RF Kitching.

Best animal in the Gritstone sheep section - The Pepper Family.

Best single Swaledale - WP and B Walker.

Best female Texel - John and Alison North.

Champion Texel - John and Alison North.

Champion Charolais - Charles Marwood.

Most points in Dalesbred and Masham classes - J Bradley.

Best Masham - M/B Allen.

Best Lonk - Chris Brett.

 

CATTLE

Reserve champion Highland - Mr Ives.

Dairy young handler - Katie Hird.

Supreme dairy champion - DM and J Booth.

Best animal in any other pedigree native breed - D and A Blockley.

Best newly calven cow in milk - DM and J Booth.

Best animal in commercial beef section - Claire Mellin.

Beef young handler, 13 to 16 years - J North.

Best British Blue - J and S Crowther.

Holstein Friesian Champion - DM and J Booth.

Best Limousin - J Stephenson.

Supreme beef champion - J and C Mellin.

Best heifer in milk (open) - A Dean.

Best Highland cattle - D Booth.

Best animal in local commercial beef section - J Stephenson.

More pictures on Craven Herald website.