ORGANISERS of the traditional curtain-raiser on south Cumbria’s show season say they are hopeful their event will continue after hugely successful day.

 

One hundred and seventy-four years on from its foundation, the North Lonsdale Agricultural Show captured the imagination of thousands of visitors to Bardsea Park yesterday (Wednesday), where entries were up on all classes.

Doubts had been raised about the future of the spectacle, after the land on which the show is held was sold at auction to separate buyers earlier this year.

But show president Ian Postlethwaite was optimistic that there would be more shows to come.

He said: “The current landowners have been along today and appear to have enjoyed the show and it would be great if they would be gracious enough to provide their support for the future.

“It has been a fantastic day and really well supported. All of the classes are up in numbers and there have been a lot of high quality exhibits.

“The show is a really good litmus test for how the rural community is doing in a fairly challenging economic climate and the standards have been very high.”

A new addition to the schedule was Alice’s Dog Show. The show was in aid of Alice’s Escapes, a charity set up by the family and friends of Ulverston teenager Alice Pyne, who has terminal cancer.

The fun show featured such classes as ‘waggiest tail’, ‘dog with the shortest legs’ and ‘dog the judge would most like to take home’.

Organiser Cathy Broomfield, of Verstone Kennels, Urswick, said: “Last year we organised a dog show for Alice’s bucket list, and the feedback we got was that there was nothing like this in the area, so we wanted to do another one.

“We couldn’t afford to put it on ourselves so North Lonsdale Show has supported us.”

MAIN TROPHY WINNERS

  • Sheep
  • Sawrey Cup, best turned out lamb: L Clough.
  • Champion Texel: AC & J Butcher. Champion rare and minority breeds: M Platts. Champion Suffolk/Pure Down: J Airey. Champion Jacob: G Wood.
  • Champion Teeswater: B & J Watson. Champion Beltex: J Collinge. Champion Bluefaced Leicester: B & J Watson.
  • Best pen 4 butchers lambs: L Armitstead.
  • Champion animal in sheep classes: J Airey.
  • Best animal opposite to champion: J Airey.
  • Best group of 3 sheep, male and female: J Airey.
  • Best pair of females, any breed: J Airey.
  • Cattle
  • Best farmers group in Class 1: Messrs Dennison.
  • Best 3 animals class 2: Messrs Dennison. Best maiden heifer class 8: T Stable. Champion dairy heifer classes 6&7: Messrs Dennison. Champion beef animal classes 9-12: MS Watson.
  • Champion beef female: R Tyson.
  • Champion any native beef animal, classes 13-15: S Temple.
  • Champion any native beef, opposite sex: S Temple.
  • Best turned out calf class 20: D Fenton.
  • Best calf handler, class 21: Rosie Dennison.
  • Best calf handler U14 class 21: Rosie Dennison.
  • Champion commercial beef animal: SG Benson.
  • Champion commercial beef female: SG Benson.
  • Best turned out dairy calf: Rosie Dennison.
  • Supreme champion, male/female: Messrs Dennison. Champion male/female: AMS & HA Watson.
  • Crop
  • Best cereal crop: Messrs Dennison.
  • Horses
  • Ponies in hand Champion foal: Sarah Miller.
  • Best exhibit: M Simmons.
  • Best brood mare: Julia Scales.
  • Equitation Best turned out pony & rider, 17yrs & over: Sandra Dacre.
  • Best turned out pony & rider, 12-16yrs: Phoebe Mallinson.
  • Best turned out pony & rider, U11: Emily Richardson.
  • Best turned out pony & rider, U7: Amy Jones.
  • Highest placed competitor, 18yrs & over: Mollie Wagstaff.
  • Highest placed senior in side saddle classes: Shirley Errington.
  • Highest placed junior in side saddle classes: Annabelle Rawlinson.
  • Crafts
  • Best exhibit in home industries: Mrs A Ellwood.
  • Most points in home industries: Mrs A Collar.
  • Most points member Young Farmers club, U17: Robert Rawlinson.
  • Most points none member, U17: Hannah Sowerby.
  • Most points, U11: Richard Rawlinson.
  • Most points, U9: Grace Taylor.
  • Most points, U7: Annabelle Crayston.
  • Most points, U5: Evie Turner. School with most points, U11, 9, 7, 5: Sandside Lodge School.
  • Group entry ‘Going for Gold’: Scales WI. P Most points, floral art: Mrs JE Bainbridge.
  • Best exhibit, floral art: Ulverston Flower Club.
  • Runner-up, floral art: Mrs M Lockrie.
  • Most points, wine: Mrs B Taylor. Most points, home produce and preserves: Mrs K Clarke.
  • Most points, flowers: F Barnes.