HUNDREDS turned out for this year's Ravenstonedale Agriculture Show with new exhibits for visitors to enjoy.

The show, which last year was hit by 'nightmare' weather, was 'well supported' according to show secretary Rachel Marston.

Despite initial concerns that the show would have to move to Kirkby Stephen's auction mart, it was able to go ahead on a reduced show field.

"We did not have as much room as we normally have so we used the fell," Mrs Marston said. "It was a bit higgledy piggledy but it went well."

She added that she thought around 500 people attended the show, gate money was up, there was a good number of sheep entries and this year saw the introduction of a rural craft tent which she said seemed to be 'really good'.

"I think it's good for the farmers to show off their stock and it's good for them all to get together and it's a bit about community," she said, explaining why she thought the show was important.

This year's Swaledale champion and interbreed champion was a Swaledale gimmer shearling, belonging to Andrew Skidmore, of A & M Skidmore, who farms at Flakebridge Farm, Tebay.

Mr Skidmore said that the show was 'like a shop window'.

"To win the show, people take note and remember when they go to the sales," he said.

And the reserve champion was a Texel sheep from J C & E Pedley & Sons based at Little Musgrave in Eden.

Throughout the day there was also sheep dog trails, arts, crafts and baking, vintage tractors on display, children's sports, a dog show and trade stands.

Angela Law, ladies committee secretary for the show for the past 33 years, said that entries in the industrial tent were 'absolutely excellent as usual'.

"We have a very very high standard entries," she said. "It's the same year after year the same people keep coming back . We had quite a few new exhibitors this time."

She said that entries, of which there were more than 1,000, were 'on a par' with last year and that all the sections were 'very well supported' including the children's sections.

"We need to encourage them because they are the next generation coming up," she said, adding that there had been a new trophy for this year for 11-16 year olds.

The trophy was given by a past committee member, Janet Brownrigg and won by Rachel Bland for her entries in the show's four handicraft sections.