When this decade finally comes to a close, show organisers will no doubt heave a huge, collective sigh of relief. Surely there can not be as many cancellations in the second decade of the 21st century? It's been a case of if one thing doesn't get you another one will.
Last year, torrential rain wiped out a huge swathe of shows during late July, followed by foot and mouth restrictions making life difficult for the rest of the season. This year, blue tongue regulations made life a misery for many in the early part o
f the calendar.
Those problems eased in July but the rains have now seen off Gargrave (last Saturday) and poor old Farndale Show, which was due to take place on Bank Holiday Monday. A waterlogged showground on Monday and Tuesday of this week, following a deluge during the month, has cost this beautiful, unspoilt dale in the moors its biggest event of the year. "It's the first time we have had to cancel the show because of the weather in 102 years. We are all dreadfully disappointed," says the show secretary, Beryl Smith.
On the back of a bad weather season for its "Daffodil Dale" in the spring this is not good news for the rural community. Better news though is that all of the other shows planned for
this weekend and the week ahead have been given the green light.
Today sees both Malhamdale and Wensleydale offering two
of the most traditional shows around, yet also encompassing a number of other main ring or additional attractions for all families to enjoy. Malhamdale Show is set in the shadow of Malham Cove and organisers report that although a couple of the fields they normally use will not be in operation this year they have reorganised their layout and everything will go ahead as planned. Wensleydale Show, which has picked up well in recent years following a change of venue, is also looking forward to another great day. The showground is situated just out of Leyburn going towards Bellerby.
Burniston Show, held at Scalby Lodge Farm, Scarborough and attracting a crowd of about 4,000, made up of a combination of locals and holidaymakers, reaches its 113th milestone. Originally organised as a floral and horticultural show in 1888 it was funded by local farmers who pledged up to £10 each and it became Burniston and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show.
The first show was held on ground behind the Three Jolly Sailors public house. Burniston, despite being one of the smaller shows, and being based on the east coast, still attracts a number of livestock entries and this year there are classes for Texels, Suffolks and any other breed in the sheep section. It also holds one class for cattle. They don't forget the children either and there is a funfair on site.
Swaledale finally gets going with its show season on Wednesday when Reeth Show takes place. They had camel racing there about a decade ago, which caused a stir, but its highlights are still the sheep classes, including Swaledale, Blue Faced Leicester, Teeswater, Masham, Texel, Jacob, Mule and Dalesbred.
After the effervescence of Kilnsey with its races and bookies, Reeth is much
akin to the rural show you might expect, although they do have main ring attractions which include the Xtreme Trials Display Team, and music from Reeth Brass Band. It is Reeth's 96th show this year.
Take a break after Wednesday and then why not drop in on Bilsdale Show next Saturday.
It is one of the smallest shows in Yorkshire and is
held at Thornhill Farm, Chop Gate mid-way between Stokesley and Helmsley on the B1257.
The full article contains 621 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
