Little show looming large on calendar

Malcolm Leckenby took on the role at one of the prettiest of them all, Rosedale Show, in 2004. It takes place once again next Saturday (August 18) and this week he’s been burning the midnight oil taking all of the last-minute entries.

He used to farm in nearby Bransdale and always came to the show. When a general appeal went out to find new people to run the show he answered the call. He’s also the horticulture secretary at Ryedale Show.

“Rosedale is such a friendly dale and the committee have always been easy to get on with. For a little show we do remarkably well for numbers, both in livestock entries and the general public attendance. Last year we had over 5,000 and the weather was perfect.

“It’s not always been that way. There was a time when our cattle numbers dropped as low as just two, but we’re now up to 40 entries and we have a pedigree section for Highland cattle as well as the other classes.

“Local man, Neil Fletcher of Glaisdale, has also donated a new trophy this year for the best pair of Highland cattle, so we’re on the up at the moment. We’re getting entries from as far away as Goole, which is good considering we’re not one of the big shows.

“We do very well with horses and last year we had nearly 250 entries across the horse and pony competitors. It was close to being our biggest show ever, but we don’t go chasing the numbers and we’ve stuck to being a farming and agricultural show with no gimmicks.”

Malcolm’s fun, if you can call it that, really starts two weeks before the show as the entries arrive.

“We have a closing date of 10 days before the show. It is a big help if people can get their entries in early but that’s never really the case. Many of those who might be showing such as vegetables really don’t know what will be ready until last minute. I treat 10pm at night as my own normal cut-off point but I have been known to be getting calls as late as 11.30pm. So long as they get their entries in on that Wednesday, regardless of what time it is, I will take them.”

While Malcolm may have seen a reasonable amount of the show prior to taking on the title of show secretary that isn’t the case now.

“We have a fur and feather tent but I couldn’t tell you what goes on in there as I’m never out of my caravan on show day. My job is one steady stream of dealing with exhibitor numbers, results, trophies and general inquiries directing people where they need to be.

“Fortunately I do get some great help from Janet Dring, one of our committee members who helps me out. I took over from Doreen Perret-Young who did a great job for over 20 years.

“We have a number of local people who show sheep here ever year and the Swaledale classes are hotly contested.

“There’s no better place to be than Rosedale when the sun shines and the show is on at the busiest time of year here. This is a big tourist area with some great caravan and camping parks that are full for the weekend when the show is on. The heather is out on the moor and the view all around is perfect.”

The Milburn Arms Playing Field provides one of the most delightful settings at the base of Chimney Bank, which features the county’s steepest road, a 1 in 3 with several hairpins to negotiate and a real test for drivers bringing a horse box or livestock trailer for the first time.

“Watching cars going up the Chimney Bank is a wondrous sight. And it’s amazing who comes to the show. Last year we had people from Windsor who were holidaying at Sinnington, and nearly everyone who used to live here keeps coming back on show day.

“We’re also very lucky to have great support from those who live in the village of Rosedale Abbey.

“They turn out to help set things up beforehand and come back on the Sunday to make sure the field looks tidy.”

Mavis Davison, who farms with her husband George at Appleton Mill Farm, has not missed a Rosedale Show in 43 years. “I remember one time when we had an ‘incomer’ on the committee who suggested we ought to do something different. The incomer suggested having a parachute jump into the ring. Goodness me it didn’t go down too well.

“We’ve had some great characters over the years. Bill Hebron who used to do all the announcing and who was president a few years ago; Ron Foster who used to give talks all afternoon about his rare breeds of poultry. His fields have been used for car parking for the show for many years. We’ve also had a trader from near Leeds who comes here to sell shoes. There are a lot of people who only buy their shoes from him every year.

“One of my favourite parts has always been the hound trail near the end of the afternoon. There isn’t anywhere in Yorkshire that you can get a better scene. You can see them all the time and at the end all the old men are waiting with their bent old dishes with food for them.”