Video: Big weekend out at Countryside Live

Taking it easy after helping get his family's cattle into Countryside Live at the Great Yorkshire Showground is Ted Lloyd, 8, from Ludlow

Archery, chainsaw carving and competitive classes for cattle, sheep and horses are among the features of the annual two-day show, which attracts around 100 horseshoe experts from across Europe and the USA to compete for a share of £25,000 in prize money in the British Team Farriery Championship.

The little sister to the Great Yorkshire Show opens its gates at 9am today with organisers at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society hoping to top last year’s record attendance of 12,061.

Show Director, Bill Cowling said: “This will be our 11th Countryside Live and there’s no doubt it’s a firm favourite on the autumn calendar, particularly with families as well as anyone with an interest in rural life. Advance tickets sales are up on last year which is great, and there’s already a real buzz as the preparations all come together.”

New to this year’s show are carriage driving trials which will see drivers manoeuvre horse-drawn vehicles around obstacles in a race against the clock.

Interactive workshops will tell the story of wool, from sheep’s back to catwalk, and budding equestrians will be out to impress Olympic rider Tina Fletcher in the Search for a Talented Show Jumper competition.

A ‘Create and Explore’ pavilion offers activities for children such as badge and chocolate making, and the Farmyard Story Barn is a chance to see chicks hatching as well as poultry, sheep and goats.

Trade stalls offer shopping opportunities, Yorkshire fare to taste and buy, birds of prey demonstrations, a One Man and His Pig contest, the sheep show and mountain biking.

Tickets on the gate cost £10 for adults, £5 for children aged five to 18 and £28 family tickets. Parking is free.

See Monday’s Yorkshire Post for full coverage.