Video: Ryedale Show highlights

Those were the sentiments of farmers and traders at the 148th instalment of the popular one-day show held in warm conditions at Welburn Park, as the finest livestock in this part of North Yorkshire took centre stage.

Tom Watson, the show’s secretary, said he was expecting the final attendance figure to be around 15,000 people.

“It’s a good traditional show in a great venue and it is hopefully well run for people to come and enjoy the day,” he said.

Geoff Todd, group secretary of the Ryedale branch of the National Farmers’ Union, said he hoped that the strong turnout at the show led to sales of British food.

“The biggest thing we ask of people who comes to shows like this is that they support British food. Look for the Red Tractor mark to find the stuff that is of the highest standard. If people are happy with it then we know they will come back for more.”

Colin Piercy, of Piercy’s Pork butchers of Huby, York, was selling prime British pork cuts from his nephew’s pig herd: “The hope is that the public like what they buy and then look for it at a farmers market near them. It’s a fantastic show is this and it’s a great opportunity to engage with, hopefully, new customers.”

British food was being used in the Deliciouslyorkshire cookery tent where Stephanie Moon, chef consultant to Harrogate’s Rudding Park cooked a three-course summer meal in 30 minutes.

Luke Shaw, Deliciouslyorkshire’s commercial manager, said: “Shows like this are brilliant. It’s a great opportunity for British food producers to sell direct to the customer and to learn more about the story of the product. Generally, footfall at shows is up so it’s a great opportunity to spread awareness of their own produce.”

Goat entries were at a record high and sheep entries toppled 1,000, almost breaking another record.

Taking the show’s most prized rosettes were smallholders and show hobbyists, the Rice family of Yeadon, Leeds, who won the beef cattle championship with their 18-month-old Belgian Blue.

Dairy champion was Thorpe Bassett’s Kevin Midgley, 26, with his newly calved Holstein heifer - Clearside Topshot Honey.

The champion sheep belonged to Charles Marwood for the second year running. Mr Marwood, who farms near Easingwold, presented the same homebred shearling Charollais ewe that took the interbreed championship at Driffield Show a week earlier.

For the full results from Ryedale Show, see this Saturday’s edition of Country Week.