Happy memories of a premier show

In late July, the natural amphitheatre at Welburn Park always offers a magnificent setting for Ryedale Show.

Established in 1855 and organised by the Ryedale & Pickering Lythe Agricultural Society, it's one of the biggest one-day agricultural shows in Yorkshire. Next Tuesday's will be 144th and the last one as secretary for Peter Woodall who first took the reins in 1970.

"It has changed massively," he says. "In 1970, the show turnover was 2,000. It is now 100,000. It was nowhere near as big as it is today. We have always had strong and quality classes for cattle and sheep. This is a good livestock area, well-known for animal husbandry, but today we attract entries from quite a distance in the county.

"The number of visitors has gone up tremendously in my time, too – around 15,000 now – and we usually find that when someone has come for the first time, they want to keep coming back. It is very much a part of the tourist activity. We also make sure that we have the best judges of livestock.

"I used to write every letter by hand. This was way before computers, let alone mobile phones and laptops. I had a table at home that no-one else in the family was allowed to use. It was devoted to literature and work I was doing for the show. As it expanded it became difficult to handle everything and I was very fortunate that Valerie Weighell came on board as produce secretary.

"From there we started recruiting others to become secretaries of each element of the show, which took some of the weight off my shoulders.

"That has to be best thing that I have done in my time because it now means that if anyone retires from their duties it is not as big a job to get someone to run it. In the past that kind of thing happening might have put the show at risk."

The landowner is Will Shaw who now lives in Australia. He makes a point of coming back each year for show time. The trade stands perched on an elevated tract of land and the eight rings of cattle, sheep, horses, ponies, goats and all manner of classes held on the lower field affords a wonderful sight. A gentle slope connects the two where members can park and watch the competition while enjoying a picnic.

Over 20,000 is at stake in prize money. Once upon a time it alternated between this venue, Duncombe Park at Helmsley, or on land between Thornton-le-Dale and Pickering which is now the Cedar Barn Farm Shop and Tearoom. Twice in the past decade it had to be cancelled in an unprecedented sequence following foot-and-mouth in 2001 and flooding in 2007.

"We have always overcome any obstacles put in our way. When the show ground was under water we took steps to ensure as best we could that it would not happen again. We invested in new drainage works. We are always determined that the show will go on. One year we had a thunderstorm the night before – also in this decade – and we had ladies taking off their wellies and walking around in bare feet in the thick mud because it was easier to do that."

The show is seen as the premier agricultural show for those farming in the North York Moors and it attracts well-known sheep breeders such as Andy Fawbert from High Farndale and the Dunns of Bransdale.

One of the livestock sections which no longer attracts the same numbers as 1970 is the dairy section.

"Hardly anyone is in milk now and those that remain are finding that they are flat out with making a living and are too busy to come and show. But the farmers in Ryedale do tend to turn out whatever the weather. If it's pouring down with rain it's often better for them because they can't get anything done on their farms anyway. Our ideal for the show is for it to rain at about 6am and then come out sunny by 9am."

Peter has special praise for the supportive role played by Pam Harrison. "She has made a fabulous contribution and has looked after the trade stands side of the show really well. We have a waiting list and we are very careful about who we allow to come."

Peter has devoted countless hours to the show and will hand over the reins at the end of Tuesday's event to Alan Tate-Smith, a colleague at the land and estate agency Cundalls. Peter has retired from his day-to-day activity there but keeps busy as chairman of Marton parish council.

Regardless of his standing down, it is hard to imagine Peter not being around at showtime for many years to come.

Ryedale Show, Welburn Park, west of Kirkbymoorside, Tuesday, July 27.

CW 24/7/10