RYEDALE Show bounced back yesterday with record crowds and entries.

The show was called off last year when the fields at Welburn Park were flooded, but glorious sunshine broke through yesterday attracting residents and visitors from all over Ryedale and the north.

One of the happiest people at the show was general secretary Peter Woodall, who had seen the prestigious event lose £10,000 in costs last year when it failed to go ahead.

He has masterminded the spending of another £10,000 to drain the undulating fields.

On top of that figure, said Mr Woodall, it cost in excess of £60,000 to stage the show.

“But the day couldn’t have been better. The skies were dark early in the morning but when the sun got out the crowds followed. We’ve had a great day and I’m certainly a very happy man.”

In its best years the show has attracted around 15,000 people and a record was expected to have been created by the time the gate attendances and admission money was counted, said Mr Woodall.

Among the visitors to the show was Ann McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York, shadow environment minister and prospective parliamentary candidate for Thirsk and Malton at the next election.

“There is much more confidence in the farming industry in Ryedale. There are still a number of issues to be resolved – bluetongue, the Single Farm Payments and the pesticides directive as well as the rising cost of fuel. But the show has celebrated the very best of Ryedale.”

She added that she was shortly to meet farmers with supermarket giant Morrisons, who were now giving dairy farmers a better deal for milk.

Miss McIntosh said a future Tory government would repeal a number of regulations affecting farming. “We also want to restore the balance in spending by government between urban and rural areas,” she said.

“Farming is central to life in Ryedale and I do expect to see changes in rural policy to benefit such areas as this in the future.”

Pat Harrison, a leading administrator and secretary of the show, said: “The day has been absolutely perfect. The ground conditions were perfect for both spectators and livestock and so many people have said: ‘Thank goodness Ryedale Show is back’.’’ What was noticeable, said Mrs Harrison, was the next generation of many traditional Ryedale families taking part, showing cattle and other livestock.

“People have booked their holidays to come to Ryedale for the show,” she added. “That has got to be good news for the local economy, quite apart from the extensive business which will have been done by the many traders at the show itself.”

Unlike many shows, Ryedale’s has no big entertainment attraction.

“For one thing we have no time to put anything else in the main ring and, for another, we believe people come here to see the farming way of life and all the livestock and horses and they certainly have done today.

“Many people have said that Ryedale Show is now regarded as a county show.”

That was underlined by a television crew from Sky who were filming Ryedale for a series after filming the Great Yorkshire Show two weeks ago.

One of the highlights of the day was the awarding of the honour of Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture and Ryedale Show to John Cundall, the retired auctioneer and farmer.

Now in his 80s, Mr Cundall, who lives in Sherburn, started farming more than 60 years ago and still takes a keen interest in his family farm.

“Farming is coming back,” he told the Gazette & Herald. “It’s been through terrible times and suffered depression, but with the world shortage of food, I’m sure our farmers can take advantage of the opportunities. This honour isn’t deserved, but is nevertheless gratefully received.”