EARLY showers cleared to leave a perfect day for the 153rd Ryedale Show.

Thousands of visitors enjoyed a record-breaking show at Welburn Park, Kirkbymoorside, by kind permission of the Shaw family.

Although entries were up across the board, the pig classes had to be cancelled because of possible disease concerns.

This year’s joint show presidents are Frederick and Jane Fairburn, who farm at Rievaulx.

The couple have particularly strong links to the event, with Frederick’s father being involved for many years and their son, Richard, being the current chairman.

Frederick, who is usually showing cattle or stewarding, said: “It has been a great day and a real privilege to be chosen as president. The show is our shop window for the rural community and it has been a perfect day for the show.”

Jane said the couple had both been involved with Ryedale Show for 42 years since they got married.

“Frederick first got involved when he was around he age of 10 and does a lot of work with the show,” she said.

“It was fantastic to be able to look round the show properly this year and to see the different exhibits in the tents which we usually don’t get to see as we are showing ourselves.

“An awful lot of work goes into the show and it is a wonderful, friendly show.”

Show secretary Christine Thompson said it has been another successful show. “We had a few showers early on but they soon cleared and the sun came out,” she added.

“We seem to have had a good attendance and overall it has been another good, successful show.”

Christine said that the success of the show was down to the team of volunteers who worked behind the scenes to pull everything together.

“Everyone works together to make it all happen - it is a real team effort with lots of community spirit.”

  • See tomorrow's Gazette & Herald for stories, pictures and results