TWO much-cherished agricultural shows are being held on the North Yorkshire Moors this weekend.

For the organisers of Bilsdale Show, on Saturday, it will be a major landmark as it will be the centenary show staged by the Bilsdale Agricultural Society.

Chairman, Ruby Garbutt said there were many special attractions being planned for the big day. While celebrating its history, the show is also looking to the future, she said, with young judges and handlers being appointed for the sheep section classes. New for this year will be classes for primitive, native and continental sheep.

In addition to the many equestrian events, there will be classes for beef shorthorn cattle, rabbits, pigeons, cavies and bantams, sheep, sheep dog trials, hound trails and dog classes.

Other attractions at the show, which is held at Thornhill Farm on the Helmsley to Stokesley road, will include demonstrations of birds of prey, Bilsdale Silver Band, Bilsdale Study group and the Dales Farmers’ Hunt.

Meanwhile, on August Bank Holiday Monday, the moorland farming community will be out in force, competing at Farndale’s 103rd annual show, held at Church Houses.

Secretary Beryl Smith said the show was a big attraction for people on holiday during the bank holiday.

As well as livestock, sheep, fur and feather and horticultural classes, there will be a display of alpacas, and a demonstration of falconry by Ben Potter, as well as demonstrations by a mountain bike team from Lancaster and children’s sports.

This year’s president is Arthur Carter, a lifelong worker for the show, who is also a past president of neighbouring Rosedale Show, and a well-known Swaledale sheep breeder.