Slaley Show Round-up Sunday 10 th August

Sheep Results:

Overall Judge: Philip Elliot

Overall Champion: Ridley Craig with a Suffolk tup

Reserve Champion: Edward Moralee with a Texel Group of 3

Champion Ridley Craig with Suffolks

Reserve Champion Edward Moralee with Texels

First prize winners

Mules judged by Michael Chalmers: Adam Ridley Texels judged by David Thirlwell: Edward Moralee Swaledales judged by Michael Chalmers: Johnny Archer Continentals judged by Kevin Sparke: Ian Craig Prime Finished Lambs judged by Kevin Sparke: Amy Lee Suffolks judged by Alan Lawson: Ridley Craig

Rare Breeds judged by Ryan Perry: Simon Archer Crossing Leicesters judged by Andrew Hunter: Ian Craig Blue Faced Leicesters judged by Jack Wilkinson: Peter Forster

Philip Elliot, Chief judge from Mungrisdale, near Penrith, himself a breeder and Exhibitor with awards from The Highland Show, was impressed with the sheep and the numbers exhibiting and indeed the quality of the sheep section. “It was a good turnout for all the breeds and well supported” he said “The Overall Champion was a standout Suffolk for me. Very true to the breed, a long thick sheep with good bone and a good masculine head’.

Mr Elliot wasn’t just impressed with the sheep, “We were surprised by the size of the show in relation to the size of the village, he said which reflects in many ways the support of the show in the surrounding district and certainly reflects the community spirit which was much in evidence throughout the day and within the entries in the Industrial tent particularly.

‘The Industrial tent was very very good, the whole show was well attended, and the weather was fine and dry overall. A very good day all round” Philip concluded.

The wind did blow, as always in Slaley; organisers had expected a dullish day with a couple of showers, but Storm Floris in sweeping away brought in a glorious afternoon with brilliant sunshine and a record crowd, with the car park full by midday. Early predictions indicate approx. 4,000 visitors, particularly families with children, it was noted at the gate.

At peak time 11-00 am to 1pm, queues of up to 15 at a time were waiting to be admitted, many first-time visitors which included tourists from Holland and New Zealand.

“It’s family friendly show with a real agricultural feel” said regular visitors from Weardale. “Everyone is so enthusiastic it’s got a great community atmosphere” said a first-time visitor from Corbridge; ‘Pretty cool’ said a 12-yr old impressed with the bikes! “Much busier than last year”; “It’s got happy vibes!”; “A brilliant return to form” said a return visitor who hadn’t attended for five years; “Warm and friendly”; “Good catering”; “Lots of activities”; “outclasses bigger shows” and “it’s exactly the right size, easy to get around and no-one can get lost”. All positive comments.

Lewis Short, the show commentator was busy all day and kept very much ‘on his toes’ due to the sometimes-extreme wind “We had to make a few tweaks to the schedule, but everything was kept running as smoothly as possible” he says “it was a great show with plenty to see and do”.

Tiny tweaks to timings of jumps during the BMX and Mountain Bike display team by Mad Sports did not stop an exhilarating show. Riders Aidan, Gorgeous George and Kyle performing exciting and often alarming stunts on customised models “these bikes have no gears no brakes – there’s hardly any bike left’. They used heightened ramps to gather speed and perform 360-degree full rotations, no hands ‘handers’, double tail and full flips. With full commentary throughout the crowd responded to cheering for the best biker. Gorgeous George won the day.

The wind could have affected Katie Willey’ Heavy Horse Demonstration with her beautifully decorated bright yellow cart because her horse relies so much on her voice direction, but any problems remained hidden with excellent microphone technology. “A beautiful demonstration” captured by many cameras at the ringside.

The day threw up several surprises – the recent climate we have experienced threatened to damage entry numbers in garden flowers and vegetable classes but actually didn’t… Entries in the Industrial Section which also includes Baking, Photography, Crafts and Woodwork, were well above average. Average in Slaley means approaching 1,000 entries, early predictions are that this year may set a new record.

The ‘Three Onion’ class, won this year by Slaley Villager David Innes, drew some unexpected attention from an American filmmaker. Kirk Mason, from Michigan USA who specialises in travel documentaries with an agricultural, science and sustainability theme is working on a project called The Humble Onion and has already shot footage with a chef in Martinique, toured a commercial onion operation in New York, visited the Weimar Onion Market festival in Germany, filmed at the Harrogate Flower Show’. He came to Slaley to film the onion judging process!

Margaret Ogle, Horticultural and Floral Art Secretary was also interviewed much to her surprise. “It’ll be a story with many layers’ quipped President Robert Forster. Robert had, earlier in the week stated that Slaley has consistently been proven to attract visitors from all over the region and from reports received at the visitors entrance, it was proved to be true; his insistence of the show being family friendly in the years that he has been President has influenced the improvements and provisions made for children. This year’s improvements included a toddler tent, baby changing facilities, bubble activities, a bouncy castle, pet handling, children’s sports and children’s bouts of Cumbrian Wrestling within the designated children’sarea.

And to sum up? Acting Chair and Sheep Secretary Gemma Common says, ‘There’s always something to improve upon, but we pulled off an amazing day surmounting known and unknown hurdles; it was a great team effort.”

Horse and Pony results

First prize winners and Awards

Best combination - James Findlay

Fancy Dress – Zara Crozier

Show Ridden Champion – Poppy Colby

Reserve – Sarah Clarke

Mountain and Moorland Champion – Darcy Forster Brannens

Reserve – Cally Jones

Coloured Champion – Katie Brown

Reserve – Imogen Ward

Youngstock Champion – Ross Ward

Reserve – Imogen Ward