GARGRAVE Show made a triumphant return at the weekend following a two- year break due to the pandemic.

Magnificent heavy horses, cattle and sheep, and fell races for both juniors and adults were among the attractions enjoyed by what is believed to be a record crowd for many years at the 116th event held as usual in front of Eshton Hall.

There was also a mounted fancy dress competition, on the theme of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, an egg -throwing contest, a fun dog show and terrier racing.

In the horticulture and produce tent, there were walking sticks, baking and crafts, flowers and a display of bonsai.

There was also an array of trade stalls, a fortune teller, bee keeping and ferret racing, as well as classic and vintage vehicles and tractors.

Yorkshire Water and Aire Rivers Trust along with new cars and tractors and a stand organised by Skipton based CCM Auctions added to the attractions.

The biggest crowd was outside the beer tent with people sitting in chairs to watch the activities in the main arena and to cheer home the runners in the fell races.

Winner in the mounted fancy dress was ‘when Paddington came to tea’ featuring the Lambert family from Embsay; Jack, six as the Queen, and William , four, as Paddington, along with mum, Lucy. Ben Stancliffe, a bearded Queen, and Jessica Stancliffe, a Beefeater, were runners-up.

Despite a less than favourable weather wise start to the day, the rain stayed away and there was a steady stream of people making their way round the show field.

The fell races got underway at midday with Nathan Lawson, from Shipley, winning the senior race to the top of Sharphaw and back. Coming in last was Antonio Cardinale, 71 of Otley AC , who takes part every year. Oldest competitor was 82 year old Norman Bush. This year’s course had to be adapted, to take into account forestry work on the approach to Sharphaw, but unlike the last time the event was held in 2019, there was no need to divert the route away from a fast-flowing beck.

Following a parade of vintage cars there followed the old tractors, with prizes given for both restored and un-restored vehicles. There were also special prizes for two vintage military vehicles, including a 1918 Royal Flying Corps vehicle, originally used to tow aircraft.

Winner of the un-restored tractor, a 1937 Fordson in its original orange livery, had to be crank-started by hand to get it out of the main arena.

There was then the parade of champion heavy horses and cattle. Winner of the best heavy horse in the show was Matthew Woof with his two year old Shire mare Marieth Mayflower. The 18hh filly, a winner at the recent Trawden Show, was expected to grow another three inches, said Matthew’s mother, Jean, of Great Harwood.

Paul Clayton, of Wyke, took the first prize for brood Shire mare with foal at foot and also best filly foal. It was the first time out for his eight week old Miss Evie, who had been steam-cleaned with a power washer before being loaded onto the wagon and heading off to Gargrave.

John Wilson of Settle took the best bull prize in the native cattle section with his beef shorthorn, Roderick. 16-month old ‘Rodders’ had a lovely temperament, he said, and was very calm, despite being the only bull in the parade, and would eventually be sold for breeding.

The fun dog show was so popular, organisers stopped taking entries, and the finals, including dog the judge would most like to take home.

Following the dog show were the children’s sports, including flat races, three legged races and sack races for different age groups.

There was then the egg throwing competition involving eggs being thrown and caught by pairs of competitors over an ever increasing distance.

Last event of the day was the terrier racing, although some of the entrants seemed more intent on fighting amongst themselves than chasing the ‘hare’.

Towards the end of the show, the crowds were thanked for supporting the event and told how difficult it had been to get everyone together again after a break of two years.

Show president Paul Watson said he was very pleased with the event which he believed could turn out to be a record turnout.

“I think everything went very well, it was a fantastic show. The sun came out, which always helps, and it was good to see so many people, people were saying to me they had never seen the car park so full. I’m very, very pleased with how it went.”

Susan Laneshaw, from Pateley Bridge, at the show with her family, said it was great to go to an agricultural show again following the pandemic.

“We were determined to come even if it rained, and it’s turned out to be a really lovely day. Its been such a friendly show, the animals look wonderful and the racing has been exciting. The children really wanted to enter the races and we’re all keen to see what the egg throwing is all about.”

Gargrave vicar, the Rev Andrew Steer, said: “Everyone’s so delighted to be at such a wonderful celebration of local life. Congratulations to the organisers and helpers for bringing back Gargrave Show.”

For results and a separate report on the fell races, see the Craven Herald website