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The show did go on

From the archive, first published Monday 23rd Jul 2007.

MALTON Show defied the weather and had one of its best years ever.

The traditional rural event was staged in brilliant sunshine at Scampton Park yesterday.

Show chairman Charlie Breese said he was delighted with the turnout and entries, and even more so with the crowd, which he believed would be the biggest for a number of years.

The decision last year to switch the show from its traditional Thursday to a Sunday had paid big dividends, said Mr Breese.

He said: "We attracted many hundreds of families anxious to have a good day out after the atrocious weather of the past week."

The attendance was likely to top the 7,000 mark for the first time in years.

While entries in most classes were up, there was a drop in the goat exhibitions and in some livestock sections, as well as the heavy horse classes.

Mr Breese said: "This was due to some confusion regarding the show itself about whether it was to be abandoned because of the weather."

In the end the show proved to be one of only a handful in North Yorkshire which has survived the floods and heavy rain, which has left most other grounds in a poor state and unsafe for use.

Among the winners of the trophies was Luke Swales, of Melbourne, York, who won four major trophies in the cattle classes, while in the sheep sections A and D Aconley, of North Frodingham, D Aconley of West Knapton amd AR Bulmer of Great Habton won the top awards.

Veteran heavy horse breeder Frank Richardson won three of the four trophies in the class.

One of the biggest attractions of the day was the Bold-Dog Lings Freestyle Motorcycle Display Team, which gave two breathtaking displays in the main ring.

As well as the competitions, visitors could view the many trade stands, cooking and craft areas, and the horticultural section.

This year was the 121st Malton Show.