Brollies at the ready as 10,000 enjoy Shropshire County Show

A team of 200 volunteers and council staff worked around the clock to prepare the Berwick Road showground in Shrewsbury for the annual celebration of agriculture.

Their efforts enabled the show to go ahead as planned – marked by bugle players officially opening the show on time.

And their efforts did not go unrewarded, as an estimated 10,000 people pulled out their wellies and anoraks to visit the show on Saturday. But the bad weather meant a planned flypast by a Hurricane and Spitfire was cancelled.

Despite numbers being well down on last year's record levels, when about 20,000 people attended a show basked in sunshine, organisers have hailed the dedication of all those involved. It marked the end of a substantial effort over several months by show officials to put the event on.

Serious flooding earlier this year required a massive clean-up operation on the site, before the toilets were vandalised in the weeks leading up to the show.

But the weather did put off some organisations which pulled out on the day.

Judith Williams, a trustee of the show, said she could not begin to express her gratitude to the dozens of people who enabled the show to go ahead. She said: "Last year we had record ticket sales because of the glorious weather.

"We may not have got the weather this time but we still got the people, a lot more than expected.

"We had some organisations from the kids zone drop out but the people of Shropshire have still come out in force.

"There are so many volunteers who have given up their time.

"Only yesterday Shropshire Council was here trying to clean up the mud because there were just pools of water everywhere.

"We've done our best and people have come prepared with the wellies and anoraks. I think that displays true Shropshire grit and determination that's what makes the show so brilliant. I didn't expect so many people to come, I'm very relieved and happy right now after all the work we've put in."

Ian Bebbington, manager of the show, said he had been delighted to see people coming through the gates in large numbers early on Saturday before activities had started.

He said: "That's true Shropshire grit and determination right there, it's the sort of spirit that only our own community can show.

"The car parks filled up quickly and it's just been fantastic, you can feel the atmosphere here. It's absolutely buzzing, we were quite concerned that people wouldn't turn up and we had people ringing in asking if the show was still on.

"The numbers may not be as good as last year, but a lot more people have come then we ever expected.

"It's hard to say just how many people have been involved, because you have the trustees and the committee, then the judges, the stewards, the security. It will easily be getting on for 200, and all but two of us are volunteers.

"People have taken time off work so they can help out, and we just couldn't do it without them."

Farmers from across the region entered their animals in sheep, cattle, horse and poultry classes, while members of young farmers clubs entertained crowds by pulling chariots around the main arena at the Berwick Road showground.

For many involved, taking part in the show was keeping up a tradition going back several years - in some cases decades.

Arthur Hill from Much Wenlock has been coming to the show in its various guises for 50 years, and groomed his pedigree bull in the shelter of the cow sheds in preparation for the ring.

Mr Hill said: "I must have been coming here for 50 years, today my wife is showing our bull, Alistair of Auchtenny.

"You don't know what the weather will be like on the day, and showing our cattle is a tradition for us.

"We showed Alistair in the senior bull class, he's four years old and he's been in the ring for his entire life."

Also hoping for success were Michael Thomas and Darren Bevan, who travelled from the Welsh borders to show off their ram, a Hill Radnor called Chester.

Mr Thomas said: "We go to shows all over the country, Shropshire County Show is pretty good and our only complaint would be the mud.

"It's difficult to say what makes a winning ram, we do all we can to make sure Chester looks good.

"We like to show him off to his best advantage, and that means grooming him so his coat is nice and tight.

"He's got beautiful lines in his body, it took us a while to get here but it's definitely worth it."

Competitor Ray Edwards looked on proudly in the noisy poultry shed as his chickens were handled by judges. But taking part in the show hasn't always been so hassle free for him.

Mr Edwards, who is president of Oswestry Poultry Show, said: "I must have been showing chickens since I was about 22 and I have been involved since I was 14.

"What I used to have to do was to take my chickens down to Wellington in a big box where I put them on the train, and I wouldn't see them again until we got off in Shrewsbury.

"I like the poultry part more than anything, I think in some ways the show hasn't really changed all that much over the years.

"The weather isn't brilliant but I have got my wellies on, we all get on with it here."

Pedigree rams were spruced up for the expert eyes of judges, and even prize bulls experienced some grooming.

Sophie Dawson, 19, from Criggion in Powys, has been coming to the show since she was four-years-old, and led her sheep, Cristobel 2, round the ring.

She said: "I've been coming here since I was four because I just love the atmosphere and showing in general.

"I come from a farming family and I'm considering going into farming myself.

"I bring my friends along and I don't think you can beat it to be honest."

The show wasn't all about farming and agriculture. Entertainment was provided by young farmers groups from all over the county which pulled hand-made chariots across the muddy arena in an exciting race.

County traders also turned out in force with home-made produce, and people sheltered from the rain to enjoy hog roast and county brewed ale.

The day included dog shows - with several rescue dogs from Grinshill Animal Rescue - a float parade, tractor pulling, and horse show. Members of Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir also sang throughout the day.

Mayor of Shrewsbury Beverley Baker, who has only been in office for two weeks, helped to kick of proceedings. She said she believed the show helps dozens of small businesses.

She said: "It is my second week in office and it is just brilliant to have something like this.

"There was a buzz in the air, and when you look at the turn out I think some people were even camping.

"Yes it was raining and yet it was still really good. Businesses had their goods on sale and that's why I think shows like this matter.

"It's a chance for small independent businesses to network and that's important for people who live locally."

Town crier Martin Wood can remember the show from when he was a child, and he has been officially opening proceedings for more than a decade.

He said: "I think this something like the 49th show I have attended.

"It is just brilliant and always has been.

"When I was kid if your parents sent a letter to the headteacher you could be excused for the day to go to the show because it was considered educational.

"We have been coming here every year and you have to keep it going because it matters so much to the county.

Show director Bernie Hutchinson said he believed it had been a job well done.

He said: "Livestock is my passion, we had great weather for two years in a row and then our luck has run out.

"This show is all about giving something back though, you have to be here to understand why it matters so much and just how much everyone enjoys themselves.

"Shropshire just carries on whatever the weather."