Video and pictures: Show hailed a big success for Oswestry

Records were expected to tumble as visitors poured on to the Park Hall Showground.

So many descended on the area that large queues built up on roads leading to the event on the outskirts of Oswestry on Saturday morning.

Shropshire's biggest one-day show is billed as the event where town meets country and the agricultural flavour was certainly what attracted many of the visitors.

Organisers said that there were more than 150 entries in the cattle competitions and good entries in the horse, sheep and rare breed sections as well as the popular small animals show.

The event also attracted the national border Leicester sheep show – the first time in its history that it has been held outside Scotland.

The president of Oswestry Show, John Evans, said attracting the border Leicester event was one of his highlights. A border Leicester breeder himself, he won reserve champion for his three-year-old ewe.

Meanwhile, record numbers of trade stands and food stalls attracted the visitors as did the hours of main ring entertainment and more events and music on the village green.

Mr Evans said: "It has been a fantastic show, which is great news after the weather ruined it for us last year."

Oswestry mayor Councillor Peter Cherrington said he had visit visited Oswestry show as seven-year-old and went on to sell programmes there for many years.

"In over 50 years I have never seen so many people here," he said. "The crowds are brilliant."

He praised the businesses who bought up every inch of trade stand space.

"Everyone that I have talked to has said that business is beginning to look up," he said.

"And I think that the success of today's show mirrors the upturn that the economy is beginning to enjoy again. It is great news for Oswestry."

The leader of Shropshire Council, Keith Barrow, said the show was hugely important for Oswestry.

"It shows people just what Oswestry has got to offer, from the agriculture to its businesses," he said.

The show proved to be a real family affair for Oswestry businessman Tudor Griffiths, who said it was important for local businesses to be at the event.

"My one son, Oliver, 13, won reserve champion with his pony while Harry, 14, won a first with one of the ducks that he breeds," said Mr Griffiths. "The company won first prize in the trade stand competition and even our 1968 Mercedes 280, which was bought new by my grandfather, took an award.

"We do find that the show is a shop window for traders – people will see us at our two stands and then come and visit us when they want to buy."

His thoughts were echoed by staff at the colourful Llynclys Hall Farm shop stand.

Lynda Jones said she was delighted with her first place prize for her section in the trade stands.

In the agricultural section the overall interbreed champion was a Simmental bull, named Banwy Formula One, from Foel near Welshpool.

The award delighted Dafydd Jones one of the farming family members.

"We are really pleased," he said.

Two of the top awards in the sheep section went to Jeanette Hares and her Millenheath flock of Shropshire sheep from Higher Heath near Whitchurch.

"We are dairy farmers but I have the Shropshire sheep as a hobby," Jeanette said.

"My two ewe lambs won champion and reserve champion."

There were a crop of awards for the Munford family from Much Wenlock and their Highland cattle. The Yarchester fold took a first and a second and there was also the calf handler award for Guy Munford's niece, 12-year old Jessica Brown with the cow, Ursula.

Liz Munford said it was the first time her husband had shown in his own name.

Another young handler to gain success was 17-year old Susan Thomas from Eyton near Overton on the Shropshire/north Wales border.

Her first in the heavy horse young handler competition with foal Super Ted qualified her for the national young handlers competition at Marchington, Staffordshire, in September.

The family took two horses and two foals to Oswestry show, including the mare BellaDonna led round by Phillip Williams.

This year Oswestry Show took to social media, gaining 2,500 likes on Facebook in the days leading up to the event.

Councillor Joyce Barrow, one of the judges, praised the younger members of the show committee for being pro-active in getting more visitors to the event.

"I think the use of social media has certainly worked; there seems to be more people than ever here this year," she said.

She also praised the high number of food outlets at the event.

"Oswestry is gaining a real reputation for its food, from its fine dining to its local produce and so many of our successful food businesses are here today."

One of those businesses, Tim Roberts and his Su Casa Paella company, had to send out for more ingredients after selling out early afternoon.

"We brought more ingredients this year that in previous years and it is the first time we have sold out," he said.

"Thankfully our butcher, Eric Roberts, was able to help with more meat and we soon had the paella cooking again. It has been a great show."