Crowds flock to Burwarton Show despite rain - with pictures

People of all ages pulled on their wellies and raincoats to celebrate everything about agriculture at the 126th show.

The Burwarton Show is among the biggest one-day events of its kind across the country, with most shows of comparable size sprawling across several days.

Chairwoman Mary Williams said race legend Frankie Dettori's son Rocco was among the youngsters taking part in The Shetland Pony Grand National in the main ring.

She said: "Apparently we had Rocco Dettori among the riders so that's quite good. The ponies are proper little feisty things, they can move.

"We had the Squibb Freestyle Stunt Team straight after that too. We had something for everyone, a bit of everything.

"The rain didn't stop visitors, farmers are more likely to come when it's raining anyway as they won't be combining."

This year’s long service award was awarded to Stanley Potts, who has worked at Kemberton Farm near Shifnal for 50 years.

The show’s main ring entertainment also featured a parade of vintage tractors, decorated heavy horses, Concours d’elegance and a parade of carriages and a parade of Ludlow foxhounds.

Over in the livestock area, there was a record number of sheep entered this year.

One visitor admiring the sheep – and trying to touch them – was toddler Faith Graham.

Faith was at the show with her mother Ros, aged 36.

Ros, from Bridgnorth, said: "We come here most years. Faith likes the sheep, horses and diggers, she keeps trying to touch them, so I'm having to keep a close eye on her.

"She almost two years old so it's quite difficult stopping her touching the animals as she really likes them.

"My husband is working here on a vet stand too."

Nearby, Paul James and his son Oliver were bringing sheep back to their pens after winning a number of rosettes.

Paul, from Ditton Priors, Bridgnorth, said: "I breed Charollais, we've already got three first place rosettes, two second and one third and one fifth.

"We've come for the last three years, we've only breeding them for about 10 years.

"I like this breed, they're quick growing and put on weight faster than other breeds.

"We normally do quite well when we come here. It's a lovely show, it's our local show.

"My wife Mandy is here with our horses too."

Other classes at the show were cattle classes, pig classes, and horse classes.

Robert Clare, from Market Drayton, was watching his Holsteins being judged.

He said: "It's a good little show, a proper agricultural show.

"We've had two firsts. You don't know what's going to be here, you can think they're very good at home but you find your level when you come here.

"It's good to chat to the other farmers too though."

James Williamson and Jacky Harrison were entering their Highland Cattle into classes for the first year.

The couple, from Bishop's Castle, were formerly office workers based in Oxfordshire and it was their dream to run a farm when they retired.

James said: "This is the first year we've come to Burwarton.

"We've got a small herd of about 14 cattle.

"We've just been breeding cattle for six years, we were formerly office workers in Oxfordshire.

"It's been a huge learning curve."