Countryside Live is declared success

5:30pm Sunday 28th October 2007

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THE fifth Countryside Live has been declared a success by organisers, despite attendance being hit by the lack of livestock classes.

The event, at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, took place this weekend.

"When we were faced with having to cancel the livestock classes, we could have taken the decision to cancel the entire event, but we decided to go ahead, and wave the flag for the farming industry and rural life.

Honorary show director Bill Cowling

Attendance is expected to be 1,500 down on last year's record breaking total of 9,282 people.

Show organisers the Yorkshire Agricultural Society cancelled all livestock classes following the summer outbreak of foot and mouth disease in southern England.

Honorary show director Bill Cowling said: "When we were faced with having to cancel the livestock classes, we could have taken the decision to cancel the entire event, but we decided to go ahead, and wave the flag for the farming industry and rural life.

"It is vital, as the centre of agricultural excellence in the north of England, that we continue to support the countryside and provide a bridge between farmers and their customers, and we hope we will have the livestock back next year.

"We expected the numbers to be less, but the new elements, in particular the fashion show and the dog agility demonstrations have proved extremely popular."

The competitive classes attracted plenty of entries. The winner of the Lishman Challenge Cup for best chrysanthemum exhibit was David Greaves of Knaresborough, while the Staveley Challenge Cup for best exhibit in vegetable classes was Peter Ridsdale of Kirkby Overblow, near Harrogate. William Barker of Great Broughton, was reserve champion.

In the pigeons section, Keith and Gill Robson of Darlington showed the champion fancy flyer.

Country Cool, the fashion show held at Countryside Live for the first time, proved popular, as did another new feature, dog agility demonstrations.

Elsewhere around the event, children enjoyed trying their hand at bread-making, thatching and colouring, while shoppers browsing the stalls for early Christmas presents were accompanied by a background of jazz music.