AS the event marking the end of the agricultural show season reached its climax, auctioneer Ernie Sherwin was admiring wool in the handicrafts and produce tent.

Nidderdale Show's supreme sheep championship judge Charles Stephenson, of Bishop Auckland, was examining the winners of more than a dozen other classes when Mr Sherwin made his way through crowds watching the spectacle with Bluebell, his Wensleydale champion.

The gimmer shearling had earlier been judged best in its class by Coverdale farmer and tourism boss Sir Gary Verity, but when it was named best in show, Mr Sherwin, who has a flock of 50 sheep at Nosterfield, near Bedale, was visibly shaken.

He said: "I can't believe it, it's my first time showing here.

"I have also had champions at the Ryedale, Great Yorkshire and Wensleydale shows this year, with three different sheep."

While the number of dairy class entrants appeared low, which farmers said was partly due to low milk prices, show organisers said competition had increased in the equine and dog sections, the latter of which included 300 classes and drew judges from Scandinavia and Malta.

Visitors appeared to pour into the event at Pateley Bridge in the afternoon, following showers soaking the showground, but the show's former president John Fort said the poor weather had not dampened anyone's spirits.

He said: "The show has changed since I started coming in 1972, it used to be mainly for locals, but now there are far more visitors from towns."