Dales’ folk were joined by thousands of other visitors from across the region at one of the oldest country gatherings in the country over the weekend.

The 242nd Wolsingham Show attracted more than 30,000 visitors to the improved showfield, off the A689, near the Weardale town in west Durham.

Unlike many Covid-hit annual events, the show was able to be staged last year, due to its late summer position in the country calendar.

Blessed with blazing early September sunshine it attracted record crowds, estimated at 40,000-plus, as the event-starved public thronged to Wolsingham.

Read more: LISTED: Country shows in County Durham and North Yorkshire 2022

With slightly damper weather and other events now back on, the crowds were not quite as large, but they were still healthy enough to keep the showfield busy all weekend.

Show-goers were spoiled for choice on the entertainment front, alongside the traditional agricultural classes and country fair competitions.

Saturday was dubbed Agricultural Day, with heavy livestock, fur and feather, sheep dog trial and dog agility shows, culminating in the grand parade of prize-winning stock.

Sunday was classed as Country Fair Day, with a kennel club dog show, horticulture classes, gun dog displays, line dancing and alpacas, while local farmers displayed their skills as last year’s popular ‘Bale-off’ competitions was revived to the delight of the crowds.

Read more: Pictures from Sedgefield and District Agricultural Show

Committee member Eddie Smith said investment in the show jumping ring help attract a quality field for competitions on both days of the busy weekend schedule, drawing riders from far afield.

“We’ve been able to hugely expand the show jumping and there’s been thousands of pounds of prize money on offer.

“Because we own the site we’re able to do work on it all year round and we’ve improved the access and walkways for spectators, while this year because we have the support of local farmers we’ve opened a new field for parking for people coming from the Weardale side of the showground.

“It may not have been quite as busy as last year, but it’s been a marvellous weekend and we’ll tally things up in the next week or two to confirm numbers as best we can.”

The Weardale section of show season continues next weekend with the focus moving on to Stanhope, following St John’s Chapel and Wolsingham.

Read next:

               Pictures: Crowds flock to Wolsingham Show

               Great Yorkshire Show: First day of iconic event begins - recap

               Great Yorkshire Show: Pictures from day two

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here