A MAJOR gamble in switching the day of North Yorkshire County Show seems to have paid off.

For despite the event being on a Sunday for the first time in its history, thousands flocked to the South Otterington venue to help the show celebrate its 25th anniversary.

A warm and fine day helped to swell the numbers who joined organisers in welcoming back major livestock to the list of classes.

Joint president Tom Umpleby said it would have been good to see more cattle and sheep, but declared himself pleased with the large number of entries in the horse classes.

"It is clearly going to take time to recover from the effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis," he said, "but hopefully this year's show will be the start of better things to come."

He sees the switch to Sundays as "revolutionary".

"I am not really in favour of it, personally," said Mr Umpleby, who is sharing this year's presidency with his wife, Margaret.

"But you can't go against the tide for too long, because so many functions are held on Sundays now as people find less and less time for recreation.

"But this year is a bit of a test case and we will be looking at the results."

To mark the anniversary, a special birthday cake was made by Mrs Umpleby and iced - in a farming theme - by Anne Wall.

Just before the grand parade, Mrs Umpleby and show chairman Ralph Pattison cut the cake in a ceremony.

Show secretary Alison Dale was delighted with the way the day went, reckoning attendance was back towards the 9,000 or 10,000 the show regularly attracted before the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

"It was a great success," she said. "The change to Sunday has been a good idea and although we will be having our inquest meeting on the show, I would think the event will be on a Sunday next year.

"It was a good crowd and we were very pleased with the show overall. Attendance figures seem to be going in the right direction."

Mrs Dale said the switch of day was aimed at having a wider appeal to all sectors of the public.

A display of classic cars was just one of the features of the show, which was held at Otterington Hall, near Northallerton.

More than 100 cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, agricultural machines, tractors and steam engines were on show.

The first North Yorkshire County Show was held at Brawith Park at Thornton-le-Street in 1979.

Over the years, the event has moved around a bit, with many of the earlier events being held at Pasture House, home of the Barker family.

The show has been at its present site since 1997.

Attractions included trade stands, Northallerton Silver Band, Shetland pony mini Grand National, sheepdog and farmyard display, show-jumping, horticulture and produce, arts, crafts and children's classes and marquees.

"As this was the 25th show we brought in extra attractions to mark the occasion," said Mrs Dale.