RURAL DELIGHT: Young visitors to the Lunesdale Show can’t hide their delight as Huntsman Clive Richardson introduces them to hounds from his pack.

A BUMPER crowd and mostly dry conditions greeted the return of the Lunesdale Show after bad weather and foot-and-mouth disease forced a two-year absence. Visitors to the Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Ground venue were entertained by displays from the Vale of Lune Hunt, fancy dress competitions, Punch and Judy shows as well as the usual agricultural competitions.

This year’s show’s supreme champion beast was Lucenty Doorbell, a two-year-old Holstein owned by Robert and Elaine Butterfield, of Linghal Farm, Bentham. Mr Butterfield credited his victory to a vast experience of entering shows. “It is nice to win here,” he said. “We have been winning all over this year with another cow but we are resting her today. This one has come second at the Great Yorkshire Show and second at Garstang but this is the first time it has won. I’m always proud of winning with a home-bred cow.”

Over in the sheep pens Alan Blair’s supreme champion – a one-crop Suffolk ewe – dominated a large turnout of different breeds. “It is the first time I have been to the show,” he said. “There must be towards 20 breeds so I am very pleased to win at such a well-run show on a good field.”