Shropshire Star

Rain fails to dampen spirits at Oswestry Show - WATCH

A few showers didn't dampen spirits an an annual agricultural show.

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Guy Mumford with Urshula the Highland Cow

Thousands headed to the Oswestry Show from across Shropshire and Mid Wales.

And a spot of rain didn't put anyone off, as the Oswestry Showground still saw huge crowds of people there to see the attractions, as well as people bringing their animals for competitions on Saturday.

Among those who came to the show was Guy Mumford, from Much Wenlock, who had brought some of his Highland cows.

They had picked up a first place, second place, two third place rosettes and a fourth.

He said he has had the cows for about three years and has been coming to the show since they joined his farm.

Posing with Urshula the first of Yarchester, he said this was the latest in a line of agricultural shows he would be taking the animals to.

He said: "This is dry compared to Burwarton Show last week. We've got Oswestry next week and then we'll be at Minsterley in two weeks.

"This is a good show, everyone is nice and friendly, it is a good family show."

Showing in the pen was Ruth Corby, with her cow Lily, which picked up best any other beef breed.

Ruth, who had brought her animals from the farm at Felindre, in Powys, was also joined by her two sisters who had also picked up best reserve male and best reserve female in the same class.

The 25-year-old works as a physiotherapist at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Gobowen so said that, for her, despite coming from Powys, Oswestry felt like a home show.

She had previously been showing at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells and in Aberystwyth and her brother was also showing some of their limousin cows at Brecon on the same day as Oswestry.

She said: "It is a really good show, we come every year.

"Lily loves showing, you want them to stand tall and put their ears back and she loves doing it."

WATCH highlights from the Oswestry Show

Meredydd Jones, who was judging the class said: "We've had some fantastic animals, we didn't expect such high quality."

Chloe Williams, 15, from Welshpool was helping show Texel sheep.

She said: "It is my second time at the show, I think it is brilliant."

Paul and Mary Woodhall from Welshpool were showing their Dalesbred and Wensleydale Sheep and had won champion hill and health, champion Wensleydale, and champion male hill and heath.

They have been coming to the show on-and-off for about six years.

Mr Woodhall, who was also joined by his daughters, said: "We've done well.

"Oswestry is a really nice show, the stewards are really helpful, it is well organised, you can't fault it really."

Along with the farm animals, there was also a stall of rarer Kunekune pigs, by the British Kunekune Society.

As well as the displays, there were plenty of attractions to keep people of all ages entertained.

Watching the show jumping was Lucy Hawthorn from Llanymynech, with children Tia Hawthorne, 6, and Trey Hawtorne, 3, and six-year-old Denny Coleman and three-year-old Meara Coleman.

Tia and Trey had both taken part in gymnastic displays at the show, where Tia had performed to a song from Harry Potter.

Lucy said they like to come to the show, adding: "The children love it, especially because they were taking part in the gymnastics today, they really enjoyed it."

Looking at the birds from North Wales Owl Rescue were 10-year-old Joe Roberts and his brother Sam, 9.

The pair were holding Chase the Tawny owl

The siblings from Sale near Manchester were at the show with their grandparents Mark and Patricia Caton from Whittington.

Patricia said: "We've been about three times, the boys enjoy it, there are plenty of things for them to look at."

Also enjoying the show was Ceri and Simon Borthwick, from Pant, who had brought their two children, Emily, 6, and Oliver, 9.

Simon said: "We come to see the vintage cars and tractors and the rides for the kids.

"Also Ceri's cousins are showing ponies."

Among those showing vintage vehicles was Philip De Quincey, from Westbury, who had brought his Fordson Major 1947 from his home in Westbury.

He said: "We do lots of shows, the furthest we have done is Cardigan.

Phil Davies from Welshpool had also brought his 1963 Austin Mini.

A member of Mid Wales Classic Vehicle Club, he bought the car in 2016, stripped it down and rebuilt it completely, finishing the work in March of this year.

Organisers said they were delighted with how the show had gone.

Mandy Roberts, show manager, said: "It is brilliant, it has been very positive and we've had lots of people.

"We've been keeping our fingers crossed that the rain holds off."