Sea of umbrellas at rural show

Drizzly rain failed to dampen the spirits of showgoers with a colourful sea of umbrellas at the rural extravaganza on Saturday.

Show chairman David Evans said the 132nd Minsterley Show was one of the best ever, especially considering sheep, cows and goats had been banned due to foot and mouth.

He said poultry classes had doubled and the horse entries were also up on last year.

"It's been a great show- considering all our restrictions it's gone very well. There was a good crowd and people were still coming in at 1pm.

"I would say we have about 7,000 people here and that's more than last year. Two years ago we had a record with about 10,000.

"I think it's because some of the shows have unfortunately been postponed and people like somewhere to go and we have a great programme."

Heather Williams, who runs Heather's Harvest based in Crowmere Road, Shrewsbury, celebrated winning best-looking trade stand at the show with her jams, chutneys and pickles.

She said: "The judges said as soon as they saw my stall, there was no competition. . . I started making it for my family at Christmas and my mum said I should start selling it."

Fran Nesbitt, from Ludlow, was enjoying her first show with her family, including daughters Louisa, 11, and Rose, nine, who both took part in the working hunter pony classes winning second prizes.

Stuart Younger, of St Martins, near Oswestry, said: "I'm interested in vintage cars and tractors and I have enjoyed seeing those."

Results from the 132nd year's competitions

Grain: Twelve heads of wheat: B. Evans, Hunthach; Twelve heads of two row winter Barley: W.A. Duddleston; Twelve heads of two row spring Barley: W.A. Duddleston; Twelve heads of oats: W.A. Duddleston; 10 kilos of malting Barley 2007 crop: W.A. Duddleston; 10 kilos of feed Barley 2007 crop: W.A. Duddleston.

Home section:

Floral art: Miniature exhibit: L. Bishton, The Mount, Shrewsbury; A petite exhibit: H. Savage, Newtown; Give Me five, an exhibit of five flowers and foliage: S. Wood, Castle Pulverbatch; Seasonal Delights, an exhibit of any foliage, flowers, vegetables or fruit: J. Clark; Anything Goes: S. Wood, Castle Pulverbatch; Coming up Roses exhibit: Jane Clark, Bicton; An arrangement for a table centre: L. Bishton, Ford Heath.

Pot Plants: A hanging basket: T. Potter, Crew Green; One cactus or succulent: W. Griffiths, Montford Bridge; Flowering pot plant: R. Hartshorn, Telford; A flowering fuchsia: T. Potter; A container grown geranium: S. Hayes, Dorrington; A container grown bergonia: M. Butler, Nills View, Pontesbury.

Flowers: One specimen hybrid tea rose: P. Hayes, Dorrington; Spray of floribunda/grandiflora roses: R. Wilde, Criggion; Vase of 10 stems of garden flowers: S. Hayes, Dorrington; Seven heads of sweet peas: M. Griffiths, Alberbury; Five heads of pansies: R. Hartshorn, Telford; A bowl of five flower heads of the same variety floating in water: M. Butler, Nills View, Pontesbury; Three gladioli: V. Jarvis, Westfield, Yockleton. Dahlias: Three medium dahlias in one vase: P. Perry, Vennington, Westbury; Five small dahlias in one vase: D. McClearly, Mere Close, Bomere Heath; Five miniature dahlias in one vase: R. Hartshorn, Telford; Five small ball dahlias in one vase: W. Griffiths, Montford Bridge; Five mini-ball dahlias in one vase: R. Hartshorn, Telford.

Vegetables and fruit: Basket of mixed garden fruit: R.A. Owen, Wendsley Road, Shrewsbury; Five varieties of cut herbs: R.A. Owen, Wendsley Road, Shrewsbury; Three onions from seed: D.A. Perry, Vennington, Westbury; Three set onions: V. Jarvis, Westfield, Yockleton; Twelve large shallots: A. Owen, Wendsley Road, Shrewsbury; Twelve small shallots: D. McClearly, Mere Close, Bomere Heath; Three stump carrots: S. Jones, Chyknell, Bridgnorth; Three courgettes: A. Owen, Wendsley Road, Shrewsbury; Five white potatoes: D. McClearly, Mere Close, Bomere Heath; Five coloured potatoes: D.A. Perry, Vennington, Westbury; Three round beet: A. Owen, Harlescott, Shrewsbury; A freak vegetable or fruit: V. Jarvis, Westfield, Yockleton; Six runner beans: D.A. Perry, Vennington, Westbury; Six pods of peas: D. McClearly, Mere Close, Bomere Heath; Two cucumbers: A. Jarvis, Mount, Shrewsbury; One lettuce with washed roots: S. Jones, Chyknell, Bridgnorth; Two vegetable marrows: V. Jarvis, Westfield, Yockleton; Five tomatoes: T. Potter; Five cherry tomatoes: S.M. Evans, Drury Lane, Minsterley; Three vegetables, one of each variety: D.A. Perry, Vennington, Westbury; A basket of mixed garden produce: S. Jones, Chyknell, Bridgnorth.

Eggs and preserves: Six brown eggs: M. Thomas; Six tinted eggs: C. Watson, Brockton, Worthen; Jar of blackcurrent jam: C. Watson, Brockton, Worthen; Jar of raspberry jam: B. Manning, Bank Farm, Minsterley; Jar of strawberry jam: V. Jarvis, Westfield, Yockleton; Jar of marmalade: T. Potter; Jar of honey: R. Jones, Basend, Cruckton.

Cookery: A decorated coffee cake, own recipe: R. Bromley; A loaf of bread made in a bread making machine: Kath Davies, Frodesley, Dorrington; Baileys topped potato chocolate cake recipe: J. Summers, Reabrook, Minsterley; Victoria sandwich, using three egg recipe: R. Galliers, Spring Close, Exfords Green; Plate of three muffins: J. Worth, Westbury; A plate of five cheese scones: M. Price, Westbury; An apple tart on a plate: S.R. Evans; A savoury quiche: S.M. Evans, Drury Lane, Minsterley; Lemon drizzle cake, own recipe: S. Griffiths, Wingfield, Pontesbury; Two cornish pasties: Ruth Roberts, Bank Farm, Minsterley; A round of shortbread: Mary Bayliss; A chocolate swiss roll: S. Griffiths, Wingfield, Pontesbury; All in one fruit cake: Ian Millington.

Home made wine: Bottle of dry white wine: E. Gilbert, Wolverhampton; Bottle of medium white wine: C. Burrows, Bilston, Wolverhampton; Bottle of sweet white wine: C. Burrows, Bilston, Wolverhampton;Bottle of dry red wine: W. Overton, Plox Green, Minsterley; Bottle of medium red wine: W. Overton, Plox Green, Minsterley; Bottle of sweet red wine: W. Overton, Plox Green, Minsterley; A miniature bottle of home made liqueur: W. Overton, Plox Green, Minsterley.

Art: An original oil painting: D. David; A landscape: D.L. Ray, Dorrington; A watercolour: D.L. Ray, Dorrington; A pen or pencil drawing: M. Richardson, Hill Cottage, The Bog, Minsterley.

Photographic classes: An animal photograph: A. Jones, Witley Road, Snailbeach: A black and white photograph, mounted: R. Drieson; A picture pair of two seasons: S. Pain, Halfway House; A humourous photograph with caption, mounted: R. Drieson; A close up photograph: K. Legge, Chirbury, Montgomery.

Handicraft: A handmade christmas card: D. Hamer, Llanymynech; An item of cross stitch: T. Jones, Ash Lea, Minsterley; A knitted scarf: V. Edwards, Whitefriars, Oswestry; An item of pottery: J. Bowen, Leaton, Bomere Heath.

Children's Classes: Finger painting, under three years: William Sadler; A picture to colour, three to five years: M. Cooke, Minsterley; A picture to colour: S. Gardner, Shrewsbury; An edible necklace: Holly Bayliss; Garden on a dinner plate: J. Cooke, Minsterley; A decorated wellington boot: K. Pritchard, Westbury; Handwriting, my favourite joke: H. Edwards; A pizza face: J. Wood, Pontesbury; Decorate a paper plate for a party: A. Pritchard, Westbury. Sock puppet: A. Bishton, Shrewsbury; A poster to promote health eating: J. Bason, Powys; A photograph happiness: L. Jones, Shrewsbury; plate of three chocolate brownies: R. Hayes, Dorrington; A free standing scarecrow: G. Davies, Yockleton.

Women's Institute Classes: Two items of cookery, one of preserve, theme Country Living: Great Ness Women's Institute; Three items of handicraft, theme Country Style: Great Ness Women's Institute.

By Rebecca Lawrence