Video Loading

A mix of the old and the new proved a winning recipe for Honley Show.

Traditional country show classes and demonstrations rubbed shoulders with high-tech gizmos and gleaming sports cars to delight the crowds flocking to the showground at Farnley Tyas.

And a heavy shower mid-morning failed to dampen enthusiasm; organisers reckon the Show brought in more than 12,000 people throughout the course of a long day.

Warm and dry days in the run-up to the show left the Moor Lane showground in spectacular condition and enabled the organisers, all volunteers, to stage another successful event.

The Show, which began life back in 1921, has always prided itself on its traditional roots and that was clearly to the fore in many of the livestock and animal classes.

Youngsters watched in fascination as breeders in the cattle section readied their beasts for the parade ring.

And they were astounded to learn that the secret to a good-lucking beast is a lot of back-combing at the rear end and liberal applications of hairspray!

The pigs were another success, back at the show in numbers.

Breeds such as Tamworths and Hanmpshires delighted the crowds and they were enamoured by one of the youngest “stars” in three-year-old handler Alfie Holding, who joined his mum in the parade ring.

After the parade, many of the pigs flopped down on straw beds in the heat of the marquee. They included a huge and heavily-pregnant sow, due to give birth to up to 10 piglets very shortly and entered in the Show by Kay Spencer, of Hade Edge.

“It’s tiring for them when they are being transported to and from the Show, and it’s very hot in the tent, but she has been a real star”.

The sheep section was also busy with a record number of entries.

Youngsters were able to get up close and personal with petting lambs and a variety of breeds, including Texels, Ryelands and Whitefaced Woodlands.

They also enjoyed watching experienced shepherds wrestle with 80kg Suffolks, to get them into line for the judging.

Sheep secretary Sally Hampshire, who runs it with daughter Richi, said: “We have got the highest number of entries ever and we have had to get in touch with Penistone Show to borrow another 120 barriers for the pens.

“It is great to see the youngsters being able to see the sheep up so close, even though we and they have to be very careful. Some of these are very strong animals and we had a few escapees”.

Away from the livestock section there was massive crowds lining up for the motorcycle race simulator and to clamber over souped-up quad bikes in the trade stands section.

Visitors were treated to a mini shopping mall with dozens of stalls offering everything from plastic grass to wooden ducks, from strawberries and cream to swirling hot tubs.

In the main arena, the events included birds of prey, hilarious sheep racing, a parade of old and new tractors and a performance by volunteers from Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team. Fittingly, just three weeks before the Tour de France hits town, there was a show by Holmfirth Cycling Club.

And another big hit was the Blackpool Circus School, run by former juggler and unicyclist Yuri Gridneff, of Russia, and his wife Tonia.

They helped youngsters learn skills, such as unicycling, stilt walking and diablo.

New president Charles Kaye, who had taken over from the late Allen Turner, said: “I think it has all gone very well and I’m delighted to see so many people enjoying themselves.

“I have had a look round all the stalls, the exhibits and the marquees and the crowds have been there.

“We have something special here but we need to retains our roots as an agricultural show while trying to find something different each time.

“It is only through the hard work of so many volunteers that we can put on an event of this scale and I hope people continue to appreciate it”.

Click here to see a fantastic gallery of reader pictures.

Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here

To follow us on Twitter click here