Red letter day as Kilnsey Show goes ahead

Here Robin Moule writes of the highlights all 13,000-plus visitors were able to witness as they enjoyed the area’s biggest one-day agricultural show and sports.

THIS year was the 124th Kilnsey Show & Sports. The showpiece event - the highlight and finale of the Yorkshire Dales agricultural show calendar - was returning after an enforced break last year due to the pandemic.

Special Covid-safe restrictions were put in place by organisers Upper Wharfedale Agricultural Society. With sold entry levels across all classes, it attracted a bumper attendance, with a new advance online ticket sales proving a runaway success with no less that 7,200 pre-show sales.

The event had been eagerly anticipated and the tailback of cars on the road heading towards Kilnsey was testament to this.

The livestock element was just as eagerly anticipated. Supreme champions among multiple breed champions were crowned in the keynote livestock classes.

Overall supreme champion sheep was the champion Bluefaced Leicester from James Stenton, who runs the St Ravenscar pedigree flock in Thornton-le-Dale, Ryedale.

The 1-crop ewe was bred by Tom Willoughby’s renowned Penhill flock in Redmire – it was acquired by the Stentons as a gimmer lamb - and is by a James Porter, Reeth, tup, itself by Carryhouse Jackpot. The same ewe also stood supreme champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show.

Show regular and multiple past champion Charles Marwood, who runs the Foulrice pedigree Charoollais flock in Whenby, York, saw his class victor, a 2-shear ewe by a Dalby Sherman son, out of one of the best ewes in the flock who is among the top index in the flock (not breed), tapped out as reserve supreme sheep champion.

The overall commercial cattle title fell to local father and son, John and John Stephenson, of Bordley Green Farm, Bordley, with their twelve-and-a-half-month-old Blonde-x heifer, out of a British Blue-x-Limousin cow. They also won the local championship with a Blue-x-Limousin heifer, as well as standing reserve British Blue champions.

The reserve supreme commercial championship fell to the champion Beef Shorthorn from J Wilson & J Dunning, of Runley Mill, Settle. Their rising two-year-old heifer. Runley Mill Fancy Nettie, a well-bred daughter of Blelack Secret Sword, is herself carrying her first calf to Glenisla Jack Frost.

The supreme dairy championship once again fell to brothers William and Michael Oldfield, who run the Whinhill pedigree Holstein herd at Demesne Farm, Newsholme, and it proved a notable hat-trick as they also clinched the title in both 2018 and 2019 when the last ‘live’ show was staged. Their latest victor is a well-utilised fifth calver cow, Aireburn Mogul Pearloma, bred locally in Bell Busk by Brian and Judith Moorhouse.

One of the undoubted highlights of the entire day was yet another win and a very comfortable one at that in the Kilnsey Crag seniors race for living legend Ted Mason, of Appletreewick. Ted, a member of Whardedale Harriers, is a multiple past winner of the famous race - his last success came in 2016. His latest runaway victory was all the more remarkable as he is now in his early 40s.

Show chairman Chris Windle made a special presentation to former long-serving former secretary, Kathy Lambert, whose husband Robert - he himself served as chairman for many years - was savouring his first year as show president on what proved a very special day for the couple, the occasion of their 26th wedding anniversary. They farm at Mile House, Conistone-with-Kilnsey, and three generations of the Lambert family gathered together for the first time in several years to form the presidential party.

The main trophy winners available from the show committee when going to press are below.

SECTION A – SHEEP

Exhibitor winning most points in the Dalesbred and Masham Classes: STRATHALLEN SILVER CHALLENGE CUP – D Lambert.

Best Animal in the Dalesbred Ram, two-shear and over and Shearling Ram Classes: AIREDALE BEAGLES PERPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP – J Bradley.

Best Animal in the Dalesbred Ewe or Dalesbred Gimmer Classes: UPPER WHARFEDALE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY LOCAL CHALLENGE CUP – J Bradley.

Best Animal in the Dalesbred Section: BERNIE CLOSE MEMORIAL CUP – J Bradley.

Competitor gaining the most points with OPEN Swaledale Classes at Gargrave, Malham and Kilnsey Shows: TENNANT GILL CUP – T.W Cowperthwaite.

For the Best Animal in the Swaledale Classes: DENNIS MANBY – R Hallam.

For the Best Animal in the Teeswater Section: BRADLEY CHANDLER TROPHY – D Newbould.

For the Best Two Masham Gimmer Lambs: W.M DALTON CUP – S Benson.

For the Best Animal in the Masham Section: CHALLENGE CUP – S.G Benson.

For the Best Animal in the Blue Faced Leicester Section: JAMES LAMBERT CUP – J Stenton.

For the Best Local, Mule Gimmer Lamb: DICK FOSTER TROPHY – C.D & R.F Kitching.

For the Best Animal in the Mule Section: SJ VERITY MEMORIAL CUP – JC Walker & Son.

For the Best Animal in the Any Other Pure Breed Section: KILNSEY SHOW TROPHY – E McKelchnie.

For the Best Female in the Texel Section: BOB NEWBY TROPHY – J Perrings.

For the Best Single Texel Ram Lamb: BINNS TROPHY – J Perrings.

For the Best Animal in the Texel Section: PERRINGS FAMILY TROPHY – J Perrings.

For the Best Animal in the Beltex Section: WINDLE BEECH WINTHROP TROPHY – W Beckwith.

For the Best Animal in the Jacob Section: JACS TRADE & DIY TROPHY – G Haworth.

For the Best Animal in the Gritstone Section: J.LORD CUP – K & S Kempson & Sons.

For the Best Animal in the Lonk Section: SCRIVIN CUP – K & S Kempson & Sons.

For the Best Pair in Prime Lambs Section: G.H JACKSON CUP – M & B Allen.

For the Best Animal in the Zwartbles Section: THE JOAN BARKER SHIELD – M & B Allen.

For the Champion Charollais Sheep: WELLINGTON TROPHY – C.W Marwood.

SECTION B – CATTLE

For the Best Heifer in Milk: HERBERT WALKER – D Booth.

For the Best Cow in Milk: ERIC PENNOCK MEMORIAL TROPHY – W & M Oldfield.

For the Holstein Friesian Champion: UPPER WHARFEDALE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY TROPHY – W & M Oldfield.

For the winner of the Commercial Beef Young Handler, 12 and under – J H HUTTON CUP - 

For the Jersey Champion: W F BANKS CUP – E Sugden.

For the winner of the Dairy Young Handler Class: J M DAGGETT CUP – T Hird.

For the Supreme Dairy Champion: JEFF DIBB MEMORIAL TROPHY – W & M Oldfield.

For the winner of the Commercial Beef Young Handler, 13-16 years: TILCON TROPHY – R Mudd & C.N Bentley.

For the Best Local Animal in the Commercial Beef Section: TOWNSON TRACTORS TROPHY – J Stephenson.

For the best Animal in the Commercial Beef Section: THE ROBERTS SILVER CHALLENGE CUP – J Stephenson.

For the best animal in the Limousin Cattle Section: UPPER WHARFEDALE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY CHALLENGE CUP – A Atkins.

Best Animal in the British Blue Section: UPPER WHARFEDALE BARCLAYS CHALLENGE CUP – M Ewbank.

For the Best Animal in the Any Other Pure Continental Breed Section: CARRS BILLINGTON CHALLENGE CUP – J Foster.

SECTION C – HORSES AND HEAVY HORSES

For the Best Brood Mare with Foal at foot: GEORGE HUCK MEMORIAL TROPHY – F & J Pickles.

For the Best Foal: P.W BEDFORD CUP – C Wilkins.

For the best heavy horse under 3 years old: GEORGE CRELLAN CUP – S & D Green.

For the Best Animal in the Shire Horse Section: PETER CLARKE AUTOS TROPHY – R & R Bedford.

For the Best Retrained Race Horse: COUNTRYWIDE FLAME TROPHY – S Drake.

For the Best Ridden Hunter: GEORGIANA TROPHY – K Braithwaite.

For the Mountain and Moorland Champion: WYMINGBROOK STUD SHIELD – E Burrow.

SECTION D - PRODUCE

Awarded for the competitor gaining the most points in the Local Bread, Cake and Preserves Section: PEPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP: KITCHING CHALLENGE CUP (LOCAL) – J Carlisle.

Awarded for the competitor gaining the most points in the Open Bread, Cake and Preserves Section: PEPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP KITCHING CHALLENGE CUP (OPEN) – R Sayles.

For the Best Entry in the Cake Classes: SUSAN GRAVESTON TROPHY – R Sayles.

For competition in the fourteen Children’s Classes: PEPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP, J.W. DAGGETT – G Pearson.

SECTION E - HANDICRAFTS

For the Best Exhibit in the Four childrens art classes: G.NORTGATE CHALLENGE CUP – A Hall.

A pressed flower bookmark by child under 12 years: JAMES PROCTOR CUP (LOCAL) – K Doherty.

For the best handwriting 5-7 years: MILE HOUSE TROPHY – E Green.

For the best handwriting 8-11 years: THE LAMBERT CUP – A Smith.

A Model Made from Recycled materials, classes E22&23: YORKSHIRE DALES SOCIETY CHALLENGE CUP – S Charnley.

Awarded for the Best exhibit in the Children’s Photography Classes: CHRISTOPHER WINPENNY PHOTOGRAPHY SILVER PLATE – J Tywang.

For best local exhibit in the Photography Classes: WINPENNY PHOTGRAPHY CUP (LOCAL) – J Carlisle.

For the best Open Exhibit in the Photography Classes: CHRISTOPHER WINPENNY PHOTOGRAPHY CUP (CANDELABRA) OPEN) - J Carlisle.

For the best exhibit in the Local Adult Handicrafts Section: WENDY RILEY TROPHY (LOCAL) – N Smith.

For the best exhibit in the Open Adult Handicrafts Section: WENDY RILEY TROPHY (OPEN) – S Spence.

For the best exhibit in the Adults Handicrafts Section: MRS J M RILEY TROPHY – A Pearman-Webb.

SECTION F – HORTICULTURE

For the most points awarded in the Open Horticulture Section: HARRY THOMPSON ROSE BOWL – J Smiles.

For the most points awarded in the Local Horticulture Section: J W HEBDEN – R Harrison.

For the best exhibit in the Local Horticulture Section: THOMAS HEBDEN METCALFE (LOCAL) – P Brennan.

For the best Nine Sweet Peas exhibit: STANLEY LYTHE MEMORIAL VASE – J Smiles.

For the most points awarded in Classes F39&F40: CHARNLEY TROPHY (OPEN) – L Hall.

For the best arrangement in show: VIOLET NELSON ROSEBOWL – L Hall.

SECTION G – OPEN AGRICULTURE

For the best Single Sheep Dog or Bitch: RONNIE METCALFE MEMORIAL TROPHY – S Barcroft.

For the best exhibit in the Stick Section: ERLEY PRODUCTS & ACORN WIREWORKS CUP – A Warwick.

For the winner of the Dry Stone Walling Open Section: HENDERSON SILVER CHALLENGE TROPHY – J Kidd.

For the winner of the Dry Stone Walling Junior Section: YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK SHIELD – J Charnley.

For the best Vintage Tractor: THE THRESHFIELD QUARRY TROPHY – S Baldwin.

For the Best original Vintage Tractor: THE NATHAN GERRARD EASTWOOD CUP – A Shepherd.

FIELD SPORTS & FELL RACES

For the winner of the Metric Mile Handicap: PAUL STAINFORTH CUP – A Thompson.

For the Junior Under 12 Crag Race Winner: SCHINDLER TROPHY – J Dent.

For the First girl/boy in the Under 12 Crag Race: ‘SANDS’ TROPHY – I Jebb.

For the First Local boy in the Under 12 Crag Race: RAWSON TROPHY – I Reeday.

For the First Girl in the Junior 14-under 17 Crag Race: BOFRA TROPHY – A Lane.

For the winner of the Junior 14-under 17 Crag Race: ROGER INGHAM CUP – W Hall.

For the first girl in the Age 12-under 14 Crag Race: DAVID HIRD TROPHY – M Jebb.

For the first local boy in the 12-14 Crag Race: FATTORINI CUP – C Caygill.

For the winner of the Age 12-under 14 Crag Race: FOSTER TROPHY – J Sanders

For the winner of the Senior Crag Race: MRS JAMES PROCTER CUP – T Mason.

For the first Local Runner to finish the senior Crag Race: THE MALCOLM “CAG” THOMPSON MEMORIAL TROPHY – T Mason.

Any late trophy results will be added as they are given to us.