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CHILLY weather and a reduced turnout of cattle did not stop thousands of people descending on Bridge End for the 199th Otley Show on Saturday.

Ten thousand people came through the gates to see horses, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, produce and handicrafts on show, as well as well as demonstrations of traditional rural skills.

The biggest - and loudest - attraction in the main ring was two performances by motorbike stunt team James Dylan's Stuntworld, who sped through blazing hay bales and performed huge leaps over a car.

Show organisers had earlier in the year feared that livestock movement restrictions to combat animal disease bluetongue would put paid to the presence of any sheep or cattle at this year's show. Although the show was given the all-clear to have cattle and sheep, the cattle numbers in particular were hit by animal movement restrictions around the country.

In some classes, this meant that some exhibitors had no competition from other farmers. However, for the spectators, there was the chance to see a good variety of different breeds, including some rare breeds on display.

In contrast to the previous two weekends, the morning of the show met with cool, overcast weather, and there was the inevitable rain shower in the afternoon, which left the main ring wet in time for the second motorbike stunt display.

The crowds came well prepared for rain, however, and many people stayed around the main ring through the afternoon.

The Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hunt and the Airedale Beagles invited youngsters into the main ring to meet the hounds, another popular attraction with families. A Grand Parade of champion cattle and horses came into the ring to collect their trophies in the afternoon, before the ring was transformed into a showjumping arena for the rest of the day.

Organisers are now looking ahead to next year's event, the landmark 200th Otley Show.

12:39pm Monday 19th May 2008

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