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Thursday, 15 August, 2002, 16:52 GMT 17:52 UK
Show attracts record numbers
Flint & Denbigh show
Thousands of people attended the show ground
This year's Denbigh and Flint agricultural show has been hailed a success by event organisers.

The one-day spectacular was called off last year because of the foot-and-mouth crisis but it is estimated that thousands of people attended the field on Thursday.

Karen and Jodie Biddle
Karen and Jodie Biddle enjoyed the show

Tom Stephenson, Chairman of Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society, said the event had been a resounding success.

"The treasurer won't commit himself on attendance figures but he's very pleased with the turnout.

"We have more exhibitors than ever and we've been taking stand exhibits up to yesterday.

"Being a no show last year, people were ready this year and they have supported the agricultural industry."


We're quite interested in having a look at the animals and it's the type of place that you bump into everybody

Karen Biddle visitor

Mr Stephenson still runs a farm in Flint and says the industry needs agricultural events.

"Farming has changed dramatically and the countryside's changing and I feel it would be a disaster for these type of shows to fold."

Many farmers attended the event on their way back from the Anglesey show earlier this week.

However, Peter Ralphs who was at the show judging the rabbit exhibits said the Anglesey and Pembrokeshire shows could have limited the amount of visitors to north Wales

Farmer, Chris Martindale
Chris Martindale won two prizes with his cattle

"The entries are down compared with the usual show here and that's probably down to the fact that we have a lot of shows throughout Wales this week," he said.

The show has been hailed as a family event with a fun fair and vintage car display drawing in the youngsters.

Karen Biddle, from Nannerch near Mold, was at the show with her two daughters: "We're quite interested in having a look at the animals and it's the type of place that you bump into everybody.

"I haven't been for a couple of years but it's a really good day out."

Her fourteen-year-old daughter Jodie added: "It's a really nice atmosphere here, I'd really like to go and see the bulls."

This year saw a smaller than normal cattle entry because of the restrictions placed on farmers.

Peter Ralphs has been a judge for 40-years
Peter Ralphs has been a judge for 40-years

Chris Martindale, from St Martin's in Oswestry, brought pedigree cattle and won a first and second prize.

He said it is still a difficult time for beef farmers: "Shows this year have been very difficult because we have a lot of regulations to put up with."

He added: "We've had to have these three animals that we've brought isolated all year so it is a little bit of hassle.

"If people can't isolate their stock they wont come to the show, which means exhibitors are down."

However, organisers hope the warm weather and improved attendance figures will encourage people to come back next year.


More from north east Wales
See also:

14 Aug 02 | Wales
08 Aug 02 | Wales
03 Jul 02 | Wales
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