Crowds flock to Moreton show (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Crowds flock to Moreton show

SWELTERING sunshine helped draw in a bumper crowd at this year's annual Moreton-in-Marsh Show.

Moreton-in-Marsh and District Agricultural and Horse Show Society, which organises the annual one-day event, does not yet know the 55th show's attendance figure but believes it could surpass the 20,000 record.

Among the Cotswolds' leading agricultural events, it was held at its usual venue - Moreton Showground, Batsford Road.

The National Show of Poll Hereford cattle attracted 156 entries, the highest since 1986, while entries for the rare breed sheep classes grew to 164.

The poultry tent thronged with chickens and ducks, while the goat marquee thrived and a goat milking competition proved successful.

Organic vegetables and cheeses, breads, chutneys, buffalo and sheep milk ice cream, pickles, nuts, teas, herbs, spices, pies, sauces and meats, which included bison burgers, were among mainly local foods sold in a retail marquee.

There were livestock and show jumping competitions, while a home and garden section featured baking, handicrafts, flowers, vegetables and floral art.

Entertainment in the attractions area included the Kangaroo Kid's final United Kingdom performances, along with the Vander Brothers Triple Wheel of Death and Jez Avery's Mountain Bike Stunt Show.

Show secretary, Tim Gardner, said the show had recovered since 2000, when it was cancelled because of the foot and mouth epidemic.

He said: "It went extremely well.

"We had more horses then ever - we broke the 1,000 barrier of showing horses. The harvest this year's pretty much done, which is not always so. That improved the attendance of farmers very considerably."