The sun finally came out and so did all the crowds at Otley's 197th show.

Dark clouds and torrential rain eventually gave way to sunshine on Saturday as the one-day agricultural event got underway.

Show organiser Janet Raw said showground stewards coped admirably as the field turned into a soggy quagmire.

And she praised the faithful thousands of visitors who still turned up to enjoy the day out. "The stewards did an admirable job getting exhibitors on and off the field, considering the conditions and thankfully people were patient.

"There were thousands through the gates but numbers were down, we can't really compare them to the last two years because we had wonderfully, warm days and it's just not the same."

But now organisers are counting the cost of the event which will run into a loss because of the bad weather.

Mrs Raw said: "Inevitably there will be a loss because of the expense of staging such a show but despite the weather the show still went on and most exhibitors went away happy."

She said once the clean-up operation had been completed and tents dismantled, the show committee would assess the state of the field which it loans.

"It is a quagmire and we will have to take a good look at it and what it will cost us. We will have to sort it out with the owner of the land." Despite the earlier downpours, hundreds of competitors brought their livestock along for the cattle, sheep, horse, goat, rabbit and bird competitions. And others whisked up success in cake and handicraft classes.

Spectators tried hard to ignore the mud to watch dog shows and birds of prey displays, pony club games and even a comedy quadbike routine. Despite fears of avian flu, the popular poultry, pigeon and waterfowl classes went ahead.

Entertainment on the field included a mobile climbing wall, bouncy castles and a dry stone walling demonstration.

Only the showjumping events had to be cancelled said Mrs Raw.

Saturday's rain also failed to stop fundraisers for Bradford Nightstop in their tracks.

Supporters of the charity, which provides emergency accommodation for homeless young people, joined in a fun walk around Lister Park.

Ilkley had a vintage double-take when two classic car rallies set off from its centre.

Meanwhile, more than 60 competitors turned up for Ilkley & District Motor Club's Classic Reliability Trial which set off and finished at the town's rugby club. The cars covered scenic routes taking in Fewston, Stride Wood and Langbar on the way.

And drivers had an early getaway from Booths Supermarket when 42 of them turned up for The Craven Old Wheels Society's sixth annual coast run to Southport. The oldest car competing was a 1923 Bentley.

And The Sun Hotel in Shipley pushed ahead with its barrel push on Sunday. Two teams rolled barrels around 12 pubs in the town, and in nearby Saltaire to raise cash for Bradford Royal Infirmary's special baby care unit.

Pub manager Sarah Hallaways said: "Everyone was up for it, even though it was chucking it down."

And a novelty dog show in aid of the Dogs' Trust still went ahead at the back of the Causeway Foot Inn, Ogden, near the reservoir.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk