AFTER its forced absence last year through foot and mouth disease, Kilnsey's 105th agricultural show came back this week with interest.

Unbroken sunshine, a wealth of trade stands and exhibits of the highest standards - including the all important sheep and cattle - were more than enough to sate the hungry show-goers.

And there were many appetites to appease with around 13,000 visitors flocking to the Dales' beauty spot to support the show, splash in the River Wharfe, enjoy a picnic and admire the stamina of the fell runners in the searing heat.

It was fitting that this jubilee year event was blessed with glorious sunshine, not only to compensate for the 2001 blight, but as a reflection of the show's first ever staging in 1897, also said to be a resounding success and, coincidentally, Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.

A special licence from DEFRA meant sheep and cattle were able to make a comeback, and although cloven hoof numbers were down, not surprisingly, on previous years, the standards were as high as ever.

For Stephen Fawcett of Dale Head Farm, Barden, it was a particularly good show with his Blue Faced Leicester ram lamb, J1 Dalehead out of a Y2 Riddings' ewe, taking the title of best local animal in the breed.

Foot and mouth disease had clawed at his family's farm boundary twice last year and twice didn't make it over the fence.

"We were lucky," said Mr Fawcett who exhibited under K Fawcett and Sons. "If we had got the disease and lost the 11-year-old blood line we would never have got it back."

President Russell Carlisle, who, with his wife Beatrice, officiated at this year's show said he was delighted at its resounding success, made possible through the hard work of the committee members and behind-the-scenes workers.

"The weather obviously made it and it would have been cruel if it had rained, but we were very pleased to see so many people there enjoying themselves. It was an excellent show with some excellent exhibits, particularly in the beef section," he said.

Someone who will agree with that observation is Ken Gamble of Blackburn House Farm, Thorpe. His Belgian Blue heifer won best animal in the local beef section and earned him another piece of silverware for the mantlepiece. But his winning was tinged with sadness in that his prize animal was not from his own bloodstock.

His farm became an FMD statistic last year and his exhibits this year were all imports.

He told the Herald: "It's not like showing your own stock. When it's your own there's some pride behind it. I would have had bloodlines for years, but it's a good start."

He added that the start of the show season had made him feel he was back in farming after all the trauma of last year.

Local dairy farmers had their share of the silverware with Bentham's Robert and Elaine Butterfield taking the supreme dairy champion and best animal in the open pedigree dairy cattle section with Joylan Asta.

Show chairman Ronnie Metcalfe said he was proud of the way the area had rallied round after last year's farming disaster which, he said, was reflected in the quality of the exhibits. He was particularly pleased with the high number of walking sticks.

Mr Metcalfe thanked all sponsors who had continued to support the show.

Kilnsey was blessed by sunny weather, which so cruelly deserted Malhamdale three days earlier, to help entice visitors back to the showpiece of the Dales calendar.