A BLUSTERY day did nothing to deter the crowds of South Cumbria fair goers as they gathered in their masses at Cartmel Show to sample the country delights and agricultural spectacles.

A long queue snaked its way down the field from a Cumberland sausage van which claimed to offer 'the finest sausages you will ever taste!" and children gleefully broke apart fluffy clouds of pink candyfloss as they wandered through the stalls and marquees.

The show, which took place at Cartmel Racecourse yesterday, had everything from Working Hunter classes to junior wrestling.

Wrestling clubs from all over the county came to take part in the sport and accents from places like Carlisle could be heard among the local children.

The wrestling provided much entertainment with many children under the age of eight being matched against each other, the matches drew great shouts from the crowd as the little girls managed to slam their male opponents to the floor resulting and a final of two girls for the under eights - girl power!

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Plenty of well groomed ponies strutted their stuff in the ring as their riders put them through their paces in the showing classes and jumping classes. There were plenty of native breeds on show including Welsh ponies, Connemara ponies, Dartmoor ponies and Fell ponies as well as the more advanced riders who were entering their large show jumpers in the Senior Newcomers and Senior Foxhunters.

Up on the slope looking down upon the field the farmers and breeders gathered with their prize livestock. Andrew Butcher, a Councillor for the mid-Furness district and a sheep breeder from Ulverston won the prize for overall Texel Champion.

Mr Butcher said: "Sheep have always been my passion and I am really proud of the girl I brought to the show today. She is a three-year-old female and I've brought her to Cartmel Show twice before. She did well here as a lamb and then again as a shearling, now she has won overall champion I am absolutely thrilled.

"I have brought five sheep to show today and getting them ready takes quite a lot of preparation. Before the show we treat them like ladies before a night out, they get their hair sprayed, a spray tan and hair all washed and blow dried. Spraying their body a darker shade makes their faces look nice and white."

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There was lots of fun and high jinks from the Young Farmers as usual and they invited people forward to throw balls at their ducking stool If the balls found their mark the young farmers would drop from a height in to a barrel of cold water, much to the delight of the crowd.

Paul Morris, of Flookborough, a member of the Cartmel Young Farmers got his fair share of dunkings as children were helped along at close range to hit the trigger and tip up his stool.

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There were also plenty of traditional sights to see during the day including the Furness Morris Men who put on another spectacular set of routines for a crowd of onlookers and encouraged youngsters to get involved to keep their tradition alive.

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Another traditional stall was owned by Owen Jones, who makes Oak Swill baskets and lives in Spout Meadow at High Nibthwaite. He said: "I go around all of the local agricultural shows and Cartmel is always a brilliant one.

The baskets I make would have once been used in industry on farm yards and such like but now they are much more of a domestic, novelty purchase. People really like them for washing baskets or for shopping."

Along with the Vale of Lune Harriers and heavy horses who had their manes braided with red, white and blue ribbons the show ticked all the boxes for a perfect country day out for all the family.