THE Lowick Show 20 years ago was greeted with blue skies and organisers of this year’s event on Saturday, September 7, will be hoping for a repeat.

Our 1999 pictures from The Mail’s archive give a taste of the annual country showcase for the Crake Valley which this year will include classes for cattle and sheep, horses and ponies,horticulture, home produce and handicrafts.

The show, with origins stretching back more than 150 years, will also feature wrestling, hill and track races, hound trails, plus pet and working sheepdog contests.

The Mail, on Monday, September 6 in 1999, noted that Dalton teenager Joan Mutton won the prize for best calf while her father David won the class for best dairy cow in milk.

Furness farmer George Long, of Mill Brow, had the best beef animal at Lowick and said: “We like to come to the Lowick Show and support these local events.”

Among the show visitors were Toby the tawny owl, George the barn owl and Tikka the bengal owl from the Owl Centre at Muncaster Castle.

Head keeper Mark Stevenson wanted to raise concerns about dangers to the barn owl from drivers.

He said: “We are losing thousands a year on the roads.”