THINGS were so hot at the Cartmel Agricultural Society Show in August 1995 that they even had to cool the cows down.
In scorching heat more than 9,000 visitors flocked through the gates to watch show jumping and dog racing, admire prize bulls and top-quality vegetables, or just sit in the shade and listen to the Barrow St Andrew’s Pipe Band.
But while the crowds basked in the sunshine, soaking up the atmosphere of country life, the heat brought practical problems for some farmers.
TWIZZLE: John Battersby, of Scales Farm, Scales, with supreme champion of show, the heifer Twizzlefoot Conquest Vall at Cartmel Show in 1995
Many of the cows in competition had to be swathed in wet towels to keep them cool.
“When they’re tethered up, they can’t walk around or get in the shade,” said Aldingham farmer John Dennison.
“The wet towels seem to do the trick and as you can see they all look really happy.”
The society had been set up 117 years previously.
Shepherd James Airey, who helped run the family farm in Kirkby Lonsdale, said: “The competition is very fierce and the standard of the show is very high.
CHAMP: Katie-Jo Walling, of Crosthwaite, with the longhorn bull which was the champion in the any other breed section at Cartmel Show in 1995
“But it’s a social thing too because there are always a lot of people you know here.
“It’s hard preparation and we all want to win the competition but at the end of the day we’ll all go off for a beer together.”
Richard and Margaret Robinson, who ran Longlands Farm at Dalton with the help of their daughter Judith, won four out of six trophies in the goat show, including best exhibit and best kid.
Ulverston horse woman Caroline Shuttleworth was delighted when her steed won a top prize at the show.
Catherine, 25, who helped her parents run Far Mountbatten Farm, had spent more than six hours just before the show grooming her 17 hand brood mare Styal Sabrina.
SILVER: Judge Eddie Hutchings inspects a young black silver fox rabbit at Cartmel Show in 1995
The horse was at the show with her three-month-old foal Bruno and picked up first prize in the Brood Mare with Foal at Foot category.
Organisers made sure that the show would appeal to a wide audience
A death slide, bouncy castle and a host of stalls and displays meant there was plenty to see and do.
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