Supreme Beef Champion, Just Luck showed by Phillip Price receiving his award from the event's Patron, Lady Halifax

Organisers of the Countryside Live Food and Farming Fair held this weekend (29 and 30 October) have announced record breaking attendance figures. The event, which is in its third year, had some 8,559 visitors through the gate, more than 25 per cent up on last year's figure of 6,773.

Held at the Yorkshire Event Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, Countryside Live combined cattle and sheep classes with cookery demonstrations, dozens of stands selling Yorkshire fare as well as Christmas gifts and demonstrations of country skills such as barrel and harness making. The Show is organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director said: "We've had a super show, it just gets better and better. We were disappointed earlier in the week to lose the poultry and pigeon classes but the support we've had from the farming community and the public has been tremendous. The show is an ideal way of linking the two. Now the work starts for next year."

The Dale family from Howden were celebrating after 11 year old Katie, 10 year old Mark and Jenny aged 8 won the Saddle of Lamb section in the National Festival of Meat. Their mother, Mrs Joanne Dale said: "They're absolutely thrilled to bits. The sheep are theirs - they choose the lambs and look after them, and pay the entry fees when they compete."

Judge Alan Traves commented: "It's great to see the younger generation taking part; theirs was an exceptional entry, all credit to them because the standard here is extremely high." The prize for the Champion Beef Ribs entry went to Keith Fairhurst of Austwick near Settle.

Ann-Marie Brown of Longside Farm, Ramsgill, Pateley Bridge proved that when it comes to stock judging, she has a good eye for what makes a champion. She won the overall competition in the senior section and also came first in the beef judging. Ann-Marie is a member of Nidderdale Young Farmers Club.

Eleven year old Hannah Brown of Newton le Willows, Bedale had reason to celebrate in the sheep section as she took the overall reserve championship and the Champion and Reserve for best pair of lambs shown by a Yorkshire exhibitor. The Supreme Sheep Championship went to Robin Slade of Hereford with a homebred Dutch Texel. He also took the top award in the Continental pairs. Robin judged the sheep section at the first Countryside Live event in 2003 and this was his 40th championship in 29 years of breeding Texels.

In the competitive cattle section classes the Limousins swept the board with Phillip Price's "Just Luck" taking the top prize. The home bred Limousin cross heifer won the Supreme Championship, beating the champion steer, also a Limousin cross, "Uncle Joe" shown by Neil Slack of Penrith into Reserve. She weighed in at 554kgs.

For Mr Price the journey from his home in Hay on Wye was more than worthwhile, with "Just Luck" being described by the judge Barry Alsop as "exceptional. and just what the butcher needs today." It was her first championship award, having been placed first in her class at the 2005 Royal Welsh Show. Mr Price farms 80 acres with 100 Texel cross and 50 suckler cows. The next outing for "Just Luck" will be the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Standing Reserve, Neil Slack's "Uncle Joe" was first in his class at the Great Yorkshire Show this year and Champion at Westmorland County Show. Mr Slack also had success at the Countryside Live 2004 when he took the reserve championship.

At the end of judging, Mr Alsop described the standard of cattle at the event superb. "I can honestly say the quality was outstanding, it's the best competition I have judged for consistency of quality. There could have been half a dozen champions here today and no one could have grumbled. There isn't a bad beast on the showground."

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