Showing off the county

Last updated 11:44, Monday, 21 July 2008

THE winner on the day was the show itself. Presenting the very best of Cumbria, the Cumberland County Show was a triumph of organisation, presentation, participation and pride.

In Carlisle’s Rickerby Park on Saturday thousands turned out to celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage and excellence on which so much of the county’s economy relies.

Throughout the day the delights and diversity of rural life, along with that special spirit which binds together communities in a common purpose of promoting and enjoying Cumbrian life, took centre stage.

The weather may have halted other county shows, credit squeeze gloom might have cast shadows over others but the Cumberland rose above all hitches, glitches and indicators of slow-down to show anything is possible with pride, imagination, entrepreneurship, high quality and determined hard work.

Show chairman Alan Irving described it as one of the best shows ever seen in Carlisle. The grand parade of champions was his personal highlight as a reflection of the exceptional quality of Cumbrian livestock.

That was certainly true but throughout the day all aspects of farming, food production, the skills of rural craftsmen and talents of county sportsmen and women combined to showcase jubilantly the finest of all Cumbria has to offer.