ANKLE deep mud and soggy tents did not deter crowds from attending one of south Cumbria's biggest shows.

Westmorland Show drew its usual eclectic mix of visitors both local and from further afield.

Whether they were in the market for buying a new chainsaw or just having a wander to the Belgian chocolate strawberry stall, people had a fantastic day.

The usual bouts of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling between local clubs took place and both girls and boys were warming up on the muddy sidelines.

Ben Brocklebank, 21, from Wharton, and Michaela Evans, 13, from Kendal were both confident of securing wins in their respective age classes.

Michaela said: “I took up wrestling three years ago because a lot of my friends were in Kendal Wrestling Club.

My granddad used to wrestle too and I really enjoy it. I'm in the under-17 girls category now and I love doing all the agricultural shows like this one.”

Ben, who won the title for World Champion Under 14 Stone, said: “I go up and down the country competing in shows. Today and Cartmel Show were two of my favourites this year. I've been wrestling since I was six and winning World Champion feels amazing.”

The show field was full of trade stands dealing in tractors and farming machinery.

Harry Armer and his son Angus travelled from Baycliff with their trade stand for Henry Armer, which is based in Greenodd and Leece.

Harry said: “It isn't necessarily a bad thing that it's been raining and the weather has meant more of the farmers have come away from their farms to visit the show and that's good for business.

"Our best sellers are often our chainsaws. We have been to all the shows this summer and this weekend we will be at the game fair in Garstang.”

Over in the livestock pens a family from Holmrook Farm at Seascale, near Bootle, enjoyed success with their home-bred sheep.

Victoria Watson attended the show with her parents Julia and Barry Watson to show their prize sheep.

Victoria won the prize for Champion Shetland and her dad Barry won the prize for Champion Blue Leicester.

Victoria said: “The Shetlands are on the primitive breeds list and the Blue Leicesters are now on the rare breeds list. We are planning on breeding them together to create a hybrid mule too. Among my Shetland sheep are Georgina, Fergus and Blake, I spent quite a while getting them ready for today and I am very pleased with the results.”

Children were enthralled by the displays of birds of prey and pony club classes such as equitation, working hunter and show jumping, which went ahead regardless of the weather.

Dog lovers were in their element as the number of different dog breeds must have been in the hundreds.

Among the competitors were Annie and Sissi the British bulldogs, Haru the three-legged toy poodle, Tinks the Chihuahua, Dexter the wheaten terrier and Teddy and Kaya the cocker spaniels.

Windermere-based equestrian Simon Buckley was out supporting the show jumping and watching 24-year-old Charlotte Arnold, who travelled from Sedgefield to compete.

Simon, 33, sold his chestnut show jumper Rupert to Charlotte a few years ago.

In the cattle tents, Martin Barker and his girlfriend Rebecca Johnston, from Appleby, were celebrating a big win with their cow Fizzy Lizzy who won the prize for cross-breed champion.

Martin said: “This prize has been a long time coming, we've been to this show a lot hoping for a first prize and we have finally achieved it.

"We got Fizzy Lizzy all ready this morning giving her a good brush and using a hair gel and other products.”