Countryside Live, the region's leading autumn rural event, notched up another record breaking attendance. Organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, announced that a total of 9,282 visitors had come through the gates compared with last year's figure of 8,559.

Lady Halifax, the event's Patron presenting the Supreme Championship Award to stockman Neil Lloyd and owner Elfed Williams of Powys with "Bambi", a 14 month old Limousin cross heifer

Launched four years ago, the two-day event has grown year on year, combining a fun day out for the family with a showcase for the farming industry.

Chief Executive Nigel Pulling said: "We have had a superb two days and the record gate figure is proof that there is a real interest in country matters and in where our food comes from. We began with what was essentially a pure farming event and have added a range of features, all of which makes for a great day out for all the family, and connects farmers with their customers.

"As a Society we are committed to encouraging greater knowledge of where our food comes from and the vital role played by farmers. Countryside Live is an ideal way of getting that message across."

One of the busiest areas of the event was the Education Zone, where hundreds of children enjoyed a wide range of activities including bread making, cheese tasting, honey sampling, making sausages and learning more about recycling waste materials. Face painting proved extremely popular and there were almost 500 entries in the pumpkin painting competition.

Described as the "little sister of the Great Yorkshire Show", top class cattle and sheep battled it out for the honours in the livestock classes.

It was "ladies' day" in the cattle section, with Limousin x heifers taking both the Supreme and Reserve Championship titles. Elfed Williams of Powys took the Supreme with 14-month-old Bambi, with Mark Hallam of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, standing Reserve. Yorkshire is winning territory for Mr Williams as the heifer took the Commercial Beef Championship at the Great Yorkshire Show in July.

Closer to home, the Brown family of Bedale in North Yorkshire swept the board in the sheep classes, being placed in every class they entered and taking the Reserve Championship for the Champion Pair Sired by a Continental.

Twelve-year-old Hannah Brown won the Young Handlers' Sheep section with a Beltex cross and followed that up with the red rosette in the Young Handlers' beef class, showing a steer from J Stoney & Sons of Pateley Bridge.

The show proved to be particularly special for farmer Bert Verity aged 93, who received a framed photograph taken when he met Prince Charles at the 2006 Great Yorkshire Show. Honorary Show Director Bill Cowling paid tribute to Mr Verity's contribution to the industry over eight decades.

Yorkshire took the honours in the National Festival of Meat, with David Jackson of Bridlington winning the Ribs of Beef Section and David Ward of Great Habton, near Malton, winning the Saddle of Lamb.

In the new Fruit, Vegetable and Flower show, the best chrysanthemum was shown by Gordon Kirby of Leeds with Peter Ridsdale of Kirkby Overblow, Harrogate, winning the vegetable section. Pat Binns of Knottingley took the honours in the floral arrangements section.

Doncaster beekeeper Alan Woodward took the champion's trophy in the new Honey Show winning the Yorkshire Herald Cup for the most points.

In the Poultry Show, the Champion, an Old English Game cockerel, was shown by Dennis Fairweather of Airmyn, Goole, and a duck entered by Mrs J Bell of Deighton, Northallerton, won Reserve Champion.

The Yorkshire Tug-of-War Championships organised by the Young Farmers were won by the home team from Harrogate, with Burton-in-Lonsdale having to settle for second place.

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