IT was the 107th Reeth Show and probably the most difficult in the history of the event, but people turned out in their thousands to help Swaledale celebrate a way of life they are determined to preserve, despite the worst floods in living memory.

Farmers flooded out by the deluge turned out with their prize animals and special skills to ensure the show was a success. It was only the dedicated work by young farmers to clear the showfield of tonnes of debris and rebuild over 150 feet of dry stone walling that allowed the show to go on.

One of the prize exhibits was a new stone wall built as part of a special competition at the show to demonstrate some of the most important skills that are helping the Dales rebuild.

Farmer Trevor Atkinson from Whaw in Arkengarthdale, whose home was flooded and farm devastated, abandoned the work at his own farm to enter the competition along with 18 other dry stone wallers.

“I just felt it was important to come and support the show. Dry stone walling is one of those skills every farmer learns from a young age. The past weeks have been horrendous, and so much damage has been done, but we can rebuild, it just takes time and most importantly money,” said Trevor.

Dry stone walling Judge Dave Leedale said: “It really makes you proud, people have lost everything and they still turned out today. This field has been transformed from when we first saw it after the floods. We just didn’t think it was possible to put the show on and yet here we are. It is truly inspiring. And while the damage in the Dale seems horrendous it can be rebuilt. It’ll take time, probably years, but we can do it.”

A £500 first prize for the best dry stone waller was won by John Bainbridge from Bishop Auckland.

Members of the Bainbridge family in Reeth were celebrating after aunt and niece Katy and Amanda carried off, Breed Champion, Reserve Supreme champion and Champion Small Breeder with their Swaledale sheep. Katy and her family have had to move out after the family farm was left five feet underwater, and Amanda’s farm at nearby Hurst was also badly affected.

“This makes up for everything, the past few weeks have been awful but this is wonderful, we have been trying to win this for 20 years and this year we do it, I can hardly believe it,” said Amanda.

Scores of people flocked round the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team stand to thank members for their outstanding work rescuing and helping people during the floods, alongside North Yorkshire fire and rescue.

Chairman Ian Speirs said: “It’s astonishing. The last time I was in this field I was up to my neck in flood water. Arkle Beck just went and that was it, the deluge was tremendous, you just can’t recognise the place.

“It was certainly the worst flooding I have ever seen. It was terrible but this show is a real testament to all aspects of the community, from the young farmers to all the organisations that have supported them to make this happen.

“They could have so easily cancelled it and put it off for another year but they didn’t because they have such spirit. It’s absolutely brilliant.”

One of the show organisers, Beverley Rutter, said they think visitor numbers are among the best they’ve had at about 5,000, with a special park and ride set up to help people get to the showground where some of the usual parking is still damaged.

She added: “It has all gone to plan astonishingly, everything was organised before the flood but then it all went wrong and there were real doubts this would happen.

“The fact that we managed to get it off the ground afterwards is amazing.

“We all thought when we saw the state of the field there was no way but here we are and it’s all thanks to the young farmers and the many, many people who have rallied round and helped.

“So it has carried on, 107 years of tradition and that has meant so much to everyone, it is what the village and the Dale has needed, a bit of normality. It shows how important a show like this is for local people.

“We have been thanked so many times by so many people, local and from much further afield, for making sure the show carried on. We’re not forgetting about the floods, the devastation is huge and a lot has to be done but this is what the Dale needs, for life to carry on for the community after what they have been through. And we can’t thank everyone enough. It has been a real team effort and it makes us realise what an astonishingly close knit and wonderful place we live in.”