QUEUES formed outside Park Farm in Dumfries last Saturday for the much anticipated return of Dumfries Show.
After two years of no shows due to covid, everyone was delighted to be back.
Chairman Callum McGinley was especially glad to be up and running again. He has held the top job for four years but has only presided over two years due the pandemic.
He said: “It feels great to be back after covid. The shows were all planned, but we just couldn’t hold them.
“We’ve had such a great turnout of people that we’ve had to create a queue, and attendees have been happy to wait before getting to see the show field. The car park is usually filled by 1 pm, but it was packed before noon.
“The stalls have been more of a challenge, unfortunately. Some of the older stalls that used to come aren’t here this year, but they have been replaced by fresh faces.
“Entry-wise, its a mixed bag. Entries for sheep judging are well and truly up, but the cattle entries are down slightly due to some farmers not wishing to attend. Our goal is to encourage these farmers to return, since without cattle we don’t have much of a show.
“The Food Festival has been really good, with new people wanting to showcase their businesses and entertaining the townspeople.”
The weather was very good for Saturday’s event, staying dry all day, and allowing everyone to enjoy the attractions on offer.
That included a wide range of stalls and tents to peruse, from BMW, Kia and Volvo to JCB and Bobcat, as well as the NFUS, Murray Horsecare, SP Energy Networks and the Thornhill Rotary Club, among others.
For younger show-goers, there was plenty to do, including a merry-go-round, an inflatable slide, a bouncy castle, and a pop-up ToyLand.
In the main ring, the Riders of the Storm display team took centre stage, dazzling the audience with dangerous stunts and getting the crowd pumped.
And then it was the turn of the livestock champions in the grand parade.
Offering a final word, Mr McGinley said: “For me, the highlight was just seeing how crowded the show is and how happy everyone is. You can tell by the smiles from all the people attending that they’ve been looking forward to the show this year.”
