Kilnsey crafts

Kilnsey Show 2018

As with most country shows, there are many traditional crafts on display, as well as the wonderful displays of handicrafts and produce that local people enter in competitions. 

Being in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Kilnsey of course has a dry-stone walling competition. To be honest, I couldn't see much difference between the stretches of wall constructed by the prizewinners and the others; they all looked like fine and sturdy walls to me. 

The beautifully carved walking sticks are among my personal favourites to see. The heads are made of wood, horn or deer antlers. Sticks for different purposes (shepherds' crooks, men's walking, ladies' walking, thumb notch) have different shaped heads. The beautiful stick with the sheepdog on it was judged the overall 'best in show'.

There was a lady demonstrating how to throw a clay pot on a wheel. She made it look easy!

Mad grannies and other stories

Kilnsey Show 2018 - a few random things that caught my eye:
Above: Somebody's granny at the wheel of an impressive police tractor (who knew there were police tractors, complete with flashing blue lights?!)

Being eyeballed by a cow... 'Don't give me no bull!'

Beauty kit for show cattle (they apparently need nearly as much stuff as I do!)

Sausages! Lots of them.

The smartly turned-out Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Band, entertaining the crowds.

More tractors, this time vintage ones being paraded round the show ring by vintage chaps (somebody's grandad?)

And my favourite, the sheepdog trials.

People and animals

Kilnsey Show 2018
This seemed a rather tender moment between the beef cow and her handler. She had said something to it and the cow leaned in and gave her, effectively, a hug. Aw.

This family looked justly proud of their magnificent horse. It's a 'heavy horse' but I'm not sure exactly what breed it is... maybe a Clydesdale?

The sheep are a little tricky to control. Holding them under the chin seemed the preferred method of calming them. But the guy looks as though he can handle most things...  Certainly this Dalesbred sheep was docile in his care.

After this hot summer, I imagine these sheep were glad to shed their wool. The young man was demonstrating sheep shearing for much of the day. I bet his back ached afterwards!

Children were captivated by the smaller animals. These saddleback pigs, plus some sheep, goats, alpacas and small donkeys were part of an exhibit by a charity that works with children using pet animals as therapy.

Kilnsey Crag Race 2018

I went to Kilnsey Show again this year. It's on such an attractive site, against the backdrop of Kilnsey Crag and surrounded by the beauty and space of Upper Wharfedale. The weather was good and the show full of interest. Its highlight is the Crag Races in the late afternoon. This year I stood at the bottom of the course, watching the runners leap through the stream and then race up the first steep slope. Look back at my pictures from last year (see HERE) to get an idea of the challenge of this course, one of the hardest fell races that there is, being short (just over 1 mile) and steep (400' almost vertically up and down). These are the senior runners - and this is the easy bit! 

This is the winner hurtling back down the home straight. It was won this year for the second year in a row by Nick Swinburn from Northumberland, in a time of 8 minutes. Last year he ran it in 8 minutes and 3 seconds. The course record is 7:35, dating back to 1982.

Here are some of the other runners. At least they stayed upright; there were quite a few who took a tumble on this steep and slippery grassed slope. For more idea of the fun (!) watch this video of the notorious 'chimney' on the downward run (HERE).

Patrick Wardle, Jim Roberts and Derek Motley (above).

Lucy Needham, Kirstin Bailey, Richard Briscoe, Brett Muir and Michael McLoughlin (below).

Senior Crag Race

Kilnsey Show 2017

The highlight of the annual Kilnsey Show is the Crag Race. Fell races (where people run up and down hills - for fun) are not uncommon hereabouts but the Kilnsey race is arguably the hardest of all. The 2 km course starts in the valley bottom and heads directly up the fell side to the top of Kilnsey Crag and then (literally) straight back down, skidding down the scree slopes. The record was set in 1982 at 07:35 minutes, by local runner Mick Hawkins and has not yet been broken. 

This year, the Senior Men's race was won by Nick Swinburn from Northumberland Fell Runners club, in 08.03 minutes. He is the guy (120) in the photo above. At that point, just after starting the race, he was in second place.  A former competitor, Roger Ingham, said of it: 'The Crag Race is explosive - you need to be in pole position half way up because it's hard to pass on the scree - and it's fearsome coming down.' Nick seems to have taken that to heart and appeared to be in a good position from an early stage. 

In the photo below the runners are streaming across the lower slopes. Their destination is the red flag, among the people at the top right!

By the time they crested the ridge (below), Nick was leading and continued at the front until he ran home in first place.
Incidentally, some of the guys from my camera club were up there taking photos. You can perhaps see one of them in dark clothing on the left of the runners, with a light-coloured dog (below). They got some incredible pictures... but you wouldn't ever find me up there! There was someone taking video with a drone too.

The descent from the top flag is precipitous!

A round of applause for a worthy winner!

Baa, neigh, moo.

Kilnsey Show 2017

'Baa, we're stuck in this truck and want to be out of here.'  These sheep were awaiting the shearing demonstration.  

And ... who knew that there was such a thing as a miniature donkey? The miniature donkey had an even tinier foal. Just too cute!

I also loved the highland calf, furry, ginger and very interested in all that was going on.

Sheepdog trials

Kilnsey Show 2017
In the Dales where sheep farming is a way of life, it seemed appropriate that there were sheepdog trials as part of the Show.
I love to watch these intelligent dogs working out strategy and lying low in the grass, creeping forward stealthily and then darting like lightning to round up those sheep that make a run for it.

Judging sheep

Kilnsey Show 2017

No, not 'the ones that got away'! During the judging of the livestock, the judges want to see them walk. The cattle are led around on ropes but the sheep are are held until it's their turn and then let loose. It can be quite amusing when they want to assert their independence!  

Sheep judging is a serious business, and requires some concentration.

Kilnsey Show 2017

Another show, though this one is going back a couple of weeks. (I can't keep up with myself!)  I was delighted to tick off another item on my bucket list with a visit to the 120th Kilnsey Show. I've thought about going many times but it is always held on the Tuesday after August Bank Holiday Monday so I've always been at work until now. (Yay!) It's held in a gorgeous setting, in fields right under Kilnsey Crag, in my favourite of the Yorkshire Dales, Upper Wharfedale. It is a 'proper' agricultural show, reflecting the surrounding Dales rural life, farming, culture and crafts. There are trade stands for farmers and more livestock than at our local Bingley Show but plenty of general interest too and plenty to learn for a 'townie' like me. 

It's always interesting to see how they go about building a dry-stone wall, an ancient craft that is being nurtured in our limestone dales. There were trophies for those judged best Junior and Senior Dry Stone Walling Champions. 

It was lovely to see the shire horses too. Now they don't use them for farm work there are many fewer than there used to be; yet another piece of our history that enthusiasts are trying to preserve.

The morning of the show is taken up with horse riding and jumping in the main ring. I didn't see much of it but there were some beautiful horses around. The one below looks like it was dipped in chocolate! So pretty.