ORGANISERS of Woolsery Agricultural Show are celebrating their best gate since moving to Clovelly Court.

Entries from spectators and exhibitors brought in nearly £10,000.

The figure is 20 per cent higher than the year before.

Show secretary Sue Williams said the perfect weather helped bring in the crowds.

"It's been spectacular this year, our entries were up and the gate has been bumper," she said.

"The weather was just right, misty in the morning and a bit cloudy so everybody came here rather than going to the beach.

"The young handler classes this year were spectacular, with 14 in the junior dairy classes. We had people bringing calves along just so the children could show them, and we had a really good turn out of dairy cattle which is something that's been lacking in a lot of the shows recently.

"But this year it's been good and our Devon cattle classes and British Blues entry were huge."

The spectators were treated to the sight of fine horses, national award-winning cattle and sheep, and an impressive parade of the latest farm machinery, contrasting with their vintage predecessors sparkling in the summer sunshine.

Four packs of hunting hounds including the Stevenstone and Tetcott Hunts and the Devon and Somerset Staghounds were on show.

Woolsery Show offers children and young farmers a big chance to shine either on horseback or stock handling as well as the fun and games in the ring.

Auctioneer and former Torridge Council leader James Morrish commentated on some exciting competition among the young farmers and horse riders of North Devon and Torridgeside.

A 1.2 tonne British Blue bull bred by Jeff Dunn of West Nymph Farm, South Tawton, took the Supreme Interbreed Championship in the cattle classes, ahead of Mike and Danielle Cowell's Devon Red Ruby cow and calf from Ashreigney.

Mr Dunn said he was "chuffed to bits" and described what makes the bull such a champion: " His walking…he's very mobile for a British Blue, then he has a good top line and very good on the rump.

"He has a very good growth rate."

The Blues have not been known for their mobility, but Jeff said: "The breed's come a long way and they have become a lot more mobile. There's been a big improvement."

The bull has had several successes this year, but Jeff chose his placing at the Royal Welsh Show as the best of the bunch. "He was reserve male champion there, that's a very big class. You get the breeders from the top end from everywhere go there," he said.

Jeff and his wife, Lorraine, and two daughters, Chloe and Freya, brought four of their herd to Woolsery and took several other prizes.