Crowds shrug off showers to enjoy the County Show

Showers failed to stop the fun at this years Lincolnshire Show, the countys big day out.

Early estimates put total visitor figures at around 68,000, matching last years record figures.

This was also the year that social media attention for the Show stormed ahead helping to drive visitor interest before and during the Show, with their Twitter feed recording 2.56 million visits from 286,000 people, with over 1000 tweets made during the two days.

Alongside old favourites like pig racing and the big agricultural machinery displays, new attractions for this year included horseback falconry, Express Eventing and the Scruffts crossbreed dog competition, which helped to drive new interest.

Organisers also reported livestock entries and trade stand bookings well up on last year.

Everyone loves to see the livestock and the big agricultural machinery and alongside that we had even more attractions with families and young people in mind for this year, said chief executive Mark Farmer.

Were very happy overall, we had a very good crowd, excellent trade bookings and attendance looks to be in line with last years figure.

Extending into the evening with activities such as concerts went well and well definitely be looking to build on that next year. The new areas like the Kennel Club dog ring and the Express Eventing series qualifier both helped to boost interest and attract new visitors, he added.

The Lincolnshire Show is not just a two day showcase for the county; its a big revenue booster, generating 20 for the local economy for every 1 spent. Its also big business for the trade exhibitors and local companies who connect with customers during the relaxed social atmosphere of the two day event.

In the Countryside ring, the programme included medieval jousting and pig racing and the livestock lines played host to more than 1800 entries of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats.

Nearly 1800 horses and ponies were on show throughout the two days in the equine ring, and local rider Malcolm Wright claimed his second win in the Express Eventing 2011 series, in a thrilling finish which went right to the final fence in the showjumping.

In the sports zone, the many attractions included Leicester Tigers rugby coaches and Great Britain Paralympics hopeful Richard Sargent, representing wheelchair basketball, part of the many sports being demonstrated in run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Winners of the Schools Challenge competition were John Fielding Community Special School from Boston; Trent Valley Academy and Whites Wood Lane Junior School both from Gainsborough.

Everyone has enjoyed the Show, despite the odd shower, said show director Richard Collett, in his first year in the role. Fortunately the land here drains quickly and easily so the rain doesnt cause any real problem. Whatever the weather, theres so much on offer with the hundreds of trade stands and shops, and exciting programmes in all the rings. Its gone very well and Im very pleased.