This week, I have invited Ryedale's auctioneering supremo, Philip Place to give his personal report on Farndale Show, of which he had the honour to be president in the Millennium year. Knowing Philip as we all do, I must immediately issue a disclaimer on what is about to be written but I'm sure you'll enjoy his unpredictable contribution. (You'll see results from the show on the facing page.)

THIS year, Blossom and I were asked to preside over this year's show which must have the most idyllic location in the country.

The forecast was for a fine day, with the possibility of an odd thunderstorm. This looked highly unlikely, until approximately 3pm when an enormous black cloud appeared, dropped 20 spots of rain and proceeded down the dale.

We were welcomed by Ken Wilson and Mick Stanley at the gate and directed to the president's car park clearly indicated by "Some buckets UPSKITTLED".

A vociferous welcome was received by the show commentator, Bill Hebron, who assumes a distinguished BBC voice for such occasions. I observed that I would recommend his services for the Burghley Horse Trials next year.

Once established, we proceeded to be interviewed by the show secretary, Lucy Tinsley, who by this time was well in control and not taking any nonsense from any whingeing visitors or exhibitors.

Our first encounter was in the "Biggest Thistle Competition", where the judge was unable to reach a verdict. Nunnington Dave Wilson and I soon sorted this out, as one exhibit was crossed with a "Humlock" and was disqualified.

It was splendid to see such a varied selection of animals in the cattle line, which was well supported by those in Ryedale. Chris Beal was present, with Ponies and Calves, and daughter Helen took pleasure in spraying the president with a good dose of "Mane & Tail". I spent the rest of the day feeling like a Shire stallion.

Jeremy Waind arrived with his three heifers, only to demolish the cattle barrier with one of his beasts. The other one has not been haltered for years!

The horses & pony section was judged by John Mark Lees of Fryup who, in his bowler hat, stood 6'3", all of 18st, and really looked the part. No disenchanted participant would have even dreamt of challenging his judgement.

One of the main attractions at Farndale is the sheep section which is keenly contested. Local celebrities were there in abundance: Len Fawbert, Willie Dunn, J W Stangoe, Dennis Metcalfe, Harold Wilson, Dick Brown, Mr Boddy and many Carters. There were fine exhibits, both young and old, amongst the sheep as well!

Pet dogs turned out in abundance, large and small. Fancy Dress left little to the imagination and entries were a credit to those involved.

We were most impressed by the ferret section which, this year, was sensibly isolated from the poultry. Most of those involved with the ferrets were girls, between the ages of 6 and 12. They were totally fearless of their charges and we were informed "they have to be handled young". Miss Colgate seemed to be in total control.

An alternative form of transport was purchased for some of the ladies in my life. This was in the form of a besom, made on site by Bert Eddon, in whose family besom-making has existed for many generations. However, a black pointed hat was more difficult to acquire!

Finally, an exhibit in the handicraft section really took our eye. It was in the form of a counted cross-stitch Beatrix Potter birth sampler by Kath Featherstone; it really was a credit.

A good day was enjoyed by all at Farndale - truly, something for everyone.

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Since the Minister read last week's Gazette & Herald article, he has agreed to apply to the European Commission for help and compensation for those caught up in the restriction zone of the swine fever outbreak, which thankfully seems to have been contained.

On the one hand, and having nowhere to go, fattening pigs have been putting on weight at an alarming rate and there are now many over-100kg pigs which nobody wants.

Mr Brown is seeking a dispensation to get these removed out of the system and rendered down without entering the food chain. Secondly, he is looking for some one-off payments to pig producers who have suffered through no fault of their own.

As ever with these situations, it is going to be the quantum of that compensation that will make it palatable. I hope the Minister doesn't opt for a flat rate payment but goes for some form of market value that reflects the loss suffered.

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Last week, I told you of the ludicrous situation in which the British Armed Forces are fed imported meat and I have now got a few figures which will further alarm the troops.

The Ministry of Defence is buying some British beef but intends to increase its procurement of imported meat. Amongst the other species, 98pc of the lamb fed to service personnel was imported, as was 75pc of chicken and 50pc of bacon.

Isn't that disgraceful? A level playing field is all we ask for and I can't believe that the Foreign Legion or the German army are fed any British meat to compensate.

Interestingly, Richard Potter from Farndale has just returned from Finland where they stayed on a dairy farm.

The 60-cow herd were kept chained up all their lives, with only a little sawdust for bedding, and the resultant injuries from this long-term confinement were very evident. The young stock were all kept on slats, six to a pen, and having no more room than a cattle wagon.

Despite these appalling conditions, which have been outlawed in this country for many years, the Finns get more for their milk than we do and all the meat goes into the human food chain.

Richard's experience emphasises the differing attitudes to animal welfare across the whole of Europe and beyond. There is no doubt that the UK enforces more stringent rules than anyone else.

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The day for the cattle count on September 10 approaches ever closer and the Malton auctioneers do want to assist everyone for two good reasons.

The market computer has an SIS interface with the Ministry computer and, according to the Helpline, all returns can be made electronically. There is no need to post the forms off direct and acknowledgement can be received through the computer together with extra hard copies of what's been done.

If all of us take the opportunity, rather than waste it, to record the Ryedale herd centrally, then we will be a long way on towards establishing an independent database which can hold added value information such as Farm Assurance status, medicine records and type of feed, all of which are going to be wanted by our customers in the future.

Charlie Breese is masterminding the operation, although he is just recovering from a painful inconvenient appendix operation.

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Bank holiday Tuesday saw a small show of all species but trade was good for everything.

The 150 cattle included 57 bulls with continentals averaging around 98p/kg up to a top of 113p/kg for a medium-weight bull produced by Patrick Beal. Alice Thompson had a heavyweight at 108p/kg. Clean cattle were wanted, as the overall average of 97p/kg suggests. Intervention-type steers were making from 95-105p/kg and the best in this category came from Chris Beal at 116p/kg.

George Marwood's heifers topped the retail section at a new record of 135p/kg for this year in an ordinary fat market. George had another heifer at 119p/kg amongst the middle-weights.

There were just short of 700 sheep and the lambs move steadily forwards to average 83p/kg overall. K B Harrison of Riseborough topped the market at 93p/kg for a pen of heavy lambs.

David Lindley would enjoy selling the pigs which were steady at 150 and averaging over 82p/kg. The top price of 90.5p/kg was achieved by Dennis Wardle for a light pen of pork gilts followed by Jack Horsley at 86.5p/kg for a pen of cutters.

It was a good end to the bank holiday.