CAPTAIN Puddles, Mr Whetton and Mrs Weatherill were just three of the aptly named people who braved the elements at the Royal Lancashire Show.

But after a rain-soaked Saturday, the clouds lifted to leave Sunday relatively drizzle-free.

Whatever the Weather, one person who wasn't complaining was Mrs Audrey Weatherill, chairman of the Lancashire Federations of Women's Institutes.

Audrey, a member of the Barley Women's Institute, Pendle, said: "When it rained, they all came into our tent.

"The ladies making sandwiches and teas were rushed off their feet and all the stalls were busy.

"I suppose you could say every cloud has a silver lining." Money raised goes towards future Women's Institute events.

And the drizzle could not get in the way of the true spirit of the Lancashire Show at Astley Park, Chorley, between Friday and Sunday.

Many of the animal exhibitors were delayed in getting to the parade ground but all eventually made it between downpours.

And a fantastic array of handicrafts, foods and indoor exhibits received far more visitors than usual.

Show press officer Judith Roberts said: "We had a reasonably good day on Saturday, whereas Friday was a superb day, and fortunately the clouds cleared on Sunday.

"Comments from people entering as owners, stall holders and competitors were that the show was bigger and better than ever this year."

Show chairman Tom Alty added: "The diversity of the show has been absolutely tremendous. There have been a great variety of stalls and attractions." A notable growth at the show was among the trade stands which featured everyone from Nelson Windows to Captain Puddles, mascot of the Puddletown Pirates play centre at Botany Bay near Chorley.

Indeed there was something for everyone, young and old alike.

Matthew Simon, 10, a member of the Ribble Valley Vintage Club was perhaps one of the more junior exhibitors with his Ferguson TE20 tractor which formed part of the National Vintage Tractor Engine Club.

He was wearing a virtual pet proudly around his neck, but he said: "I prefer my tractor. I hope to do it up."

Back to a time before tractor-power, Blackburn-based show sponsors Daniel Thwaites brewery picked up two second prizes for the magnificent dray horses driven by coachman Charles Beardmore and groom Andrew Whetton!

This year marked the end of the brewery's five-year sponsorship of the Royal Lancashire Show.

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