THE agricultural show season may have been wiped out by Covid-19 this year, but the best of livestock and produce may still be seen in a unique exhibition this weekend.
Some 370 entries were received for the Showstoppers project, which encouraged people to submit photographs of the animals, baked goods, flowers, vegetables or anything else they might have entered into one of the autumn shows.
The scheme was organised by documentary photographer Louise Taylor with cash funding from Northern Heartlands. She said: “For many people in the North East, the annual agricultural shows are the highlight of the year. They are a way of celebrating our culture and longstanding heritage, and combine healthy competition with a great day out.
“Showstoppers is an opportunity to continue our traditions of making, creating and showing off the results of our passions and pastimes using photography.”
All going well, prints of the top 27 entries will be on display on Eggleston village green on Sunday, September 20. Ms Taylor said new Covid-19 restrictions meant that the way the exhibition might be presented is under review.
She added that she and fellow judges, photographers Nat Wilkins and Richard Glynn, were delighted with the number of entries, which included submissions from children, farmers and people who might never have exhibited their produce at shows in the past.
Most entries came from Teesdale and Weardale but some came from further afield. Ms Taylor said: “We had some from Cornwall. There was also one from Holland, so it spread a bit further than we intended.”
The Dutch entry was that of an egg. Three best in show awards will be made on the day of the exhibition.
Each of the winning entries will be awarded a rosette, with the best entries also receiving a copy of Agri[culture], a book that celebrates the tradition of agricultural shows in Teesdale and Weardale. The exhibition was made possible with support from Eggleston Show committee, Eggleston Parish Council and The Moorcock Inn and runs from 10am to 4pm. The 27 winners are: Joanne Bainbridge; Ju Barnecutt; Lisa Corbett; Skye Crawford, age 9; Yvonne Deighton; Cathy Edmunds; Jo Gallagher; Louisa Guidney; Jane Hayes; Reuben Hill, 10; Julie Hugill; Hannah Hunter; Carl Joyce; Ellie Langley; Gabriel Langley; Ali Lawson; Jake Parvin, 11; Ros Ronaldson; Holly Scott; Joyce Simpson; Ruth Tarn; Alison Taylor; Heather Throup; Claire Throup and Eleanor Vasey.
