The enthusiastic historian and naturalist Michael Clegg travels the Yorkshire region meeting colourful characters, looking at interesting places and uncovering some off-beat jobs and trades. In this episode of Clegg’s People, Michael Clegg goes the Wensleydale Agricultural Show near Leyburn, North Yorkshire. He visits and speaks with farmers Colin and Janet Willoughby who look after twenty Masham sheep. The film opens with a title sequence, showing artists pictures of wildlife drawings and...

The enthusiastic historian and naturalist Michael Clegg travels the Yorkshire region meeting colourful characters, looking at interesting places and uncovering some off-beat jobs and trades. In this episode of Clegg’s People, Michael Clegg goes the Wensleydale Agricultural Show near Leyburn, North Yorkshire. He visits and speaks with farmers Colin and Janet Willoughby who look after twenty Masham sheep. The film opens with a title sequence, showing artists pictures of wildlife drawings and people who work and find recreation in the countryside, finishing with a drawn colour portrait of Michael Clegg. The film opens with an overcast view of early morning showing a large stone house and a rough track in front of the boundary wall set in open countryside. Michael Clegg’s commentary sets the time and place as 5.30am in Wensleydale. The residence is Wood End farm near Castle Bolton in Wensleydale. The day is also Wensleydale show day. Some sheep look through the gaps in a field gate. Colin Willoughby the farmer works in his milking parlour. Michael Clegg will join Colin and his family as they prepare for the big day. Michael sits with grandfather John Willoughby at the breakfast table along with grandsons Mark and Thomas as Colin’s wife Janet Willoughby prepares breakfast. Mark and Thomas will be exhibiting some handicrafts at the show. The film goes back to the milking parlour, as the Fresian cows enter and Colin prepares each one for milking. At the breakfast table one the Colin’s young sons shows Michael a photo portrait of a lamb. The Fresian cows return to the fields after milking and Colin joins the rest of them at the breakfast table. He explains to Michael how important the annual show is to him. The film shows the Willoughby’s half bred Masham sheep which will be going to the show. While the sheep are being round up, the two boys put their handicrafts in the back of a Land Rover. Michael watches as one of the sheep gets a thorough clean. Colins wife Janet arrives to help with the cleaning, as time to be ready is urgent. Michael asks the two young boys if they will keep sheep when they’re older. Janet and her husband continue washing the sheep for the show. On a distant country road, the film shows a Land Rover with a trailer heading for the show ground. A general view follows of the trees and fields in this area of the Dales as the Land Rover makes its way to the showground at Leyburn. A view of the showground shows marquees and tents with flags flying, and cars and caravans parked. Michael says this is the 77th annual Wensleydale show and a very popular event. The film shows pens that have been erected to show different breeds of sheep. Notices attached to the pens show breed names such as, Teeswaters, Suffolks, Blue Faced Leicesters, Jacobs and Wensleydales. Grooming the sheep continues in the pens. Colins family arrive in time to herd their sheep into the correct pen. General views follow of the different breeds waiting for judging time, followed by views of judges examining the sheep. Eventually Colin’s sheep receive Judge Simpson’s scrutiny. Michael asks Colin if he’s happy with the event so far, he intimates he is happy to wait for the final result, despite stiff competition. The judge looks at how the animals move to assess conformation, an assessment of proportions of the animal’s anatomy and stature. Michael then moves on to the handicrafts marquee, where judging has been taking place. He then has a conversation with one of the judges. At the sheep competition Colin and Janet are awarded second prize. Judge Simpson the oversees a pairs competition, in which Colin has animals entered. Colin wins the prize money and a red rosette. Michael interviews Judge Simpson, who says he has entered competitions himself, therefore his work is also judged. One of Colin’s sons puts the rosettes on the sheep pen showing two second and one first prize. Michael and the family head towards the handicraft marquee. The two boys Mark and Thomas are keen to see if they have won a prize. The two boys go to a table where they their exhibits are on display and they both win a first prize. General views show a range of crafts on display with exhibitors and visitors look for awards alongside the displays. Mark wins two more first prizes. General views follow of items of food on display and after a short hunt, Thomas finds he has won another first prize. A group of farmers gather round and discuss the days competition. At the main show ring the Bedale hunt gallop past complete with the sound of the hunting horn. This makes way for the gymkhana competition which receives the same scrutiny as the other competitions involving livestock. The young children on their ponies wait patiently for the judge. Michael and the family go to one of the sideshows and they try their luck at throwing rings at the prizes on display, if a ring land cleanly around the base of the post where the prize sits, you win. Unfortunately, only two near misses and no prizes is the outcome. The film ends with a view over empty pens, as Michael and Mark with his grandfather take down the rosettes from their pen after a successful day. The Land Rover and trailer head back home. Credits: Graphics Richard Wisdom Editor John Hay Sound David Pape Sound Dubbing John Burgess Producer/Director/Camera Charles Flynn Executive Producer David Lowen © Yorkshire Television Ltd 1990 End credit: Yorkshire Television production