Soaring summer temperatures helped attract record-breaking crowds to Weeton Show 2011.

Last Sunday’s event was so busy that two emergency restocking dashes were needed to keep the ale flowing at the beer tent.

And organisers Weeton & District Agricultural & Horticultural Society were also forced to open a second, overflow car park field – for the first time in the event’s history – to cope with the thousands of visitors.

Those attending were spoiled for choice in terms of attractions, with everything from ferret races and heavy horse displays to animal petting areas and races on offer, along with a large variety of agricultural and horticultural exhibition classes.

The Companion Dog Show proved especially popular, with 221 entries and 92 participating animals featuring in breed, child handler and fun classes.

Rhodesian ridgeback Winston, owned by Angela Thompson, of Harrogate, scooped the Best in Show trophy, while many dogs and their owners took part in the organised chaos of the annual dog race.

Delighted society chairman Gary Dukes and president Benny Walker said: “The show triumphed yet again, breaking all previous records and providing a record number of visitors with a quintessentially British country show.

“The final figures are yet to come in, but it seems it will smash all previous show records for visitors, the amount of Weeton-Wiggle beer downed, and smiles per capita.

“We would like to thank everyone who supported the event and especially Phyllis King for providing the overflow car park to help us deal with the sheer volume of visitors.

“The infamous dog race was a runaway success – as ever, no one really knows who won and how, but most entrants have been recovered.

“The Tailwaggers dog display team were also as amazing as ever, with Cyril the Squirrel fending off canine chases while terriers leapt through burning rings, drawing gasps from the crowd.

“And Ben Potter’s Birds of Prey soared on the thermals and were a show-stopping spectacle.”

The Rougemont Chase race also proved popular, with Jack Simpson winning impressively, four minutes clear of the field, in a record time of 27 minutes, 12 seconds – a performance he put down to being “late for milking”.

Showjumpers and working hunters were out in force, maintaining the long and respected equestrian backbone of the show, with a huge display in the increasingly popular heavy horse classes.

Younger visitors were entertained with an expanded petting farm area, where children could hold pygmy goats and week-old ducklings, as well as tightrope walking and other daring feats courtesy of The Circus of the Absurd.

Anyone with ideas for next year’s show is asked to get in touch by visiting weetonshow.co.uk.