THE 108th Upper Redesdale Show in September 1997 was, at the time, hailed as one of the best for years.

Held on the last Saturday in September, it is one of Northumberland's oldest shows.

There were fears earlier that year the show might have to be scrapped, as it looked likely to be left homeless due to the construction of a replica Bronze Age settlement on the showfield site.

Rochester's partly constructed Bronze Age tourist attraction was said to be a great talking point and extra attraction to visit.

The show itself proved to be one of the best for years, according to the Show's Secretary in 1997, Angie Cowens.

Weather was reportedly warm and dry, and entries were overall up.

The sheep section proved particularly popular, attracting 263 entries up 55 from 1996.

Judges were so overwhelmed by such a turnout it took them almost four hours to complete their deliberations.   

Robert Raine of Townfoot, West Woodburn, took the champion's rosette in the Blackface section of the sheep, with the same ewe that won at Gilsland and Wooler.

The previous year's North-type Blackface champion exhibitor, Frank Hall from Otterburn, took the runner-up slot with the reserve champion's rosette.

In the Scotch-type Blackface classes, John Carruthers of Silloans in Rochester, picked up the champion's prize and the trophy for best-wooled sheep.

In the Swaledale classes, Ken Smith and Sons of East Greenridge in Lowgate picked up the most points, but the champion's prize went to Thomas Hutchinson of Simonburn.

In the Swaledale cross classes, Helen Brown of Sundaysight in Bellingham claimed the champion rosette.

Over in the industrial tent Show Secretary and Treasurer Angie Cowens, and Jennifer Robson, of Otterburn and Rochester respectively, fought it out to win, but the latter was victorious for the fifth year in a row.

However, Mrs Cowens came out on top in the plain baking classes.

Prudhoe's Alan Thompson took six first places in the stick classes.

Cumberland Wrestling was followed by a presentation of prizes by Lady Redesdale, before an auction and a dance in Rochester Village Hall.

Mary White of Otterburn, once joint Treasurer of Upper Redesdale Show committee, captured an image of a wheelbarrow race at the show in 2016.

In 2020 and 2021, the show was cancelled two years in a row, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The only previous time the Upper Redesdale Show was cancelled in its 130-year long history was in 2001, when an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease swept across the UK.