EVERYWHERE little Molly Barlow goes, Yvonne the hen is sure to follow.

So it was no surprise when the seven-year-old announced her intention to enter her feathered friend in the Any Other Pet class at Skelton Show.

Wearing a specially-made harness and lead, Yvonne behaved impeccably, only pecking the ground when the judges weren’t looking.

Back home in Broughton Moor, Yvonne, who was rehomed after spending her early years in a shed of 18,000 battery hens, likes nothing better than to travel on Molly’s bike and scooter.

“We have 10 hens at home, and they are all rescued ones,” said mum, Clare Barlow. Molly was adamant about bringing Yvonne to the show, so she travelled in our horse box with our horses.”

Although she didn’t win, Molly was happy with her third placing. “I knew Yvonne would behave. She goes everywhere with me,” said Molly.

The picturesque location at Hutton-in-the-Forest was the setting for a special milestone for the show - it’s 125th anniversary. As the overnight clouds cleared the fine, sunny weather provided a perfect backdrop as the car parks rapidly filled to see the field come alive.

Holding on tightly to the string attached to a white-coloured balloon 14-month-old Jonny Paisley sat in the grass and watched as his brothers, Willie, seven, Harry five, and Joey, three climbed aboard a massive tractor, while mum, Sheila, from Waverton, kept an eye on their comings and goings. “You need eyes in the back of your head. But they are so excited. We love this show, and so do the boys and their dad,” said Sheila. “There’s so much to see and do for us all.”

The revised showfield layout, adopted during the heatwave of last year, proved popular again with plenty of shade and a gentle breeze for the huge beasts and smaller sheep.

Despite a drop in the cattle numbers because of bovine TB fears, competition was intense in the livestock lines.

A gleaming cow with an equally impressive name Algeria Alidas racked up a clutch of rosettes and silver trophies for Newton Rigg College at Penrith. It was first-time out for the third-calver, and farm manager, James Todd, declared he was “very pleased” that the home-bred animal walked away with the Supreme Dairy Interbreed title with Katherine Jenkinson in reserve spot with her Jersey cow-in-milk.

A cow that has stood the test of time in the show ring, is third-calver, Dolly, home-bred by the Rudd family, Marjorie, Graham and youngsters Joe, five, and Chloe, three, from Wigton. She took the Any Other Dairy Breed title after capturing the Champion of Champions accolade at the show two years ago.

As well as familiar faces, the show also had a sprinkling of newcomers. Emma McCune and Adam Walton, from Ivegill were tasting their first outing with their Beech Holme Holsteins from Cardewlees, Dalston.

In the beef section Neil Slack too the Supreme Beef Interbreed championship with his British Blue heifer cross, Sparks. The Penrith breeder then went on to take the coveted Champion of Champions title with the same animal. “I’ve won this title twice in the last four years at this show, but it is still special,” said a beaming Neil.

Reserve overall beef was the young Limousin bull Petteril Oz, owned by Stephen and Ann Morley of Southwaite and show by their 18-year-old son, Robert.

The February-born home-bred animal took the reserve champion of champions at this year’s Cumberland Show. “We’re thrilled once again. He’s done so well,” said Stephen.

In the sheep pens it was a gimmer shearling from Johnny Aitken from Hesket that captured the judge’s eye to take overall champion with reserve falling to mother-and-daughter team, Glynis and Jame Soulsby from Temple Sowerby with their Suffolk ram lamb, whose sire is Strathbogie Invictus. Philip and Denise Elliott from Mungrisdale stole the show in a competitive North of England Mule section taking champion and reserve titles, while daughter Grace took second place in the 10 and under Young Handler classes with a Beltex Texel cross lambed reared by her.

In the horse section overall Horse and Pony Championship was won by nine-year-old Darcie Dhillon and her pony Sandboro Love Child.

Away from the livestock more than 200 trade exhibitors tempted the thousands who packed the showfield, including the ever-growing Taste@skelton Food Festival offering a diverse range of local food and drink as well as several cookery demonstrations by local chefs.

In the main ring the Fell Pony Society told the history of our native ponies and the part they played as work horses and finished with a musical ride demonstrating the agility of both horse and rider.