THE visitors and livestock at Saturday's 110th Liskeard Show found it hard to keep cool as sizzling sunshine on one of the hottest days of the summer so far saw temperatures soaring into the mid 80s.

It is also believed it was the hottest show on record, a marked difference from last year, when the water-logged showground at Merrymeet led to the cancellation of the show, and shifting it to September.

Show secretary Pauline Ward said: 'The numbers at the show were in the region of 5,000, which was down by approximately 10 per cent on last year. 'Not bad considering how hot it was.'

A gate steward said it was noticed that a lot of the visitors were leaving again after a few hours instead of staying all day.

'They were all saying it was just too hot – you can't win,' she said.

Show chairman for the 11th year Jerry Masters said there were record entries in the livestock and trade sections, but understandably some animal owners chose to stay away on the day with their animals for welfare reasons (see letters page 16).

Double the usual amount of water was supplied and owners erected umbrellas and gazebos to protect the cattle and sheep from the sun.

Supreme show champion for the second year in succession was the bull Oxcroft Elmo, weighing in at over a tonne, owned by Ted Haste and shown by Julie Rooks and Mike Kirby from the Stoneleigh Blues pedigree herd in Shebbear.

Reserve was the Ayrshire dairy cow Rosehill Prickly Jean, from show stalwarts the Christophers of Truro, who have exhibited at Liskeard since 1982.

Overall local champion in the beef classes was Dollars, owned by Nigel and Liz Bunkum of Merrymeet.

Winner of the best sheep in the show was Mr B Collings with a Lowland. The best local animal in the sheep classes was won by Mr and Mrs G Tucker.

Sheep secretaries Nick and Marie Bersey said it had been a record year with 490 sheep in the various classes. 'It was an excellent standard, we are very well supported by sheep breeders in the south west,' said Nick.

Opening the show, this year's president, George Hocking (Dobwalls), said Liskeard should be proud of how the show has developed over the years into the wonderful show it is.

'There are farming families represented here today who were attending this show more than a 100 years ago,' he said. 'We have a lot of young farmers, who are keeping the farming spirit and the show alive.'

Mayor of Liskeard Susan Pike said: 'It was farming that made Liskeard with some mining in between. This is the best little agricultural show in the South West.'

MP Sheryll Murray, in congratulating the organisers, said: 'I would like to thank all the exhibitors and our precious farmers for making the show the success it is.'

Flowers were presented to the official party by Trenode primary school pupils Matilda Kitson and Lowenna Cawse.