Heavy rain showers did not dampen a fiery first day at the Turriff Show as thousands of people turned out for one of the biggest events on the agricultural calendar.
The two-day show, now in its 152nd year, was packed with families and friends who enjoyed admiring the livestock on display and perusing the hundreds of trade stands set up at The Haughs.
But the main highlight yesterday with a captivating performance from the Royal Signals motorbike display team, The White Helmets.
Riding classic Triumph bikes, the serving soldiers entertained a packed grandstand for more than half and hour with feats of motorcycle madness and daring.
At one point, 15 signalmen were balanced atop one another across five bikes, and at the climax to the performance another five riders jumped through flaming straw bales accompanied by cheers and gasps from the crowd.
Lance Corporal Dayne Ryan, who led the spectacle, said: “We are currently serving soldiers in the British Army and we volunteer for this job.”
“The trust you have to have is impeccable – each rider has to know exactly what he’s doing, where he’s going and how he’s riding.”
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson, who held a surgery at the show, said it had been another successful day.
“With the first car park nearly full before 10 am it’s clear the Turra Show is as popular as ever,” he said.
“Even some five years ago stalls could get in a single field but now major attractions such as the classic cars would be worth coming to see on their own and are substantially filling a second field.”
“Visitors are as enthusiastic as ever and I enjoyed the first of my two days, meeting constituents, visiting stands and grazing in the food hall.”
Jess Meldrum, originally from Dunblane, was visiting the show for the first time with her Linen Chest stall.
She said: “This is the best show I’ve been to, outside the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston.
“It’s amazingly well organised. The staff are so helpful and nice. It’s so professional compared to elsewhere. We feel very lucky to get a stall – it’s so popular.”
The Turriff Show continues today with the livestock competitions.
The event has grown year-on-year since it began in 1864 and now attracts nearly 30,000 people visiting over the course of its two days.
Today’s highlights will include another performance from the White Helmets as well as the show jumping competition and the supreme championship judging.
Visitors to the show ground have been warned by police that parking on grass verges in the area will not be tolerated. In previous years, dozens of parking tickets have been issued.
A host of no-waiting restrictions marked by cones are in place around the town, including on Victoria Terrace, Queens Road, and Bridgend Terrace.
Entry at the gate costs £15 for adults and £10 for children aged 12 to 15, students and senior citizens.
Children under the age of 12 may enter for free if accompanied by a paying adult. And family tickets are also available.