Delighted organisers of Doncaster's Auckley Show celebrated the return of showjumping to their annual spectacular – as the ghost of foot and mouth disease was finally banished.

Showjumping was a traditional favourite at the event's home at Riverside Park, off the village's Ravenswood Drive for many years.

But it was axed in 2001 when the disease broke out across the country.

This weekend marked its return for the first time since the crisis hit the countryside.

Staff from Boston Park stables, at nearby Lindholme, stepped into the breach and set up a course for the weekend extravaganza with 60 rosettes dished out across 12 classes.

Delighted show president Neil Woodward said: "Lucy Chappell from the stables stepped in at short notice – and we're delighted to have the showjumping back.

"There's been a gap of many years and it is brilliant to see it return, because it gives the show a great atmosphere. We're hoping it will become a regular event again.

"It was the foot and mouth disease which stopped it originally, and after that we struggled to get it up and running again."

Boston Park stables owner Lucy is now hoping to be back again next year for the event.

She said: "We run shows for our livery yard, but we only started doing them in March, so we were really pleased to be asked."

Organisers estimate more than 1,000 people turned out for this year's show despite wet weather moving some activities, originally due to be held outside, into a marquee.

A parade of costumes for the event's fancy dress competition went ahead with umbrellas gathered for the occasion and was won by sisters Rebecca and Hannah Edgar-Barrows, aged two and six, who donned cave-girl style attire.

This year saw the introduction of a specially brewed beer for the event, called Auckley Showstopper, which also proved a success. The barrel, brewed by the Idle Brewery at West Stockwith, had run dry within three hours of the event starting, although there were still another nine beers available.

This year's event was opened by Don Valley MP Caroline Flint, who also judged the fancy dress competition.

She said: "This event takes months of planning and seems to get bigger and better every year."

Planning is now starting for next year's show on August 15 - the 25th anniversary of the event running at its present site.

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