THE tractors rolled in and the horseboxes opened for the 157th Denbigh and Flint Show.

Every year the major one-day agricultural show attracts tens of thousands of people from across North Wales and beyond to witness the best farm animals, practices and country pursuits the region has to offer.

Exhibitors in more than 70 competitions were out in the fields at The Green, in Denbigh, on Thursday aiming to impress the Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society (DFAS) judges and proved that while the Welsh agricultural industry faces uncertainty over Brexit, there is little doubt top quality standards will continue.

The highly contested exhibition competitions included light horse classes such as the riding of heritage moorland horses and the best-groomed Shetland ponies.

Suzanne Jenkins, from Oswestry, won first place in the ex-racehorse class with 12-year-old Monkey. The class is judged on the manners and movement of the former racers, which can have a lot of energy.

Mrs Jenkins said: "Monkey was exactly how I wanted him to be, well behaved and lovely to ride.

"There was a long wait for the event to start and the horses were getting fidgety, but I'm really pleased with his performance."

Elsewhere on The Green, which was coloured with more than 150 produce and trade stands, there was cattle judged on beef and dairy quality, while sheep such as hill rams and lowland lambs were judged on their wool.

Agricultural experts from Coleg Cambria got top marks in the rare sheep breed category with their Hill Radnor breed. Normally found in the Brecon area, there are only two flocks in North Wales, one of which is bred at the college’s farm.

Wendy Gacem, animal centre trainer at the college’s Northop site, said: "We breed 20 Hill Radnor at the college and while there are not many in Wales we have had a lot of enquiries because they are increasing in popularity.

“Students who are learning about agriculture or animal care get to work with the sheep which gives them good experience.”

There were also pig classes including rare Welsh pedigrees, such as those bred by Turner and Jones Roberts at their farm in Wrexham. The pigs were judged based on a set of criteria including size, shape and even ear length.

The traditional tractor run was popular with red Massey Fergusons, John Browns and Nuffields, blue Fords and white John Deeres chugging into the main arena.

A special guest in the tractor run was a gigantic New Holland 1530 combine harvester which made the sizeable tractors look much smaller than they are.

There was also an International Titan 10-20 by Deering owned by Harry Williams from Cilcain, near Mold. Built in 1919, the spectacular kerosene tractor was imported to Wales in 1988 and has undergone extensive repair work.

Demonstrations also taking place this year included a vintage car display, working dogs, sheep shearing, falconry, side saddle riding and fly-fishing.

The winners of the all competitions, which also included shire horses, showjumping and dressage, gathered in the main ring for the Grand Parade of Prize Winners at the end of the show.