BRIGHT sunshine and sizzling temperatures ensured a bumper crowd at this year’s Kent Show.

More than 100,000 people visited the Kent County Showground at Detling this weekend with visitor numbers for Friday and Saturday up on last year.

On the opening day nearly 20,000 passed through the gates, more than 10 per cent up on last year.

Despite the hot weather the animals in competition were beautifully turned out to be judged by experts from across the South East.

Competition was particularly tough in the Young Farmers Clubs ring, where a number of strong entries could be seen.

It was a bittersweet occasion for youngsters from the Astor of Hever School in Maidstone following the closure of the school farm. Many decided to help other school farms and young farms clubs to the kind of success they enjoyed in the past.

Former head boy Stephen Paine, 19, and the school’s first pupil to claim a place at Cambridge University said many students involved with the farm had been determined to play a part this year.

He said: "I think the fact that Astor of Hever are still at the show this year proves the defiance of the club against the closure and how serious they are about farming in general.

"It’s a great feeling when you take part and show off the animals around the ring. We had great success at Astor of Hever while I was there. Now that is all in the past. It’s a great shame."

Displays including birds of prey from the Hawking centre based at Leeds Castle and show jumping drew huge crowds.

A new attraction for this year was the Food and Drink Expo where there was a chance to taste some of Kent’s finest fare as well as samples from the Nord Pas de Calais in France and Virginia in America.

Another new attraction – the evening entertainment – also proved popular with many visitors choosing to take advantage of the 8pm closing time and avoid the queues to get home.

Among the 500 stalls was the chance to learn more about safety from the police and fire brigade, buy a pot of locally made honey or even to order a swimming pool for your back garden.

The Kent Messenger Marquee was the second largest tent at this year’s show with a sports Superstars tournament and a display of the Webb Ellis Cup won by the victorious England Rugby squad in 2003.

Andy Pratt, 28, captain of the Kent rugby squad visited the marquee on Saturday and sportingly agreed to be put through his paces on the grueling Superstars course with the help of fitness instructors from Maidstone Leisure Centre.

He said: "It was a lot of fun. I definitely won’t have to do any training today at least."

Around 60 volunteers from St John Ambulance, including four doctors, two nurses and six trained first aiders, were on round the clock during the weekend.

On the opening day they treated 70 people for bites, headaches, cuts and bruises, and around 90 were treated for similar problems on Saturday.

One major incident came during the Hunt Team relay competititon on Sunday when Kevin Edmonson, riding major at the West Street Tickham B hunt from Faversham came of his horse.

An ambulance on standby outside the ring was quickly at the scene and Mr Edmonson was treated in the ground before being taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

Assistant county nursing officer David Popple said: "We have treated people for minor things and luckily the only real major thing was the rider falling from his horse but we were at the scene very quickly and also had a paramedic who helped our staff."

Crews were also on standby to care for the 2,000 plus visitors staying overnight at the site.

Gill Collins from the Kent County Agricultural Society said: "I think it has been a fantastic weekend, with great weather. We have been very busy and everyone seems to have had a good time."