THE Royal Isle of Wight County Show fought back - and won - against the weather.
Town came to country in such numbers that at one point the County Showground at Northwood reached its 5,000 capacity and people were briefly turned away.
Organisers had faced torrential rain and gales in the days leading up to today's show but they vowed not to let foul weather defeat them.
Royal IW Agricultural Society president Maj Gen Martin White, the Island's Lord Lieutenant, said: "I remember when we were given a day off school to come to the County Show - it was THE big Thursday of the year back then.
"My fear, bearing in mind recent history, was that we would lose an event that is so important to the Island. But this year was a really good stab at it by the blend of new people and old hands - and we can build on that."
Equestrian events and livestock classes for the farming community, blended with the show's eco theme and arena entertainment and trade stands to draw the crowds to a windswept field.
"The farming community is used to dealing with bad weather and we were going to stage it - come hell or high water," said show chairman Amy Willcock