Secretary Elise Paull said gate-takings were “right down” on last year’s record attendance, but bounced back in Saturday’s milder weather.

“It was a fantastic show,” Ms Paull said.

“We can’t control the weather, but we had great entertainment, really good entries and the volunteers put in the hard yakka, especially on Saturday. 

“The highlight was the fireworks and a huge crowed stayed back for them.”

Ms Paull said horse events were called off in Friday’s heat, but were started early on Saturday to compensate.

She said the pet show and other events were a hit.

Chief steward Gerri Richard said Janice de Jager, in Friday’s heat, hit on the brilliant idea of misting 

visitors to the pavilion, with a spray bottle normally reserved for flowers.

“She even squirted the old ladies,” Ms Richard said. “None of us had any makeup left.”

Ms Richard said successive hot windy days had discouraged some produce entries, but many prevailed. Fruit entries were particularly down, but “the veggies were good, considering” and “the lilies in the pavilion were better than the ones in my garden”.

Needlework entries were up, thanks to a $500 carrot from South Head’s Carol Watchman.

Ms Paull has got in early, issuing an appeal now for strong backs to help set up next year’s show.