Fine weather brings out the crowds and royalty at the Great Yorkshire Show
There were three days of farming excellence and entertainment at the 156th Great Yorkshire Show. Numbers were down but enthusiasm for this premier agricultural event was as great as ever. Organisers announced a gate figure of 130,949, compared with last year’s 134,837.
Honourary show director and a newly appointed Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Bill Cowling said: ‘We’ve had an exceptional three days with super crowds, record entries and of course, in what is a first for us, two royal visitors in as many days. Our gate figure is slightly down (less than three per cent) on last year’s which is a bit disappointing, but to have had two amazing events (the Tour de France Grand Depart) showcasing Yorkshire within one week is just wonderful.
‘And of course we’re already looking ahead to our autumn show, Countryside Live in October.’
The Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex toured the show meeting visitors, seeing top class livestock and enjoying the diversity of rural life showcased at the event.
Great Yorkshire Show highlights included Lorenzo, the Flying Frenchman and his amazing equine display each day, plus record cattle entries with superb quality across the classes, said Bill. The Supreme Beef Championship went to an eight-year-old Limousin cow, Brockhurst Bolshoi, from Doug Mash of Chesham, Bucks. The Supreme Dairy silverware was awarded to a Holstein, Meiklefirth Plaid Lutske, owned by David Yates of Kircudbrightshire.
There were also record entries in the sheep section, which saw a homebred Texel tup, Sportsmans Upper Class take the championship. The tup was shown by Mark Priestley, on behalf of Boden & Davies of Mellor Hall Farm, Stockport.
The BPA Pig of the Year was won by Steve Loveless of Bridport, Dorset with a Duroc pig, Portbury Turnatofe.
In the equine section, there was a Yorkshire win when Steve Pullan of Knaresborough took the prestigious Cuddy Supreme Championship with a seven- year-old Cleveland Bay mare, Knaresborough Moon Dust.
And in the culmination of three days of exciting show jumping, Robert Bevis of Wrexham won The Ripon Select Foods Cock o’the North trophy after a thrilling clear round on Pebbles 1V.
In the Garden Section, the NFU Mutual won the top award, the Doncaster Cup, with a display of fruit and vegetables and in the Great Yorkshire Cheese and Dairy Show, the honours were taken by Colton Bassett Dairy with stilton.
Preparations are already underway for next year’s Great Yorkshire Show which runs from July 14th- 16th.
