Countryside Live - All Set for Success
Almost 3,000 competitive entries have been received for this weekend’s Countryside Live, with classes for everything from pigeons, to cattle to show jumping.
Note to news and picture desks: the cattle and sheep will begin to arrive at the Showground from Thursday afternoon. There will be opportunities for preview photos and interviews on both Thursday and Friday.
The rural extravaganza is the little sister of the Great Yorkshire Show and takes place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October with a packed programme of entertainment, plenty of hands on activities as well as the competitive classes with some of the country’s finest livestock.
Bill Cowling, Show Director said: “This will be our 11th Countryside Live, and as always we’ve had tremendous support from the farming industry and are looking forward to a great weekend. We’ve got record entries in our equine section and the cattle and sheep figures are very good too. It’s a chance to see what makes the farming industry tick, and also for all the family to enjoy a super day out.” Preparations are well underway with the first animals expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon.
New this year are the carriage driving trials, there are chain saw carving demonstrations for the first time and the story of wool, from the back of a sheep through to the fashion catwalk will be brought to life through a hands on demonstrations and activities.
The popular Search for a Talented Show Jumper has attracted a record breaking entry figure of 52. Olympic equine experts, Graham and Tina Fletcher will be putting the would-be successors to John Whitaker through their paces on both days of the event.
Elsewhere visitors can enjoy Diggerland, dog agility displays, sheepdog demonstrations, have a go archery, birds of prey demonstrations, as well as an abundance of hands on activities in the Create & Explore Pavilion.
Countryside Live Competitive Entry Figures
| Section | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
| Beef | 99 | 163 | 151 | 166 | ---- | 168 | 183 | 183 | 191 | 189 | 176 |
| Beef Young Handlers | 17 | 15 | |||||||||
| Sheep | 303 | 303 | 204 | 232 | --- | 184 | 274 | 252 | 274 | 280 | 210 |
| Sheep YoungHandlers | 18 | 18 | |||||||||
| Equine | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 156 | 188 | 226 | 225 | 303 | 344 |
| Honey | --- | --- | --- | 152 | 126 | 99 | 120 | 129 | 149 | 215 | 215 |
| Pigeons | --- | --- | --- | 568 | 620 | 659 | 782 | 721 | 673 | 848 | 769 |
| Poultry | --- | 832 | --- | 931 | 1037 | 1010 | 1207 | 1260 | 1273 | 1270 | 1027 |
| Show Jumper Talent | 43 |
48 |
44 |
52 |
|||||||
| Total | 402 | 1298 | 355 | 2049 | 1783 | 2276 | 2754 | 2814 | 2833 | 3184 | 2828 |
Tickets are available on the gate, Adult tickets are £10, Children (5 -18yrs) £5 and Family tickets (2 adults and up to 3 children) £28.
For more information please see the website www.countrysidelive.co.uk
ENDS
15 October 2013
Judy Thompson, PR Manager, Yorkshire Agricultural Society – 01423 546215 or judyt@yas.co.uk
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY:
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1837 and is a charity dedicated to supporting the farming industry and rural life. This ranges from educational initiatives to the Society’s Nuffield Scholarships to hosting the Yorkshire Rural Support Network. The Society is based at the Regional Agricultural Centre, Harrogate; the RAC includes Fodder, the Society’s award winning regional food shop and café which opened in June 2009.
The Society is the organiser of the annual farming and country showcase, the Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event, Countryside Live. Both take place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire and are flagship events for agriculture and rural life. Dates for the next Countryside Live are Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October and the 2014 Great Yorkshire Show runs from Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July. See also www.yas.co.uk and www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
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