French v Yorkshire Cheesemakers - Head to Head at the Great Yorkshire Show

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Organisers of next month’s Great Yorkshire Show are getting into the spirit of the world’s biggest cycling event by staging their own homage to Le Tour de France.

(NB: Image available to download at the bottom of the release)

Cheese makers from France and Yorkshire are being invited to compete in a fun new class at the 156th Great Yorkshire Show, which runs from Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 July.

In recognition of Le Grand Depart’s historic two days in the county, for the first time judges at the Great Yorkshire Cheese and Dairy Show will be asked to choose the best French or Yorkshire-produced cheese.

Judy Bell, Chief Steward for the Cheese and Dairy Show explained: “In celebration of this year’s Tour de France Grand Depart in Yorkshire, we are inviting French and Yorkshire cheesemakers to go ‘wheel to wheel’ in search of the ultimate cheese. This is obviously very topical and we’ve attracted a good number of entries. We hope it will be a new, fun element to the show which everyone will enjoy,” she added.

The new class is one of almost 150 classes in the popular section, which has attracted entries from across the UK and Europe including Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Holland. Held for the first time in 2002, the section has grown in popularity over the years, and now attracts around 800 entries.

Competitors all have their eye on the show’s ultimate accolade – the chance to scoop the Supreme Champion Dairy Product trophy and rosette – plus a number of other prestigious prizes which are available. These include trophies for Best Ice Cream, Best Yoghurt, Best Milk and Best Dressed Dairy Product amongst others.

As well as the nod to Le Tour, for the first time since the section was re-launched, visitors will be able to watch the cheese and dairy judges in action. Judging will take place on the first day of England’s premier agricultural show, with the trophies awarded on Wednesday 9 July.

“I hope that the show visitors will find seeing the judges at work very interesting. Obviously it is a very serious job, and the public won’t be able to approach the judges during their deliberations, but I am hoping that they will be able to share their knowledge and interact a little during the process,” said Mrs Bell.

The Cheese and Diary Show is not just about expert judges – the event also offers visitors the opportunity to test their taste buds on cheese and ice cream in the popular Consumer Choice classes.

Would-be judges will be given advice on how to spot a good cheese and ice cream/chilled product, and then asked to make their selection, with prizes awarded to the winners.

The Consumers’ Choice Cheese classes take place on Wednesday 9 July between 1pm and 3pm, and the Ice Cream and Chilled Products classes are planned for Thursday 10 July between 10am and 12 noon.

And at the end of the three days, many of the winning cheeses will go under the hammer at the Big Cheese Auction with visitors offered the chance to take home a 20kg reminder of their day at the Show.

ENDS

30 June 2014

Media contact: Judy Thompson, PR Manager, 01423 546215 or email judyt@yas.co.uk or Caroline Cook on 0792 0091923.

If you wish to apply for press passes to the Great Yorkshire Show, please complete the online application form on our website, by 2 July 2014 - http://greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/media/press-passes

Editors’ Notes - GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW

Tickets for the Great Yorkshire Show are available on line - www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or call 01423 541222 or in person from the Show’s office at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

Tickets bought in advance+                        Tickets bought on the gate

Adult:                           £22                              Adult                            £25

Concession:                £21                              Concession:                £24                             

Children (5 – 18yrs):   £9                                Children (5 – 18 yrs):  £11

Family Ticket*:            £56                              Family Ticket*             £64

Under 5s are admitted free but must be accompanied.

Family* - admits 2 adults and up to three children.

The final date for ordering advance tickets is Wednesday 2 July.

Parking is free and extensive. Free buses will run from Harrogate Bus Station to the showground. Please be aware, dogs, other than assistance dogs, are not allowed on the showground.  For more information and the latest news, please see www.greatyorkshireshow.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. 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 2014 Great Yorkshire Show are Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July, and Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October for Countryside Live.

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