Great Yorkshire Success!
Sunshine, royal visitors, celebrities and the best of British farming combined to make the 157th Great Yorkshire Show a spectacular event.
As the gates closed on England’s premier agricultural show, a new era began as show director Charles Mills took over the reins from Bill Cowling after a decade in the role. A total of 132,131 people came through the gates, an increase on last year’s figure of 130,989.
Visitors to the show were thrilled to see HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall tour the event on the opening day, while crowds packed the showground at Harrogate to see the stars of television’s Blue Peter and The One Show try their hands at a host of activities around the site. .
On his first day in the new role, Show Director Charles Mills said: “The Great Yorkshire Show has an amazing reputation as a superb industry showcase, as well as a fun and educational day out for all the family. Our vital role in celebrating farming excellence will continue, and the presence of our Royal patron underlines the significance of the Great Yorkshire Show to the rural community and beyond.”
Fast and furious action was provided in the Main Ring by the Shetland Pony Grand National while there was plenty of fun for all with the hilarious One Man and His Pig competition.
In the competitive classes records were broken before the event began, with all- time high entries in six of the 24 sections, including in sheep and pigs.
The climax of three days of top class showjumping came with the final minutes of the Ripon Select Foods Cock o’the North championship which saw Douglas Duffin take the prestigious trophy after a four-way jump off against the clock.
Preparations are already underway for the Society’s autumn event, Countryside Live which takes place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October. The 158th Great Yorkshire Show runs from Tuesday 12 – Thursday 14 July, 2016.
Results Included:
Supreme Beef Champion: British Blue female, Tweedale Hawkeye shown by Redhead and Watson of Northumberland, after taking the breed championship.
Supreme Dairy Champion: David Wright’s Holstein, Mikali Seaver, from Kendal, Cumbria
Supreme Sheep Champion: A Charollais ram, Rhaeadr Knock, owned by
Charles and Valerie Marwood of Whenby, York.
BPA Pig of the Year: Stephen and Hayley Loveless of Dorset, with a Duroc boar, Portbredy Top Drawer 1171.
Supreme Pig Champion: a 12 month old Hampshire boar, Coalyeat Peterbilt, from John Sutcliffe, of Ulverston.
Ripon Select Foods Cock o’the North Showjumping Championship: Douglas Duffin riding Richard Jenkinson’s Quidam BZ.
Cuddy Supreme Championship: An Irish Draught chestnut filly, Leyward Diamond Jubilee, owned by Mrs S Hollins of York
The Champion Ridden Hunter: Robert Walker, riding a six-year-old lightweight gelding, Pride of Place.
Supreme Dairy Product: Ryeburn of Helmsley for their raspberry, toffee and meringue ice cream.
Supreme Champion Cheese award: Tom Walker and Sons of Stockton on Tees for their Rougette Bavarian Red.
Garden Show, Doncaster Cup for the Best Exhibit: Chysanthemums Direct of Cheshire.
Children’s Vegetable Box competition: pupils from Mill Hill Primary School, Northallerton.
ENDS
17 July 2015
Judy Thompson, PR Manager, Yorkshire Agricultural Society – 01423 546215 or judyt@yas.co.uk
Editors’ Notes
The Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event Countryside Live, are organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society as part of its year round work supporting and promoting the farming and rural industry. Next year will be the 158th Great Yorkshire Show, and dates are Tuesday 12 – Thursday 14 July. Countryside Live, the Society’s autumn event takes place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, 2015. The record attendance figure for the Great Yorkshire Show is 135,111.
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