Record Visitors for Countryside Live
A record breaking attendance figure brought the 11th Countryside Live to a close with organizers the Yorkshire Agricultural Society saying it was the best ever.
A total of 12,689 visitors came through the gates of the Great Yorkshire Show’s little sister event this weekend (19 and 20 October). The figure was more than 5% up on last year’s record of 12,061.
Show Director Bill Cowling said: “This is an absolutely super figure. It underlines the value of Countryside Live to the farming and rural community, and people really enjoy it. There’s been a real buzz all weekend, and the weather’s been kind too. So now we roll up our sleeves and look forward to next year’s Great Yorkshire Show.”
A combination of some of the finest British livestock, equestrian excellence, plus everything from ferret racing to dog agility displays helped ensure the event at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate was an outstanding success.
For the first time, there was an international flavour with more than 100 farriers from America and across Europe competing for around £25,000 worth of prizes in the horse shoeing competitions. Elsewhere chainsaw carving, mountain biking and birds of prey displays added to the weekend’s excitement.
The new carriage driving trials, with drivers manoeuvring their horses around obstacles against the clock, proved a thrilling spectacle with Stephanie Milner from York taking the championship, assisted by her father Jonny, riding on the carriage’s back step.
In the sheep section, Hannah Brown of Bedale won the Champion’s sash for the Single Butchers’ Lamb. Hannah is no stranger to success at Countryside Live having taken numerous prize rosettes in the past. Joe Burnett of Leominster picked up the Championship award for the Pair of Butchers Lambs.
Eight year old April Skelton from Penrith was named young sheep handler
champion, beating 14 year old Sam Jacklin Leng of Pickering who had to be content with reserve.
Judge David Wright awarded the Supreme cattle title to Gloucester’s Andrew Bishop for his Limousin heifer, ‘Goldihova’ with Yorkshireman, Richard Atkinson taking the Reserve place with another Limousin heifer, “Bramble.”
In the young beef handler section, Rachel Harrison, 16, of Slaidburn, Clitheroe took the top title, with Fiona Bland, 13, from Thornton, Bradford as reserve.
Other results:
Equine:
Ridden Mountain & Moorland Section (a qualifier for Olympia Horse Show) won by Sandra Burton of Haigh, Wigan on her 8 year old grey gelding Connemara, Fly the Last Flute.
Search for a Talented Show Jumper: 13 year old Ellie Meldrum of Jedburgh, Roxburghshire with her 21 year old pony Sylvester.
Coloured Horse & Pony Champion: Sarah Ambler of Halifax riding Monknash Moonshine, a six year skewbald gelding.
Other Sections
Horticulture (organized by the Knaresborough Horticultural Society): Lishman Challenge Chrysanthemum Cup, Bill Crowther of Mirfield; National Vegetable Society Silver Medal for Best Exhibit: John Dale, York; Best Exhibit in Show and the Morley Flower Arranging Cup, Yvonne Houseman, Knaresborough.
Pigeons: Keith and Gill Robson, Darlington – Best Fancy Pigeon, Champion Fancy Flier and Reserve. Best Young Fancier: Lewis Fryer, 9, of Rotherham.
Poultry: Andy Waterworth and Ken Woods of Leigh, Lancashire, won the Supreme Championship title with a White Silkie pullet.
Honey: Wendy Maslin of Kirk Ella, Hull won the Yorkshire Herald Cup for the most points, the Yorkshire Post Cup and the Yorkshire Bee Keepers’ Association Challenge Cup. The Blue Ribbon Award for the Best Exhibit in the Show went to Andrew Woolhouse of Barnsley.
ENDS
21 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 2014 Great Yorkshire Show are Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July, and Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October for Countryside Live. See www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk for more information.
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