Sunshine and success for 2013 Great Yorkshire Show
Glorious sunshine brought the 155th Great Yorkshire Show to a close, with organisers announcing the third highest visitor number in the event’s history.
A total of 134,837 people came through the gates for England’s premier agricultural show. Top class animals, celebrity guests and wonderful summer weather helped make it one of the most memorable shows ever, said Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director.
“Our visitor numbers are tremendous and we are extremely grateful to our members, visitors and exhibitors for their support in what has been a particularly difficult year. As a shop window for the industry, the Show will give a welcome boost to farming and the wider rural community, and that’s very much what the event is about. Looking forward, plans are already well underway for our autumn event, Countryside Live in October.”
The record for the highest visitor numbers was set in 2006 when 135,211 people came to the show, including HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. The second highest figure was two years ago, at 135,086.
One of the highlights of the 2013 event was the gallop around the Main Ring by this year’s Grand National winner, Auroras Encore. Ridden by trainer Sue Smith, the crowds gave the world famous horse a rapturous reception and a standing ovation. Sue is the wife of Yorkshire Show jumping legend Harvey Smith. The couple were presented with a special championship rosette.
Main prize winners were:
Supreme Beef: Mr and Mrs M J Alford of Cullompton, Devon with a Limousin heifer, Foxhillfarm Gracie.
Blythewood Native Beef Pairs: Aberdeen Angus - Glympton Farms Ltd and HP Whittaker Farms and Co.
Blythewood Beef Continental Pairs: British Limousin – Mr & Mrs Alford and Millington Grange Estate
Blythewood Dairy Pairs: Riverdane Holsteins & J Heler Farms
Burke Dairy Trophy: Riverdane Holsteins & J Heler Farms
Supreme Dairy: Riverdane Holsteins with Lavenham Adeen
Supreme Sheep: A British Rouge ram owned by Percy Tait of Worcester
BPA Pig of the Year: A British Landrace boar, Finnington Hawk 2, owned by Stephen Richardson and Janice Wood of Sale, Cheshire
Doncaster Cup for Best Flower Show Exhibit: The Delphinium Society
Supreme Cheese & Dairy Champion: Dairy Crest Davidstow Creamery, Cornwall
EQUINE
Ripon Select Foods Cock o’the North Championship: John Whitaker, riding Maximillian.
Cuddy Supreme In Hand Championship: Mr P Kay of Barnsley with Amiro Royale
Top Spec Supreme Ridden Championship: Party Time, owned by Mrs Jill Day of Tarporley, Cheshire, and ridden by Robert Walker.
ENDS
12 July 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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