Great Yorkshire Show - Media Centre

Hundreds of farmers, traders and exhibitors – not to mention thousands of animals – will converge on the Showground in Harrogate this weekend, ready to welcome the crowds on Tuesday 14 July.

The Main Ring is a focal point of the Show, hosting the showjumping competitions and main displays. Honorary Show Director Bill Cowling is on hand in the final countdown to help make sure everything looks just right.

“Everyone works hard to get the Showground ready each year – it’s a major operation,” he said.

“With only a few days left until we welcome this year’s visitors, we’re all happy to pitch in and make sure everything gets done. We’re a showcase for farming and agriculture in Yorkshire, so of course it’s important we get it right.”

Along with top-class international showjumping, which culminates on the Thursday afternoon with the prestigious Ripon Select Foods Cock o’ the North championship, there are hundreds of trade stands and thousands of animals, demonstrations of rural crafts, mouth-watering arrays of regional food and drink, fabulous floral displays and the chance to get hands-on with countryside activities.

This year is a record-breaking show, with more entries in competitive classes than ever before – 2009 sees a total of 12,189 entries compared with the previous best of 11,789 two years ago. The variety of classes ranges from driving four-in-hand coaches to honey, poultry, dairy and the backbone of the event – the cattle, pig and sheep sections.

Held at the Showground on the edge of the spa town of Harrogate, the 151^st Show takes place from Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July and showcases the very best of British agriculture and rural life.

Along with top-class international showjumping, which culminates on the Thursday afternoon with the prestigious Ripon Select Foods Cock o’ the North Championship, there are hundreds of trade stands and thousands of animals, demonstrations of rural crafts, mouth-watering arrays of regional food and drink, fabulous floral displays and the chance to get hands-on with countryside activities.

This year is a record-breaking show, with more entries in competitive classes than ever before – 2009 sees a total of 12,189 entries compared with the previous best of 11,789 two years ago. The variety of classes ranges from driving four-in-hand coaches to honey, poultry, dairy and the backbone of the event – the cattle, pig and sheep sections.

Honorary Show Director Bill Cowling said: “As well as offering a superb platform for the farming and agricultural industry, we also give the public the opportunity to learn more about rural life and have an enjoyable day out. The Great Yorkshire Show is one of the premier shows on the English calendar and has such a diverse range of attractions – we genuinely have something for all ages.”

One of the main features of this year’s Show is a rare chance to see the ‘Hull and Humber’ – the 68-foot Round the World Clipper yacht sponsored by Yorkshire Forward.

Organisers the Yorkshire Agricultural Society want to make this the greenest show ever so visitors are urged to recycle any plastic bottles in a specially designed skip in the Discovery Zone. In support of the Bettys and Taylors’ Yorkshire Rainforest Project, visitors are also urged to make recycling pledges.

Celebrity chefs Rosemary Shrager and Brian Turner will also be visiting the Show this year, with the former producing some mouth-watering dishes during cooking demonstrations at the Game Cookery Theatre. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, Rosie Winterton MP, are also due to attend and in the showjumping section, no fewer than nine members of the famous Whitaker family have entered

Fashion fans should make their way to the Skipton Building Society Fashion Pavilion, where garments by some of Yorkshire’s best up-and-coming designers will be paraded on the catwalk by models from Louise Morton & Co, Huddersfield. Tuesday also sees the finalists in the Model Young Farmers competition take to the runway, with the winner announced following the 2.30pm show.

For a taste of the very finest Yorkshire produce, head to the Food Hall, and taste the goodies on offer. And don’t forget to make time to browse around the hundreds of trade stands, where many exhibitors will be offering special Show bargains.

Long service to agriculture will be recognised with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s annual awards, and the winner of the 2009 Farming Wildlife Advisory Group Tye Trophy for conservation will also be announced on the Wednesday of the Show.

Tickets for the Great Yorkshire Show can be bought in advance until Wednesday 8 July – call the hotline on 01423 541222 or visit www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk.

Honorary Show Director, Bill Cowling said: “This is an amazing total, and it is very evident that there is a huge enthusiasm for the Great Yorkshire Show, and indeed for rural life generally.”

There are classes across 24 different sections, from driving four in hand coaches to classes for honey, poultry, show jumping and the backbone of the event… the cattle, sheep and pig sections.

Mr Cowling continued: “This year we have a number of individual records – in sheep we have 1,832 entries which is a marvellous total by anyone’s standards, wool entries are strong at 210 – the previous best was 189, lamb carcase numbers stand at 80 and our cheese and dairy show equals last year’s best of 835. The new classes for harriers have proved popular with a very creditable 161 entries.

“Looking around at other similar events, several also have record numbers which is excellent and indicates that despite difficult times, people still want to attend and exhibit at agricultural shows. I believe we offer not only a superb platform for the industry, but the opportunity for the public to learn more about rural life, and have an enjoyable day out.”

This year will be the 151^st Great Yorkshire Show, and it runs from Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate. A premier date on the national farming calendar, the show attracts more than 125,000 visitors each year.  The packed programme not only has the competitive classes, but a wide range of attractions including a superb display of the region’s food and drink, in the purpose built Food Hall, the Flower Show, fashion shows and visitors will also have the rare opportunity to see the “Hull and Humber” – the Round the World Clipper Yacht sponsored by Yorkshire Forward.

The initiative is part of the family business’s newly launched Yorkshire Rainforest Project, a long term commitment to save an area of rainforest the size of Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which stages the Great Yorkshire Show, is the first organisation to back the Yorkshire Rainforest Project as part of its commitment to make this year’s event the most environmentally friendly yet.

Bettys & Taylors’ Chief Executive, Jonathan Wild, said: “We are hoping that the many thousands of people who visit the Great Yorkshire Show this year will also become inspired to help our project succeed. The wholesale destruction of the rainforest is a major contributor to climate change and an acre of rainforest is lost every second of every day. The rainforest is more important to our survival than many of us realise. It’s the earth’s support system; absorbing carbon and producing oxygen. Saving an area the size of Yorkshire will be our biggest challenge to date.”

Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show), said: “Climate change is an increasing concern and to avert the worst effects in the future we all have to act now - whether it is here in Yorkshire, by reducing energy consumption or reducing greenhouse gases, or helping to protect the rainforests through this important campaign. Our commitment is to making this the greenest Great Yorkshire Show ever.”

The Great Yorkshire Show is also working with Northallerton-based waste recycling company Yorwaste to encourage Show visitors to recycle their plastic bottles. A decorated skip will be on site and visitors will be urged to write recycling pledges as well as filling it with plastic bottles. The skip, which will have clear panels so people can see how full it is getting, will be located at the Discovery Zone. It is estimated that 60 per cent of general waste generated at the Great Yorkshire Show will be recycled.

Yorkshire Agricultural Society also contributes to a greener planet by having a variety of year-round recycling projects including paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal, mobile phones, printer cartridges, batteries and manure.

The Society will have a further opportunity to highlight its green fingers when judges visit on Monday 29 June for the 2009 Yorkshire In Bloom competition.

Cristina Talens, Bettys & Taylors’ ethical trading manager, recently visited rainforest communities in Peru. She added: “For us, the key to saving the rainforest is to work with the people who call it home. To start our campaign we’ve joined forces with the Rainforest Foundation UK and we’ll be helping families make a living through developing small scale sustainable livelihoods and saving trees in the Ashaninka Communal Reserve, in the Selva Central region, which is recognised as a global hotspot. It’s here that we will be saving a tree for every visitor of the Show.”

Bettys & Taylors will be allocating part of its 5% Fund – a commitment to sharing five per cent of its profits with charitable and community projects – to rainforest conservation and will be supporting the Yorkshire Rainforest Project through fundraising initiatives. A donation from every Bettys Café Tea Rooms 90^th Birthday Afternoon Tea sold this summer will go towards funds. The business has a long history of campaigning for the environment and thanks to its Trees for Life Appeal, the business has already planted three million trees around the world.

In recent years, the number of young shearers competing at the show has increased as a result of more training courses run by the British Wool Marketing Board.

Bob Richardson, Chief Shearing Steward at the Great Yorkshire Show, said: “More and more young people are taking training courses in shearing and the shearing competitions at the show are open to people of all ages, entrants just need a Blue Seal* qualification to make sure they are up to standard.

“We get competitors aged from 16 right up to 70, especially in the hand shearing competitions, and the Great Yorkshire Open Championship attracts the best shearers from all over the world, including from New Zealand and Australia.”

The 2009 Great Yorkshire Show has qualifying competitions for the British Isles Shearer of the Year, English Shearer of the Year 2009 and Worshipful Company of Woolmen Junior circuits.

Competitions will take place on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 July, with trophies being awarded at 5pm on each day.

On Tuesday 14 July, young shearers with a Blue Seal qualification can participate in the Great Yorkshire Junior Championship. The winner will receive prize money, a prize certificate, the Perpetual Championship Trophy and tankard. The competitor with the best pen of shorn sheep will also win prize money.

The Great Yorkshire Blade Shearing Competition will take place on Wednesday 15 July at 10am.

Trophies for the Great Yorkshire Open Championship will be presented at 5pm on Wednesday 15 July. The winner will receive prize money, prize certificate, tankard and Perpetual Championship Trophy.

Sir Ken, President, founder and former Chairman of Wm Morrison Supermarkets, has agreed to take on the honorary role for 2010/2011 following a career spanning 55 years in the food industry.

Simon Theakston, the Society’s Chairman said: “We are delighted that Sir Ken has agreed to become our President - he follows a long tradition of distinguished Yorkshire people who have carried out this important figure-head role. His reputation goes before him, not only as a successful businessman, but as a champion of the British farming industry and a strong advocate of using locally produced food.”

He added: “The announcement of future Presidents of the Society is always made well in advance in order to allow time for preparation. Our current President, Michael Bannister, will hand over the reins after this year’s show (Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July) to Richard Elmhurst, the President Elect, who in turn will hand over to Sir Ken on the final day of the 2010 show, Thursday 15^th July.”

Commenting on his appointment Sir Ken said: “I have had close ties with farmers, and the meat and food industry generally virtually all my life, and have had a farm myself for many years. Indeed one of my early career choices was to work in horticulture but circumstances intervened, otherwise my life would have been very different. I’ve always tried to support farmers, both in business and personally, and now as much as ever, the agricultural industry needs to be playing to its strengths, and the Society is certainly a strength.”

Based at Harrogate, it is best known as the organiser of the Great Yorkshire Show, one of the UK’s premier agricultural events, which prides itself on its position as a leading showcase for the industry. The last five years have been amongst the most exciting in its 172-year history with preparations underway for the opening of the Society’s £5.1m Regional Agricultural Centre. The Centre will not only be its headquarters but also a focus for excellence for the farming and food industry. Part of the building will be a regional food shop and café, with many of its suppliers drawn from the local food producers, and there are offices which will be used by other rurally linked businesses.

Sir Ken is no stranger to the Great Yorkshire Show. “I’ve been a visitor for about 30 years, and it’s a very good event,” he said. “It is nicely balanced to appeal both to the general visitor as well as the farming industry. Its unique character gives it its backbone, and of course the Showground is blessed with wonderful facilities for use year round.”

His farming interest is both practical and informed. “We have about 1,000 acres over three farms, with sheep, wheat, barley and we fatten cattle in summer so it’s something I’m very serious about. We’ve also exhibited at the Great Yorkshire and will be showing again this year, in the sheep section with Beltex lambs, the butchers’ lamb classes and the carcase section.  In 2007, he took the Lamb Carcase Championship with a Beltex X and, as sponsor of the Cheese and Dairy Show at the event, he has presented the prizes since the section was re-introduced in 2002.  

During his year of office Sir Ken will represent the Society at events both at the showground and around the region, preside at meetings as well as provide guidance and support to the board of trustees.  

Previous Presidents have included HRH The Princess Royal, HRH The Duchess of Kent Lord Harewood, The Marquess of Hartington, Sir Marcus Worsley and The Viscount Downe.

The competition, which makes its debut this year, takes place on the first day of the event and is part of the stunning catwalk shows in the Skipton Building Society Fashion Pavilion. The Great Yorkshire Show, which each year attracts more than 130,000 visitors, runs from Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July and is held at the Great Yorkshire Showground on the edge of the spa town of Harrogate.

As well as the fashion shows, the attractions at what is one of the UK’s largest farming and country events include international showjumping, a flower show, thousands of animals, displays and plenty of fun for all the family.

All seven shortlisted contenders will strut their stuff on the catwalk during the four fashion shows on the Tuesday. The winner will be announced after the 2.30pm show and will receive £300 from the sponsors, Skipton Building Society and a crate of Black Sheep beer. Each of the other finalists will receive £50.

Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director said: “The fashion shows are certainly amongst the most popular attractions at the event. In the past we’ve concentrated on female fashions but this year we wanted to add a different dimension, and link it to farming. Involving the Young Farmers Movement does just that, and I’m sure it will be very well received, and who knows, it might lead to new career opportunities which would certainly be diversification with a difference!”

The seven finalists hoping to take the title of Model Young Farmer 2009 are:

• Mark Simpson, aged 29, of Ossett, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, whose ambitions include becoming a model. He currently helps to run his stepfather’s farm.

• Christian Gallon, aged 21, of Greengates, Bradford, West Yorkshire, works in agricultural sales and was nominated by his aunt, Simone Gallon, who is the editor of Farmers’ Mart magazine.

• Jimmy Atkinson, aged 25, of Harperley Hall, Crook, Co Durham was nominated by his mother, Anita. He works with cattle and sheep as well as being involved in forestry.

• Stuart Fort, aged 24, of Glusburn, Keighley, West Yorkshire, works on his parents’ dairy farm and was nominated by his girlfriend.

• Robert Battye, aged 19, of Snowden Hill, Oxspring, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was nominated by staff at the Young Farmers’ County office. He is currently taking a welding and fabrication apprenticeship but also helps out at his family’s beef farm.

• Thomas Foley, aged 20, of Rathmell, near Settle, North Yorkshire, works on a beef farm and undertakes agricultural contracting. He was nominated by his fiancée.

• Stephen Knowles, aged 30, of Langthorpe, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, is the current County Chairman of Yorkshire Young Farmers and is taking part in the competition to help promote the organisation.

Bernadette Gledhill of the Louise Morton Model Agency and the fashion show co-ordinator, is helping the contenders learn the essentials of catwalk modelling, offering professional advice and guidance on how they need to walk and act to really look the part.

She said: “Even professional models can find it daunting when they first take to the runway and walk out in front of an audience, so I’m really impressed with these guys for being willing to give it a go.

“I’m helping as much as I can so they will know what to expect and I’m sure that when the time comes they’ll all step out confidently and show everyone what they can do. We’re lining up some fantastic designer outfits for them, too, so they’ll look fabulous! Good luck to all of them.”

The fashion shows are free and take place in the Skipton Building Society Fashion Pavilion at the north west side of the showground. Times each day are 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm. Please note the Model Young Farmers will only be appearing in the Tuesday shows.

The role has been taken by The Revd Canon Leslie Morley, a familiar face to many through his years of pastoral work across Yorkshire.  His love of the countryside and empathy with farmers and the rural community mean he was a natural choice as Chaplain.

Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive said: “We’ve known Leslie for a number of years, not least through his involvement with Farm Crisis Network and the Yorkshire Rural Support Network. He manages to combine a great sense of humour with a genuine concern for farmers, and a practical hands-on approach to making things happen! I know he will be an excellent support for staff and an excellent ambassador for the Society in its work supporting the rural community.”

Amongst Canon Morley’s many roles within the rural community, for the last decade he has been the Rural Officer for the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds, which involves advising the Bishops and the Diocese on matters of concern to the farming and rural communities and supporting rural clergy and congregations. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Chaplain to the Yorkshire branch of Farm Crisis Network and a member of the Church on Show committee for the Great Yorkshire. His home is in Low Pittington, County Durham.

Speaking about his appointment he said: “I was delighted to be asked to take on the role and had no hesitation in saying “yes”. I’m very much looking forward to the Great Yorkshire Show, and I extend a warm welcome to Morning Prayers, each day at the President’s Lawn Band Stand at 7.30am.  I’m very conscious that this is a year round post, and so will be a frequent visitor to the Society’s offices to be available to the staff. I am also getting involved in activities around the region on the Society’s behalf.”

Around 2,000 horses and ponies will compete in the equine classes held during the north’s leading agricultural event, which takes place at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate from Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July.

Showjumping has always been a major feature of the show, attracting entries from across the county. With a course created by internationally-renowned designer Bob Ellis and prize money totalling £40,820, this year will be no exception.

Competitions include the William Hanson Stakes, Great Yorkshire Championship and the Badsworth Stakes Accumulator, with the pinnacle being the popular Ripon Select Foods Cock o’ the North Championship. Held in the Main Ring on the final afternoon of the Show, the winner will ride away with £7,000 and the Perpetual Silver Challenge Trophy. Competition is always fierce, and spectators will be eager to learn who will succeed last year’s winner, Laura Stephenson of Keighley, West Yorkshire, on Harvey Smith’s Sultano.

The 2009 Show also sees the introduction of an all-weather collecting ring next to the White Rose Ring. The new facility, installed by King Pin Arenas, is part of a £100,000 programme to improve drainage around the Showground.

Mr Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director, explained: “The new ring is a great addition to our already excellent facilities here at the Great Yorkshire Showground and puts us among the best agricultural shows in terms of the amenities we offer for our equine classes.

“It also gives us more choices if the weather proves less than ideal. While we hope the 2009 Show will enjoy brighter skies than last year, the new ring is big enough to hold competitive classes if the ground is unsuitable elsewhere.”

Other additions this year are two new qualifiers for the Horse of the Year Show. The winners of the Shires, 2 Years or Over and Lead Rein Pony of Hunter Type classes will now be eligible to enter this prestigious annual event, which takes place at the Birmingham NEC in October.

Ridden Hunters, Mountain & Moorland and Private Driving are other very popular classes in the equine section and the premier in-hand class, the Cuddy Supreme Championship, will be judged on the final afternoon of the Show.

The popular Shetlands, side-saddle and driving sections and children’s lead classes will also take place over the three days, with entries expected to be high in all areas.

Staff at the Great Yorkshire Showground were delighted to receive further testament to the quality of equestrian section recently when it was voted the British Show Jumping Association Members County Show of the Year.

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this wonderful award. Showjumping has always been a major part of the Great Yorkshire Show and we pride ourselves on the care we take in preparing the ground and the tremendous support we receive from exhibitors,” said Mr Cowling.

For the first time, the Show is looking for judges for a new class being introduced to what is one of England’s largest farming and rural events.

As part of the Great Yorkshire Show’s Cheese and Dairy Show, there will be a new Consumer’s Choice Class when members of the public will be able to put their love and knowledge of all things dairy to the test.

Visitors will be able to reserve time slots to try out their taste buds as judges of the dairy products class on the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show, which runs from Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 July.

It is hoped products from across the Cheese and Dairy Show will be entered for the Consumer’s Choice Class – allowing visitors to taste everything from hard and blue cheeses to yoghurts, ice creams, milk, cream and butter.

Jayne Hickinbotham, co-ordinator of the Cheese and Dairy Show, said: “If you dote on dairy and can give all the entries a run for their money, then book your time slot. Judge with a friend or a partner if you wish, and let the companies have your comments on their entries.”

The Cheese and Dairy Show is a popular part of the Great Yorkshire Show, which attracts more than 125,000 visitors over the three days. Last year, around 126,376 visitors attended the event, including Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Since it was introduced in 2002, entries in the cheese and dairy section have continued to increase. This year, in response to demand, there will be more cheesemaking and judging demonstrations throughout the event; dairy product trade stands are being introduced into the judging area for the first time, allowing the public to buy many of the products being judged and there will be a greater variety of speciality products on display.

Tickets are now on sale for the 151^st Great Yorkshire Show. There are savings for tickets booked in advance. Advance ticket prices are: adults - £18; concessions – £16; children (aged 5 – 18) - £8; under 5s – free; family ticket (two adults and three children) - £47. To buy, call the ticket hotline on 01423 541222 or order securely online at www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk.  Car parking is free and extensive.