Show enthusiasts are gearing up for the 165th Great Yorkshire Show next week, with a number of Scottish exhibitors, judges and exhibitors heading south to Harrogate for the big event.
Taking place from Tuesday July 9 to Friday 12, the four-day extravaganza is set to welcome 140,000 people to the 250-acre showground which celebrates agriculture, food, farming and countryside, with a respect for tradition while also embracing new additions.
The event also boasts some 13,500 entries across 21 different sections and an estimated 8500 animals which will all be put through their paces.
As visitor numbers are capped each day, tickets are only available to purchase in advance and are not available to buy on the gate, with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday already sold out.
The native breed judging in the cattle lines kicks off on the Tuesday at 9am, with the commercial classes following at 1pm. The continental breeds are judged on the Wednesday alongside all dairy breeds.
There are various MV and non-MV accredited sheep breed judging on the Tuesday and Wednesday, commencing at 9.00am both days.
Thursday sees the beef and dairy inter-breed competitions with both classes commencing at 9:30am. The final judging of the Blythewood dairy pairs takes place the same day in the main ring at 13:50pm.
Judging of the sheep supreme also begins at 10.30am on the Thursday working through the various championships, followed by the young handlers at 2pm.
Beef young handlers will take in the section rings at 9.30am on the Friday morning, and will be followed by pairs and breed competitions with the final judging of the Blythewood beef pairs at 2pm.
There are various specials on the Friday in the sheep section too including the overall pairs and groups.
Once again, there are a number of Scottish farmers who are officiating as breed judges to include:
Limousin: K Redpath, Kelso, Roxburghshire
Galloway: G Harvey, Balfron, Glasgow
Highland: M Auld, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire
Dairy Shorthorn: A Lawson, Leven, Fife
Dairy inter-breed: J Lochhead, Mouswald, Dumfries
Beltex: A Morton, Denny, Sterlingshire
Blue Texel: A Brisbane, Castle Kennedy, Stranraer
Border Leicester: A Watson, Stow, Galashiels
Clun Forrest: L Beddie, Torphins, Aberdeenshire
North Country Cheviot (park): G Milne, St Andrews, Fife
Shetland: Miss A Doull, Sullom, Shetland
Zwartbles: A Baird, Dunblane, Perthshire
World Ayrshire Federation Conference
An added attraction of this year’s event will be the World Ayrshire Federation Annual Conference which will see 100 farmers from countries including Kenya, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and America attend as part of a UK Tour.
The conference comprises an 18-day tour of Britain aimed at helping Federation members learn more about Ayrshire cattle in the UK with the Great Yorkshire Show being the only agricultural event the Federation is attending as part of the tour.
“It is particularly special for me to welcome the Ayrshire World Conference as I was chief steward for the Ayrshire breed in the 90s for the Great Yorkshire Show and this will be my final show as director,” said Charles Mills, who has been show director since 2016.
Dairy farmer, Rachel Coates, West Yorkshire, will make history as the first female to take over the role of show director of the Great Yorkshire Show after this year’s event.
Rachel said: “I am honoured to be taking over the reins as show director from Charles who has done an amazing job over the last eight years.
" I have been coming to the show since I was 18 which is when I got the bug for it. My aim will be to promote the show to the younger generations so that it continues to flourish and grow.”
Charles Mills said: “I can’t think of a better candidate to hand over the reins to and I know Rachel will take the show from strength to strength.”
New to the event this year are a craft beer bar, a Battle of the Butchers, Theakston’s Great Yorkshire Inn coupled with main ring performances from Forever Tenors and the Paul Hannam Quad Bike Stunt Show.
The Battle of the Butchers which has been organised by Danny Upson of Dalziel Ltd and the Institute of Meat, will see nine butchers go head to head to create the best meat products from a range of prime cuts.
The initial heats take place from 10.30am over the first three days of the show and will feature three teams of two butchers competing to create products from pork, beef, lamb and chicken, as well as sausages and burgers. These will be judged on visual appeal, craftsmanship, creativity, innovation, taste and commercial viability, with the grand finale taking place on the Friday.
The People’s Choice competition is back for the first time since 2019 too.
The People’s Choice traditionally took place in the cattle classes, with exhibitors generally in fancy dress and a light-hearted approach to the whole business of describing and judging the cattle. Its return this year has seen it extended to goats and pigs.
In addition, around 50 top handlers are due to take part in this year’s sheepdog trials, with strong entries expected from England, Wales, Scotland, and Europe, as well as one competitor from the USA.
And of course, there is the chance to see the latest kit on offer from the agricultural machinery manufacturers and dealers.
The Harrogate bus company operates a free daily return service from Harrogate bus station (next to the railway station) to the showground from 7:20am until 7pm.
Just make sure you get your tickets for the Tuesday before they sell out…
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