Show set to be a record breaker (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Great Yorkshire Show attracts record entries

3:46pm Friday 6th July 2012 in News By Mike Bridgen

THE Great Yorkshire Show will live up to its reputation as the leading agricultural show in England when it takes place next week.

The show's organisers are still confident it will go ahead despite the appalling weather of the last few days.

Bill Cowling, show director, said competitive entries totalled 12,630 – the second highest ever – and a full complement of trade stands.

More than 2,000 horses, 1,100 cattle, 2,000 sheep and record numbers of pigs and pigeons will all compete for rosettes and championships.

And with only days to go, the show announced that the number of group bookings is at an all-time high.

Mr Cowling added: “These days, more and more people book on line, so numbers go up year on year, but what’s been noticeable this time is that we’ve had more people booking as groups, and from far and wide. We’ve had applications from Northern Ireland, down to Cornwall and of course Scotland too.

“This is one of the most difficult economic times in living memory so I see it as a huge vote of confidence that so many people have committed their hard earned cash to coming along.”

To date, group bookings total £37,500 compared with last year’s figure of £35,200, an increase of seven per cent.

Last year the show was proud to be asked to stage the nationally important Burke Trophy for beef cattle which used to be presented at the Royal Show.

This year the Burke Trophy for the best pair of dairy animals will be awarded during the cattle parade in the main ring.

Mr Cowling said: “We describe ourselves as the leading agricultural show in England and we are living up to that with the massive number of entries and trade stands.

“We naturally get most entries from the Northern counties but we have cattle and sheep coming from right up in Scotland to the very Southern counties which is great.”

A record number of entries have also been received in the farrier/blacksmith classes.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which organises the show, is building a new £200,000 forge building which is expected to be one of, if not the, best facility in the country.

It will be used throughout the year for training courses and is in a new location at the top of the showground to give easier access.

VIPs visiting the show are expected to include Jim Paice, Farming Minister, and Mary Craig, the shadow Labour agriculture minister, along with leaders from the National Farmers Union, Country Land and Business Asssociation and Tenant Farmers’ Association.

The show runs from Tuesday to Thursday. Tickets are available on 01423-541222 or at greatyorkshireshow.co.uk Daily admission prices are adults £23; over-60s and students £22; children (aged five to 18) £11; family tickets, (two adults, three children) £60. Under-fives are admitted free.