| Shows
Countdown is on to the Great Yorkshire Show 2017
The very best of agriculture and farming will meet fashion and celebrity at this year ’ s Great Yorkshire Show .
W ith just three weeks to go , organisers are gearing up for a jam packed three day show which will see a host of special guests and new events . Agriculture remains firmly at the heart of the show , and this year , as well as the thousands of cattle , sheep , pigs , pigeons and ponies , the Charolais Cattle Society is holding its Summer National Show with around 75 cattle expected .
The Ford and Fordson Association is celebrating the 100 year anniversary of tractor production with a display of tractors and machinery on the President ’ s Lawn . This includes early Ford and Fordson tractors spanning through to the current New Holland range supplied by Russells .
Atkinson Action Horses from East Yorkshire whose TV stunt horses have appeared in Poldark , Victoria and Peaky Blinders , will make their debut and perform stunts and tricks in the Main Ring every afternoon .
They will be among the first users of the newly revamped Collecting Ring , which has seen the Yorkshire Agricultural Society invest £ 70,000 to improve conditions under the direction of Olympic show jumping legend Graham Fletcher .
Also in the main ring , military parachute display team RAF Falcons , based at RAF Brize Norton , Oxfordshire , will jump from the skies in their Great Yorkshire Show debut on Tuesday at 12.35 .
Over at the fashion pavilion , there ’ s everything from John Lewis to James Steward to fashion students to Brook Taverner who is behind Yorkshire Agricultural Society tweed jackets . For the first time ever , the fashion show will raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Centre in Leeds as a thank you for its support for a team member .
Tuesday will see famous faces from the world of sport and TV will take to the stage in a very special one-off fashion show at 2.30pm . There will be four fashion shows a day at 11am , 12.30pm , 2.30pm and 4pm and all the action will be on Twitter , join in the conversation using # GYScatwalk .
There will be more famous guests across the showground including Rosemary Shrager who will cook up a storm in the Food Theatre ( Hall 1 ) and the Game Cookery Theatre every day . BBC gardening expert Carol Klein will give talks in the Garden Show on Thursday .
There will be film crews at the show following the lives of some of the guests including the Yorkshire Vets who are filming a Great Yorkshire Show special with Julian Norton and Peter Wright . The public can meet their heroes at a special meet and greet stand at the entrance to the Home and Gift Hall and the hour-long Yorkshire Vet at the Great Yorkshire Show will be broadcast early October .
Documentary “ From Skye With Love ” will see a crew follow competitor Donald Rankin from North Skye , Scotland , as he enters his Aberdeen Angus cattle who have achieved success at shows throughout Scotland . Rugby AM and Leeds Rhinos TV will bring rugby stars to the show for the first time ever , many of whom are from farming families .
International shearers will go head to head in a thrilling England v New Zealand Sheep Shearing “ Test Match ” which will take place on Wednesday . Adam Berry , Dean Nelmes and Anthony Rook will represent England and go up against current world champion Johnny Kirkpatrick and Rowland Smith who have flown in from New Zealand to compete .
Visitors can take a virtual pig tour every day ( 11am and 2pm ) with sisters Vicky Scott and Kate Moore who run a family pig farm in East Yorkshire . Their indoor breeding unit at
Leicestershire County Show announce activities planned for 2017 event
Organisers of the 2017 Leicestershire County Show have revealed the activities and entertainment that will take place across the event held on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August .
Pockthorpe Hall , near Driffield , houses 1,700 sows while their outdoor unit at East Knapton is home to 1,200 outdoor sows .
Live milking will be happening once again at the Lely stand where visitors will see calves being trained to feed on an automated calf feeder . This is the first year that calves on an automated feeding system has featured at the show and is important to show how calves can be reared away from their mother . A revolutionary robot designed for solid floor cleaning called Discovery 120 Collector will also be showcased .
Beef Shorthorn breeders are scheduled to turn out an entry to match their 2016 record as it stages its annual UK championships once again this year .
The Great Yorkshire Show is also a family affair for many including the Prest family who have clocked up more than 150 years stewarding the sheep section . There ’ s also a family of pole climbers heading for the show this year when Great British Champion Daniel Whelan competes with girlfriend Emma Cakebread and grandad , 84-year-old George Tipping who has been the oldest competitor for many years .
Charles Mills , Show Director said : “ We have such an exciting and eclectic mix of displays and demonstrations , seminars and shows , we can ’ t wait to welcome visitors again this year . Agriculture remains at the very heart of the Great Yorkshire Show and while we endeavor to showcase the very best of rural life , we try to do this in an interesting , fun and memorable way . We look forward to seeing you in three weeks ’ time !
T he Leicestershire County Show was relaunched in Market Harborough last year and attracted 12,000 visitors to the 85-acre space next to Airfield Business Park . Because of its popularity , organisers have decided to extend the original one day event over two days , creating space for a number of new acts for 2017 .
On summer bank holiday weekend , popular acts from last year will return and new entertainment will be displayed , including a special flyover by a WWII Spitfire and Hurricane .
“ Last year ’ s relaunch event in Market Harborough was a monumental success ,” says David Young , Leicestershire County Show director . “ Some of the activities such as the
www . farmingmonthly . co . uk tractor pulling and a classic car rally proved particularly popular and will return this year . We ’ re also pleased to make some new additions , a particularly notable one is the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast .”
Leicestershire County Show celebrates rural life , with livestock and equine classes , exhibitions and demonstrations all taking place . As well as this , there is a range of entertainment planned .
The main attraction for the 2017 event will be the Broke FMX and Freestyle Motocross , a leading motorcycle display that received high praise from attendees last year . The show will also welcome back Rockwood dog display , a show that ends with an agility relay race between two teams of dogs . For the first time , the show will introduce a RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast that will take place on the Sunday . Other activities will include the Leicester Tigers ’ golden boot competition , Fernie Pony Club Relay and a grand parade to close the show . In addition to the entertainment , there will be up to 70 craft stands and 50 trade stands .
The Leicestershire Agricultural Society who organise the County Show was formed in 1833 by a group of Leicestershire farmers to promote improvements in agriculture . In the early days , Victoria Park in Leicester was used to host the event . In more recent years Melton Mowbray became the host town until Market Harborough took over in 2016 with its new custom-built site one mile outside the town centre .
More details about the activities at the 2017 event can be found at www . leicestershirecountyshow . co . uk
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