The Farmers Mart Aug-Sep 2018 - Issue 58 | Page 33
THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW 33
• AUG/SEP 2018
THRILLING FINALE TO THE 160TH
GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW
MORE than 134,000 visitors flocked to the
160th Great Yorkshire Show, which organis-
ers have hailed one of the best ever.
Fantastic competitions, stunning sun-
shine, a Royal visit and a wedding com-
bined to make this year’s Show a special
one with 134,421 visitors attending over the
three days, compared to last year’s figures
of 133,542.
There were also some firsts with Lizzie
Jones making history as the first ever singer
to perform in the Main Ring at the Show,
the Craven Heifer sculpture took prime
position on the President’s Lawn alongside
a Big Screen showing Yorkshire Film Archive
footage.
There was a nail-biting finish with an
all-Yorkshire jump off in the prestigious
Ripon Select Foods Cock O’ The North
showjumping class, this year marking its
50th anniversary.
The Yorkshire riders were the only
three to jump clear in the first round of
the Cock O’The North in front of a packed
grandstand. A fence down, dropped James
Whitaker to third place and two riders,
Jamie Gornall and Joe Clayton went through
to jump against the clock. Hudderfield rider
Joe Clayton riding Via Van Der Karmenhoek
Z took the honours. It was a double at the
show for Joe who won the opening class on
the first day with the same horse.
Other highlights of the day included a visit
by Farming Minister George Eustice who
was accompanied, as he met exhibitors, by
Show Director Charles Mills.
Competition was fierce for the top title in
the showing. The Cuddy Supreme In-hand
Championship qualifier went to a Welsh
Section C mare with foal at foot, Popsters
Megastar, owned by Horse of the Year
Show chief Mr Sandy Anderson, and shown
by Will Perrins of Wakefield.
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Reserve was David Dixon and Jerome
Harforth’s Riding Pony brood mare, Dance
All Night. Judge Gill Evans said the standard
had been exceptionally high and her final
line-up of six was of outstanding quality.
Show Director Charles Mills said: “I
couldn’t have been prouder of the Show, it
was a magical three days, a real celebration
of farming and the countryside. The weath-
er, the atmosphere, the standard of com-
petition and a visit from HRH The Princess
Royal made it a truly spectacular Show
and from the feedback we are getting, our
visitors thought so too!”
On Wednesday, the Supreme Sheep at
the show was Paul Tippetts of Shropshire’s
Beltex, while the Pig of the Year title went to
Robert Emmerson’s Large White gilt, Maple
Leaf, from Leicestershire. The Supreme
Dairy Champion was an Ayrshire, Willow-
fields Winnie II, owned by Bill Lindsay and
Howard Batty, of Lanarkshire.
On Tuesday, there was tough compe-
tition for the Supreme Beef title, with the
Champion named as Boden and Davies
Ltd of Stockport’s British Charolais cow
Sportsmans Maisie. Reserve went to R and J
Graham of Stirling’s British Limousin heifer,
Grahams Melody.
Next year’s Great Yorkshire Show will be
held on Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 July 2019.
www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
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