The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2019 - Issue 63

20 GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW PREVIEW JUN/JUL 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW The Great Yorkshire Show will this year host three national cattle breed shows; including the Longhorn Cattle Society’s National Show, UK Beef Shorthorn Championships and National Charolais Show. CHIEF Cattle Steward Margaret Chapman said: “We are extremely proud to host three National Shows this year; it is the first time The Longhorn Society has held its National Show at GYS – the Longhorn is one of Eng- land’s oldest Native Breeds founded in 1878. The Show is a shop window for some of the finest cattle in the country and this year we will have 19 different pedigree breeds plus commercial cattle.” Longhorn exhibitors David and Angela Blockley said: “We have been breeding Long- horns since 1991; our herd now totals 60 head of cattle. Our first outing with the Longhorns to the Great Yorkshire Show was in 1994, and we have exhibited every year since then. Over the years we have won 11 breed Champion- ships at the Great Yorkshire. We are delighted that our Longhorn National Show is to be held here this year. Competition is always strong at GYS, with exhibitors coming from all over the country. We shall be doing our best again this year to try and win on home turf.” The Grand Cattle Parade in the Main Ring is always a major highlight of the Show and takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 2pm. The parade on Wednesday includes the final judging of The Blythewood Pairs and to win this award is an accolade for any breed society. Away from the judging rings, there will be a large-scale installation unveiled on the President’s Lawn, created by sculptor Emma Stothard to celebrate Fodder’s tenth birthday this year. Fodder is the Society’s farm shop and café supporting local farmers and selling the best Yorkshire produce. The profits from Fodder go directly to the Society and help contribute to the Society’s charitable work helping children, teachers and people in the rural community, through education, devel- opment and support. The Fodder 10 Hen will form part of the instal- lation and is modelled on the hens at Ian Tay- lor’s Farm which has supplied eggs to Fodder since it opened in 2009. The hen sculpture has just returned from her tour of Yorkshire where members of the public posted their selfies with her for a chance to win a family ticket to the Great Yorkshire Show. A winner was picked from each location she roosted at. These were Sledmere House in April, Harewood House in May and Cannon Hall Farm in June. She has now taken up residence on the Showground ready for the Great Yorkshire Show before moving to her permanent home outside Fodder. Whitby-based sculptor, Emma said: “I am absolutely delighted to be part of the Great Yorkshire Show again. Building on the success of the Craven Heifer last year, I hope to create another wow installation to take centre stage on the President’s Lawn for all to see.” Lizzie Jones, from Halifax, will also make a welcome to return to the Show after making history last year when she became the first singer to perform in the Main Ring during the Great Yorkshire Show. Lizzie said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be invited back to the Great Yorkshire Show and to perform once again in the main ring. Last year the show blew me away with how much there was to see and do and I’m sure this year will be no exception.” Lizzie will also be one of the celebrities on the Kuoni Catwalk which will be bigger and better this year thanks to a refurbished fashion pavilion which will face into the heart of the Show. Lizzie will be joined by a host of TV personalities for a celebrity special fashion show at 2:30pm on Tuesday July 9th. There are four fashion shows a day on the Kuoni Catwalk throughout the Great Yorkshire Show, with the one-off celebrity special on the Tuesday. Also, in the Main Ring will be motorbike stunt riding team The Bolddog Lings. Managed by one of Europe’s top freestyle motocross riders, Dan Whitby, the team uses one of the largest, most sophisticated FMX landing ramps ever seen anywhere in the world. Riders will use the ramp to perform a trick flying 35ft in the air when they take to the Main Ring once a day. In the judging rings, thousands of animals will compete from cattle to sheep, pigs to pigeons and the show finishes with one of the most prestigious show jumping classes in the country, the Cock O’the North competition. From cutting edge farming equipment and machinery to displays from big name brands, this is the place where deals are done, and the latest ranges are showcased. While the show has agriculture at its heart, there’s also enter- tainment, shopping, live music and fabulous cookery demonstrations with Rosemary Shrag- er back in the cookery theatre once again.

The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2019 - Issue 63 | Page 20