Warm WELCOME

Introducing this special section devoted to the Great Yorkshire Show, Show Director Charles Mills writes about what to expect at this year’s event…

If one event captures the deep diversity of Yorkshire’s amazing rural landscape, then it has to be the Great Yorkshire Show. The Show celebrates its 164th anniversary this year and visitors can expect the very best competitions to celebrate farming and countryside, from hill farm sheep to the mighty machinery used in the fertile arable sector.

The cream of British livestock will be on display when Beef Shorthorn, Charolais and Longhorn Cattle Societies all host their national competitions. The Show will feature several thousand sheep, all vying for the top title, with two more breeds, the Badger Face Texel and Castlemilk Moorit, making their stand-alone breed debuts this year. There’s been a record number of sheep entries this year, with a waiting list since April and additional pens drafted in to accommodate numbers which have reached 3,525. Last year had beaten previous records with 3,045.

There are also new equine classes, with Traditional Cobs and Connemara ponies, while the new showjumping classes that debuted last year in the Top Spec White Rose ring are back and are expected to be oversubscribed.

We are proud to highlight the best of Yorkshire across a huge range of animals and produce, displays and demonstrations. We are always looking to the future and our new Innovation marquee will showcase some of the latest farming methods and machinery.

A new look fashion show, Sheep to Chic, will be held on the sheep shearing stage next to Brown Gate to tell the story of how wool gets from sheep to the clothes we wear. The daily show at 12.30pm will feature amateur models from the rural community as well as professionals, and you can read more on this on page 48.

The Great Yorkshire Show Pole Climbing Championships is back this year with the installation of two new 100ft Douglas Fir poles, kindly supplied by Dawnay Estates near Scarborough. The competition sees climbers race to the top of the poles in seconds.

Main Ring performer for this year’s show will be Lorenzo, the incredible horseman who is a huge hit with visitors to the show and last appeared in 2018, and Sporting Soprano Lizzie Jones will be singing twice a day in the Main Ring again. Last year’s sheepdog trials debut was so successful that they are back, this time in an area near Gold Gate.

The Vertu Motors GYS Stage will once again be held in the former fashion show building near Grey Gate. TV host Matt Baker MBE, Peter Wright of The Yorkshire Vet and Countryfile presenter Adam Henson are all appearing in chat shows hosted by TV presenter Christine Talbot.

Food is always in focus at the Show and, in addition to the wealth of stands in the food hall, the fiercely competitive Cheese and Dairy Show will once again include the charity auction, this year raising funds for Herriot Hospice. Last year’s raised over £5,500 for The Samaritans. If honey is more to your taste, the Hives and Honey section o ers a great insight into the importance of bees to the ecosystem as well as some delicious examples of produce. We look forward to welcoming you!