Looking Forward to the Great Yorkshire Show 2012
2012-06-17

The entry figures for the competitive classes at the Great Yorkshire Show have been announced – and are the second highest in the event’s history.

Great Yorkshire Show Supreme Sheep Champion 2011, British Rouge owned by Percy Tait of Worcester with handler Will Price

A total of 12,630 have been received for classes for everything from cattle to cheese and from show jumping to sheep shearing.

Announcing the figures Show Director, Bill Cowling said:”These are excellent figures and re-enforce our position as England’s premier agricultural show. We will have more than a thousand cattle, 2,000 horses and ponies, over 2,000 sheep, and pigs have an all time record entry figure of 419.”

He added: “We are delighted that we will be awarding the Burke Dairy Trophy to the best pair of animals. This prestigious trophy was first awarded in the early 1950s at the Royal Show, and was presented by Sir Roland Burke. This, along with the equivalent award for beef (the Blythewood Trophy) will be judged and awarded in the Main Ring during the cattle parade and has to be the pinnacle of any cattle farmer’s achievements.”

He added: “Our horse and pony numbers are excellent, at 2,087, and we will doubtless again have wonderful show jumping in the Main Ring. Some of the smaller sections have terrific entries too, for example the pigeon section has a record breaking 766.

All in all, we are looking forward to an excellent three days of showcasing the best of British farming and the countryside.”

Preparations are well underway for the thousands of visitors expected to come through the gates when world class sheep shearing, a top class cheese and dairy show plus an extensive array of farm machinery and equipment are just some of the attractions.

The show was first held in 1838 when its aim, then as now, was to encourage and reward the best of British agriculture. The overall winner of the Tye Trophy – awarded to the best farm in the North of England will be announced from the five regional winners – one of the many highlights of the event.

The record for the most competitive entries established last year with a total of 12,713.

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