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Show beefs up its appeal once again
The heavyweights of the showing world – the Great Yorkshire, Driffield and Ryedale – are limbering up in readiness for another July of massive livestock classes.
Tomorrow, one of the lesser-known shows will see cattle make a comeback.
With beef farmers enjoying strong prices at market for much of the past year, it's further proof of how well the UK beef industry is performing and looks set to provide further confirmation that cattle remain a huge attraction at rural shows.
Crowle Show is one of the season's smaller offerings in terms of the agricultural calendar, and in the recent past has been regarded as largely a horsey affair. But that has changed somewhat this year with a plethora of new and reinstated events and competitions, and the organisers are confident that it will bring in even more competitors and visitors.
David Parkin is one of the market town's larger-than-life characters. He is the local butcher in the centre of the town, comes from a long line of butchers, and his wife and brother are involved in the business today, running Parkin Butchers shops in Howden, Crowle and Epworth.
David is chiefly responsible for putting the beef back into the show, drawing on the many contacts he has made in the meat trade and particularly with commercial beef men. He's lived in the town for the past 15 years and is looking forward to what he believes will make
a difference to Crowle this year.
"It's my first year of being involved with the committee and I am delighted to say that we will have around 60-70 entries across the eight classes," he says.
"Throughout our shops we find that the general public really is interested in where their beef comes from these days, and the quality on show at Crowle tomorrow really will be second to none. There is some big prize money and we have also managed to acquire the services of a very well-respected cattle judge, Alec Traves, of Escrick, who many will know as a meat wholesaler and a cattle buyer at all Yorkshire livestock markets – so this is no small-scale effort to get us under way again with cattle. We really do mean business and it should be worthwhile for any beef farmer to either come and compete or simply take a look."
Crowle is three miles into Lincolnshire on the A161, nine miles south of Goole, and its history places it as the most important market town in the north of the Isle of Axholme area. The South Yorkshire Railway Company opened a station in the town in the 1850s, and the land to the north, just after the village of Eastoft, is where the West Riding of Yorkshire officially starts. There's even a street in the village called Yorkshireside.
The competition in the cattle classes will come from both sides of the border, with some of the best showmen from the surrounding area, such as William Timm Jr, Jonathan Timm, Andrew White, of Eastrington, and Paul Slowen, of Howden, all confirmed as bringing their best stock and flying the flag for the white rose county.
These showmen alone have won masses of titles, so the competitions look set to be well contested. And in order to ensure that the Yorkshire boys don't have things all their own way, the Wilkinsons, of Gainsborough, one of Lincolnshire's best-known show families, will be bringing stock that was shown at the Lincolnshire Show earlier this week.
"We will willingly accept entries on the day too," says David. "We're looking to make the return of the cattle classes a really competitive affair and show everyone the quality that is produced in both Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
"A quick call to let me know you're bringing stock would help though."
The return of sheep to Crowle Show will have to wait a while longer than their 112th show tomorrow, at the Godnow Road site, which is courtesy of local farmers TC Brears & Sons.
"We have several new members of the committee this year and the show is changing from being predominantly horses. The equine sections will still be here and as strong as ever, but we are bringing in new things because that's what the people of Crowle said they wanted to see.
"Maybe we will bring sheep back next year, but this year we're concentrating on the cattle as well as many other aspects such as a vintage mini steam railway, vintage tractors and cars, and a dog show.
"The dog show returns after an absence of five years, and as well as the regular dog classes we will also be running a fun dog section."
The show will give the people of Crowle their first opportunity to see how Yorkshire Forward is to invest 3m in the area.
"Things are coming together in the town at the moment. This is a lovely place to live and it's a hassle-free town.
"It's still a rural community too with a lot of arable farmers in the area and one or two of the biggest pig farmers in the country. Hopefully, with the money that is due to be spent, things will be even better."
Crowle Show heralds the real onset of show dates which fill the calendar between now and the end of September, finishing with Nidderdale Show, at Pateley Bridge.
There will be a degree of sadness for many livestock showpeople when the final Royal Show opens at Stoneleigh, in Warwickshire, on July 7 to 10.
Howden Show is held on Sunday, July 12, thanks to a committed group of organisers who have retained a strong rural emphasis. The Great Yorkshire Show follows on Tuesday, July 14 to Thursday July 16.
David Parkin can be contacted on 07940 239650.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Friday 25 May 2012
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