Private marches off with show’s first military prize

Private David Adams, 20, was presented with the inaugural Yorkshire Agricultural Society Cup by organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show yesterday.

Pte Adams recently returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan and was singled out for the prize by colleagues from 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.

Each year, the members of the Battalion will be eligible to compete for the cup for the best soldier.

“News that I was to receive the award took the words right out of my mouth,” he said.

“I never expected to receive this honour but I am overjoyed. Although I have received this award, there are obviously an awful lot of other good soldiers in the Battalion.”

The trophy was presented to Pte Adams by Yorkshire Agricultural Society chairman Simon Theakston.

Thousands of spectators, Yorkshire Agricultural Society members and Harrogate dignitaries in the grandstand and president’s box all cheered as Pte Adams accepted the award in the main ring.

He was due to receive the cup after a Homecoming Parade by 120 of the Regiment’s soldiers exercising their Freedom of Harrogate.