Summer of content for show organisers

Tears were shed when downpours forced the show to be cancelled the day before the event last year after ten months of planning. Exhibitors and ticket holders were refunded to the tune of £43,000 and in the months that followed the future of the largest summer poultry show in the North looked bleak.

Show secretary Alan Andrew said the cancellation led to the organising committee taking a fresh look at preparations and with the help of a £10,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund for security barriers and marquees at this year’s show, the financial peril has been addressed and the future of the show is once again looking rosy, starting with tomorrow’s event.

Speaking from the showground this week, Mr Andrew said: “The weather is overcast at the moment but I can see blue patches and underfoot it is firm to solid. At the moment I am the most happiest person compared to last year. We were so financially tight at one point.

“There were questions over whether we were going to be able to put the show on. The chances are that if we hadn’t done things that we did in August and September, it wouldn’t have gone ahead.

“The atmosphere is so different this year. There’s eight or nine marquees up and a trade stand up already.

“We are endeavouring to put on a magnificent agricultural show. There’s something for everyone here. It is a family day and it will be a return to form. We are still a traditional agricultural show but have all the things that other people would want at the show.

“The trade stands, the people who want to exhibit – they are stronger than ever. There’s a waiting list for the crafts tent. We could have filled it twice.

“The food marquee has been fully booked for about a month now. In terms of interest from businesses it is as buoyant as it has ever been. We are a much leaner, fitter show this year without changing anything we are going to offer to the public.”

There will be 80 stalls each inside the crafts and food marquees and a further 120 trade stands. Competition entries stand at around 100 cattle and 500 in both sheep and poultry classes.

Rabbits, ferrets, rats and hamsters will be exhibited and an extensive day of show jumping competitions is expected to attract a healthy field of entries.

Other activities and displays include bungee trampolines, traction engines, classic cars and motorcycles, children’s inflatables, country pursuits, carriage driving, horticulture and produce, arts, photography and the Yorkshire Country-women’s Association and children’s classes.

A grand parade of cattle and class winners, vintage agricultural machinery and traction engines is due to begin in the main ring at approximately 3pm.