Video: Heartbreak as the Great Yorkshire Show mop-up begins

More downpours after weeks of heavy rain led bosses at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to take the difficult but necessary decision to call off the event for today and tomorrow – the first time it has been cancelled mid-event in its history.

Everyone who bought a ticket will be offered a refund or the option of using their ticket for next year’s event.

The financial loss will be absorbed by the society, with the show director Bill Cowling estimating the total cost of cancelling to run to six figures “but not millions”. The Yorkshire Post also understands that the society’s insurance policy does not cover cancellation due to the weather.

The Great Yorkshire Show has been cancelled previously, due to the Second World War and the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, but this marks the first time it has been cancelled due to the weather or after it had already got under way.

Record rainfalls for the month of June, followed by torrential downpours over the weekend and during yesterday’s opening day, meant that organisers had no option but to cancel.

Mr Cowling said that the decision to call the event off was “the most difficult decision I have ever had to make” but that the safety of visitors along with the likely effect on the surrounding area, left them with little option.

“It is heartbreaking for all concerned, our exhibitors, our visitors and, of course our staff,” he said.

“The decision has been made because our car parks have become too muddy to use with any safety, and the safety of our visitors has to come first.

“We are also conscious of our neighbours and did not want to risk people parking inconsiderately in Harrogate. We will be refunding all those who have bought tickets in advance and talking to our exhibitors.

“We have had more rain in the last month than ever before. Our show ground is robust and has held up well but if we cannot park cars safely then we cannot continue. The decision to cancel is a most difficult one, but it is the right one.”

Organisers had put in considerable resources to the show to try and counteract the waterlogged state of the showground.

Park and ride facilities were set up to help transport visitors on to the site for the opening day and miscanthus straw was laid around the showground to soak up the rain and mud.

However, as visitors arrived on the site they quickly began to churn up the ground.

The judging for the beef classes became so perilous in the rings that it eventually had to be moved to the concrete avenues that run the length of the showground.

Later in the afternoon, organisers decided to cancel equine classes for the remainder of the event but still hoped that they would be able to salvage the show.

However, a heavy downpour at about 3pm brought more water to the showground, leading bosses to convene a crisis meeting.

The decision to cancel came shortly after 6pm as the site began to empty. One visitor, Owen State, 62 and from York, said that he was not surprised organisers had decided to pull the plug.

“I can see why they have done it,” he said. “There is no way they would have been able to get cars in and out for the Wednesday and Thursday.”

Another visitor, Margaret Welsh, 48 and from Yeadon, near Leeds, said: “I am disappointed but what can you do? With the summer we’re having all bets are off.”

To claim a refund, visit www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk.