Royals turn out for Great Yorkshire Show

Temperatures at the show have been in the low 80s in the past, but this year a cool wind made it more comfortable in the already stifling atmosphere of the cattle stalls.

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The star attraction was a visit by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall who last visited the show in 2006. They arrived together before taking separate tours.

Prince Charles, who is patron of the show, visited Start, an initiative he launched to support sustainable living and announced a new set of grants totalling £200,000 from the Princes Countryside Fund Among the recipients will be The Clervaux Trust in Yorkshire which helps young people learn traditional farming methods, and White Quarry Farm in North Yorkshire which teaches children about the countryside.

The Duchess went to see the garden exhibition and in the White Rose Ring watched a parade of horses, before meeting up with the Prince in the main ring.

The show seems to be attracting more young people than ever this year and to reflect this, has increasingly moved away from its traditional roots. Fashion was at the forefront in the Country Catwalk Stars competition which was won by 24-year-old Raffaelle Guy, of Tockwith and Thomas Lund, 28, of Malton.

Away from the catwalk, bright young things were also vying with each other in the ‘fashion with wellies’ stakes. And as one farmer was over heard to say, the show looks more like Glastonbury every year.

One curiosity each afternoon has been the qualifying heats of the Great British pole climbing race, where competitors attempt to run up an 80 foot high wooden pole in a bid to smash Harrogate athlete Grant Gallier’s time of 9.07 seconds. He might not beat that time, but 78-year old George Tipping, from Widnes, is attempting to show his juniors a thing or two.

Another successful day for the show’s organisers. It may not have been sunny, but at least it didn’t rain on their royal parade.

Facts and figures

This year is the 153rd Great Yorkshire Show.

With the demise of the Royal Show, it is now Britain’s premier agricultural event.

Last year 131,382 people attended and the record attendance was 135,111 in 2006.

This year’s competitive entries stand at 12,713 - a show record, with 10,000 animals on show, including 2,085 sheep, 2,036 horses, 1,111 beef and dairy cattle and 395 pigs.

Some 125 tonnes of straw were provided for livestock and 17,000 gallons of water used every hour.