It’s show time!

12:00pm Thursday 6th July 2006

A century after her great grandfather competed at the Great Yorkshire Show, Margaret Chapman is returning to the family stomping ground to ensure the event goes with a well-timed swing.

The Chapmans have been involved in the annual showcase of rural life since Joseph Andrew Chapman showed dairy short horn cattle in 1910.

Upholding the tradition, Margaret, whose family has farmed at Moor Farm, in Bishopthorpe, York, since 1943, retains firm links with the crowd-pulling event as the assistant chief cattle steward.

She first helped out in 1975 when stewards were scarce.

"I became the first female cattle steward," said Margaret. "This is my 21st year now as a senior steward. I love it. It is a wonderful family day out. It is lovely to be part of it and the build up."

Her tasks include checking over the classes, organising the championship sashes, overseeing the cattle and supplying Christine Moore, a main ring commentator, with details about the breeds, champions, reserve champions and exhibitors to relay to the crowd.

Margaret will once again be working behind the scenes to ensure the show, now in its 148th year, is a success.

It runs from Tuesday to Thursday next week, at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

Margaret, whose family sold its dairy herd in 1969, but continued to export pedigree livestock until 1988, said: "We now have more entries than places, which is about 760 cattle.

"It is wonderful we get such a response when you think that in 2001 we had foot and mouth. Entries are now full to capacity. It is very exciting that people want to come and people come quite a long way.

"We have a large contingency of Belted Galloways, one of the oldest breed of cattle, from Dumfries and Galloway. This year, we also have a judge coming from Tasmania, who will be throwing a new slant on things.

"The biggest challenge is ensuring the show runs like clockwork."

In 1927, Margaret's late father, Frank Chapman, won the junior section of the first Young Judges Competition, aged 13.

The family again showed in the 1950s and 1960s, with Frank becoming the Friesian breed champion in 1960.

He later became a judge, served on the executive council of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society which organises the event, and was assistant chief cattle steward.

This year, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will visit the show on its final day, when they are expected to tour the grounds, meet visitors, exhibitors and staff. Recalling the Prince's 1999 visit, Margaret said: "I met him then. He knows exactly what he wants to see, which is very encouraging. Their visit has created a real buzz."

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