Variety packed

Honorary show director Christopher Hall said about 125,000 people had seen a show which had an "exceptionally high" standard of livestock and events.

"We have not only had quality, but quantity" said Mr Hall. "We have had a record number of sheep in the show's history and we have had over 2,000 horses. "Hunter horse classes, for which the show is famous were again exceptional quality."

Mr Hall said he had enjoyed the parade of cattle, which had more than lived up to its reputation.

"It epitomises the Great Yorkshire Show which is the platform for the agricultural industry," he said. "This year we have had a wonderful parade and somebody from another show said it was the best they had ever seen and that made me feel very proud.

"I think that farmers are saying the life is a little better for them and if coming to the show is proof of that, the atmosphere has considerably improved.

"But there are economy changes afoot in the agricultural industry, such as the single farm payment changes, and until that settles down it's going to be very difficult for farmers to plan ahead."

Despite grey skies, showers and breezes Mr Hall said the weather had not dampened people's spirits.

"Animals love cool weather so they're particularly happy, they don't care if it rains," he said.

"People seem to have had a wonderful time and I've been complimented by many people on an exciting and enjoyable show."

He added that an immediate inquiry was to be launched into the technical glitch that delayed showground results for the first day.

A new computerised system for sending out the results to newspapers failed.

Mr Hall said it was the first time there had been a hiccup in 20 years. He said: "The benefits for doing things for the Internet are huge, but of course if the link breaks down then you do have significant problems and that's what happened here."

On the last day of the show Emmerdale stars Chris Chittell and Lorraine Chase, who play Eric Pollard and Steph Turner in the ITV soap, signed autographs for fans while stood beside a two-year-old Yorkshire Heifer.

Chris, who supported the Evening Press Eat Local Campaign last year, said the show was fantastic. "It's a belter," he said. "It's one of the best traditional agricultural shows in the country and long may it reign."

Ben Bradshaw, Minister for Nature Conservation and Fisheries, toured the Harrogate ground and sampled some Yorkshire-grown produce in the food hall and Limestone Country Beef.

Exhibitors showed off ponies and donkeys yesterday morning before showjumping in the afternoon.

The Kangeroo Kid Quad Bike Spectacular, parade of hounds and parade of vintage Rolls Royces attracted crowds of admirers, before the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the King's Division Waterloo Band began the show's grand finale.

Plans are already being discussed for next year's show which will be held between July 12 and July 14, 2005.

Farmers clock up 796 years

LONG-serving farmers were honoured for their contributions to the agricultural industry.

Yorkshire farmers who have notched up 796 years service between them were presented with engraved tankards, certificates and lifetime entry badges for the Great Yorkshire Show by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Three farmers from Moxby Priory Farm in Stillington who have together served an impressive 126 years for employers J G Swiers (Helperby) Ltd, were delighted to be commended.

Trevor Craven, 64, of Helperby, said he always wanted to be a farmer, "I joined there straight after leaving school." Fellow employees Philip Hartley and William Hodgson also received rewards.

Eric Langthorne, of Malton, has served 42 years as a tractor and combine driver at South Farm, York.

Charles Mackley of Malton and Eric Woodward of Warter, also received awards.

Local winners and placings

BEEF CATTLE

Blonde D' Aquitaine.- Bull, born on or after January 1, 2003: 1, S & G A Potter, Topcliffe, Thirsk. Heifer, under 18 months on day of show: 2, Miss D F Whiteley & Mr J Courts, Scawton, Thirsk. Cow, in calf or with calf at foot: 1, S & G A Potter, Topcliffe, Thirsk. Group of three animals, the property of the same exhibitor: 1, S & G A Potter, Topcliffe, Thirsk.

Best Male Animal: 1, S & G A Potter, Topcliffe, Thirsk.

Charolais - Charolais or Charolais Cross Steer, any weight: 2, Mr J Timm, Airmyn, near Goole; 3, Mr & Mrs F H & J R Fairburn, Helmsley.

Belgian Blue.- Belgian Blue or Belgian Blue Cross Steer.- 2, Mr & Mrs F H & J R Fairburn; 3, J & R Waind, Brawby, Malton.

Belgian Blue or Belgian Blue Cross Heifer.- 2, Mr J Timm, Airmyn, near Goole.

Highest placed Exhibitor Bred Animal in each of the Individual Commercial Beef classes.- 1, Mr & Mrs F H & J R Fairburn, Rievaulx, Helmsley. Belgian Blue Junior Champion: 1, S & G A Potter, Topcliffe, Thirsk.

Any Other Continental or Continental Cross Steer, except Charolais or Belgian Blue.- 3, Mr J A Stoney, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate.

GOATS

Female Goats.- British Toggenburg: 1 and 2, Mrs M Marshall, Bubwith, Selby. British Alpine: 1, Mr & Mrs A Flavel, Melbourne, York.

Goatlings.- British Toggenburg: 1,2 and 3 Mrs M Marshall, Bubwith, Selby. British Alpine: 1, Mr & Mrs A Flavell, Melbourne, York. For the best Coloured Goatling: 1, Mrs M Marshall, Bubwith, Selby.

Female Kids.- British Toggenburg: 1 and 2, Mrs M Marshall, Bubwith, Selby.

Interbreed Prizes.- For the best Exhibitor Bred British Alpine Goat: 1, Mr & Mrs A Flavell, Melbourne, York.

For the best Group of Three Exhibitor Bred British Toggenburg Goats or Goatlings: 1, Mrs M Marshall, Bubwith, Selby.

Angora Goats.- Purebred Buck, born in 2003: 3, Mrs S C Taylor, Whenby, York. Purebred Doe, born in 2003: 3, Mrs S C Taylor, Whenby, York. For the Reserve Champion Angora Goat: 1, Mrs S C Taylor, Whenby, York.

For the best Angora Goat exhibited by a Yorkshire Mohair Producers Association Member: 1, Mrs S C Taylor, Whenby, York.

Mohair Fleece Competition.- First and Second Year: 2, Mrs S C Taylor, Whenby, York. Third and Fourth Shear: 2, Mrs S C Taylor, Whenby, York; 3, Mrs S C Taylor, Whenby, York.

SHEEP

Leicester.- Shearling Ram: 3, Mrs D A & Miss A E Goodman, Hovingham. Ram Lamb: 1 and 2, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton by Sawdon. Scarborough; Shearling Gimmer: 2, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough. Yearling Ewe, in full wool: 2 and 3, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton-by-Sawdon, Scarborough; Ewe, that has suckled a lamb in 2004: 1 and 2, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough; 3, Mrs D & Miss A E Goodman, Hovingham, York. Ewe Lamb: 1, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton-by-Sawdon, Scarborough.

For the Leicester Breed Champion: 2, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton-by-Sawdon, Scarborough.

For the Best Male: 1and 2, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough; 2, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton-by-Sawdon, Scarborough.

For the Best Animal of Opposite Sex to the Champion: 1 and 2, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton-by-Sawdon, Scarborough;

Bluefaced Leicester.- Ram, two shear and over: 1, J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale. Ram Lamb: 1, J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale. Aged Ewe: 1, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale. For the Hampshire Down Breed Champion: 2, Mr A & Mrs G Pink, Nether Poppleton, York.

Suffolk.- Shearling Ram: 1 and 3, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton; Ewe Lamb: 3, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale. Group of Three Animals, one ram and two females: 2, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering. For the Bluefaced Leicester Breed Champion: 1, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering.

For the Best Male: 1, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering.

For the Best Female: 1, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering.

Wensleydale.- Aged Ram: 3, Mr A & Mrs D M Duffield, Husthwiate, York. Shearling Ram: 2, J A & F Elliott, Ferrensby, Knaresborough. Shearling Ewe: 1, J A & F Elliott, Ferrensby, Knaresborough. Ewe Lamb: 1, Mr A & Mrs D M Duffield, Husthwaite.

British Bleu Du Maine.- Ram, shearling or upwards: 2, Mr R Johnson, Danby Wiske, Northallerton; 3, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk. Ram Lamb: 1 and 3, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk. Single Breeding Ewe, two shear or over: 1, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk; 2, Mr R Johnson, Danby Wiske, Northallerton. Shearling Ewe: 1, Mr R Johnson, Danby Wiske. Ewe Lamb: 1 and 2, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk. Group of Three Animals, one ram and two females: 1, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk; 2, Mr R Johnson, Danby Wiske, Northallerton.

For the British Bleu du Maine Breed Champion: 2, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk. For the Best Male: 2, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk. For the Best Female: Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk.

Hampshire Down.- Shearling Ram, to be shorn bare on or after January 1, 2004: 3, Mr M Harris, Little, Smeaton, Northallerton. Ram Lamb, born on or after December 1, 2003: 2, Mr A & Mrs G Pink, Nether Poppleton, York.

Shearling Ewe, to be shorn bare on or after January 1, 2004: 1, Mr A & Mrs G Pink, Nether Poppleton, York.

Ram Lamb: 1, Mr J T & Mrs E A Midgley, Kirby Underdale, York; 2, Mrs S J Broadwith, Islebeck, Thirsk; 3, Mr A E Glaves, Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough.

Shearling Ewe: 2, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton.

Ewe Lamb: 2, Mr A E Glaves, Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough. Untrimmed Ram Lamb: 1, Mr A E Glaves, Brompton-by-Sawdon, Scarborough; 2, Mrs S J Broadwith, Islebeck, Thirsk. Group of Three Animals, one ram and two females: 1, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton. For the Suffolk Breed Champion: 1, Mr A R Bulmer. For the Best Male: 1, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton. For the Best Female: 2, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton.

Oxford Down.- Shearling Ewe: 1, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering. Breeding Ewe, having rear a lamb in 2004, shorn bare after May 1, 2004 and untrimmed: 1, Mrs S M Davison, Kilburn; 3, Mr J G Popham, Wilton, Pickering. For the best Animal of Opposite Sex to the Champion: 1, Messrs J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale.

For the Best Female: 1, J & D Stenton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering.

Texel.- Signet Sheepbreeder Performance Recorded Ram Lamb, only open to animals previously entered in the Ram Lamb class: 3, Mr P Jewitt & Son, Hutton Bushel, Scarborough.

British Charollais.- Aged Ram: 3, Mrs P M Arrand, Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, Thirsk. Shearling Ram: 1, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York; 2, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York. Ram Lamb, born on or after December 2003: 1, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York; 3, Mrs P M Arrand, Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, Thirsk. Shearling Ewe: 1, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York. Ewe Lamb, born on or after December 1, 2003: 2, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York; 3, Mrs P M Arrand, Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, Thirsk. Group of Three Animals, one ram and two females: 2, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York. For the Best Male: 2, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York.

For the Best British Charollais bred and exhibited by a Yorkshire Breeder: 1, Mr C W Marwood, Whenby, York.

British Rouge.- Ram, shearling and upwards: 1, Mr J R Wilkinson, Barningham, Richmond; 3, Mr J E Teasdale & Sons, Pockley, York. Ram Lamb:3, Mr J E Teasdale & Sons, Pockley, York. Ewe or Gimmer, shearling: 3, Mr J E Teasdale & Sons, Pockley, York. Ewe, two shear or over: 2, Mr J E Teasdale & Sons, Pockley, York.

British Berrichon Du Cher.- Ram, shearling or over: 1, Mr J A Keith & Daughter, Riggs Head, Scarborough; 2, Mrs D E Charlton, Great Smeaton, Northallerton.

Ram Lamb: 1, Mr J A Keith & daughter, Riggs Head, Scarborough. Aged Ewe: 1 and 3, Mr J A Keith & daughter, Riggs Head, Scarborough; 2, Mrs D E Charlton, Great Smeaton, Northallerton; Shearling Ewe: 1 and 2, Mr J A Keith & Daughter; 2, Mr J A Keith & daughter, Riggs Head, Scarborough. Ewe Lamb: 1 and 3, Mr J A Keith & daughter, Riggs Head, Scarborough; For the British Berrichon du Cher Breed Champion: 1, Mr J A Keith & daughter, Riggs Head, Scarborough. For the Best Male: 1, Mr J A Keith & daughter. For the Best Female: Mr J A Keith & daughter.

Beltex.- Ram, two shear or over: 1, S & G A Potter, Topcliffe, Thirsk; Ewe Lamb: 1, Mr T Hunter, Hunmanby, Filey; 3, S & G A Potter, Topcliffe, Thirsk.

For the Beltex Breed Champion: 2, Mr T Hunter, Hunmanby, Filey. For the Best Male: 2, Mr T Hunter, Hunmanby, Filey.

Blackface.- Shearing Ram: 1 and 3, Mr P Turnbull, Pickering. Ram Lamb: 1, Mr F Dale, Egton, Whitby; 2, Mr P Turnbull, Pickering. Shearling Gimmer: 2, Mr P Turnbull, Pickering. Ewe: 3, Mr P Turnbull, Pickering. Ewe Lamb: 2 and 3, Mr P Turnbull, Pickering. For the Blackface Breed Champion: 1, Mr P Turnbull, Pickering.

For the Best Male: 1, Mr P Turnbull, Pickering; 2, Mr F Dale, Egton, Whitby.

Jacob.- Ram, shearling or upwards: 1, Mr S J Dodsworth, Harome,3, Mr W F Foster, Farnham, Knaresborough. Ram Lamb, born in 2004: 3, Mr J R Atkinson, Thirsk.

Ewe, that has reared a lamb in 2004: 2, Mr W F Foster, Farnham, Knaresborough. Shearling Ewe: 1, Mr S J Dodsworth, Harome, York; 3, Mr W F Foster, Farnham, Knaresborough. Ewe Lamb, born in 2004: 3, Mr J R & Mrs F M Fozzard, Whitley Bridge, Goole. Group of Three Animals, one ram and two females: 1, Mr S J Dodsworth, Harome, York; 3, Mr W F Foster, Farnham, Knaresborough. For the Jacob Breed Champion: 1, Mr S J Dodsworth, Harome; 2, Mr W F Foster, Farnham, Knaresborough. For the Best Male: 1, Mr S J Dodsworth, Harome. For the Best Female: 1, Mr W F Foster, Farnham, Knaresborough; 2, Mr S J Dodsworth, Harome.

Any Other Pedigree Breed.- Ram Lamb, born in 2004: 1, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough.

Mule.- Pen of Two Shearling Gimmers: 2, A C & S A Hutchinson, Kirby Wiske, Thirsk. Pen of Two Shearlings, which have reared lambs: 2 and 3, A C & S A Hutchinson, Kirby Wiske. Pen of Two Ewes, having suckled lambs in 2004: 2, A C & S A Hutchinson, Kirby Wiske.

Half Bred Female X Terminal Sire.- Pen of Two Shearling Gimmers: 1 and 2, Mr J Hall, Easingwold. Pen of Two Mature Ewes, having reared lambs in 2004: 1 and 2, Mr J Hall, Easingwold; 3, Mr B & Mrs M Waktinson, Sessay, Thirsk. For the Champion Half Bred Female X Terminal Sire Pen: 1 and 2, Mr J Hall, Easingwold.

Pen of Three Crossbred Butchers Lambs, average live weight over 40kg: 2, Mr D R Findlay, Coverham, Leyburn.

For the Champion Pen of Butchers Lambs: 1, A M & H V Brown, Newton-le-Willows, Bedale; 2, A M & H V Brown, Newton-le-Willows, Bedale.

Commercial Lamb Carcases.- Any Cross Bred Lamb, open only to indigenous and down breeds, 42kg and under. No Continental Crosses: 1, A C & S A Hutchinson, Kirby Wiske, Thirsk; 2, Mr I B Rooke, Harome. Any Pure or Cross Bred Lamb, not exceeding 50kg from listed Rare Breeds as supplied by RBST: 1, Mr I B Rooke, Harome. Any Other Cross, live weight 40kg to 44kg: 2, Sir K D Morrison, Myton-on-Swale, Helperby; 3, Mr & Mrs R G Findlay, Westerdale, Whitby. Any Other Cross, live weight 45kg to 50kg: 1, Messrs L & L Yewdall, Youlthorpe, York; 2, Mr G M Taylor, Thirsk.

Interbreed Championships.- For the Champion Longwool Sire: 1, B W & D J Glaves & Sons, Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough; For the Champion Shortwool/Lowland Ewe: 1, Mrs E J Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk.

Terminal Sire Championships.- For the Champion Male Terminal Sire: 1, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton.

For the Champion Male Terminal Sire: 1, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton. Supreme Sheep Championship.- For the Supreme Champion Sheep: 2, Mr A R Bulmer, Great Habton, Malton.

Wool Fleeces.- Wensleydale: 3, Mr M A Elliott, Ferrensby, Knaresborough. British Charollais: 1,2 and 3 Mr C W Marwood, Whenby. Shetland, coloured fleece only: 2, Mrs D A & Miss A E Goodman, Hovingham. Jacob: 2, Master N Brace, Whitley Bridge, Goole.

Updated: 10:03 Friday, July 16, 2004