ANOTHER Great Yorkshire Show and annual treat for us with further record crowds, nearly 700 trade exhibitors and hundreds of country folk competing to show and display the excellence of their farming, animal husbandry, horticulture, rural and sporting activities.

We managed to cross the A1 junction from York before it became congested and enjoyed a full ten-hour day, while still not seeing everything. An impossible task!

We shared this vast hive of activity with people from all over the British Isles and abroad, including some top-drawer people such as the Beverley Polo Club members who put on an entertaining, exciting and informative display of their skills.

The stall holders, or should I say stand advisers because you shouldn't class some on the same level as outdoor market traders, included banks, professions, associations, guilds and societies, Yorkshire churches, Yorkshire freemasons, Dubarry, Daimler, Mercedes Benz, Royal Crown Derby, BBC and ITV, Police, RN, RAF, Army, British Legion, Post Office, RNLI, NFU and Young Farmers, T&GWU, WI, alongside Liquorice With a Twist & Nuts about Nougat.

Show officials, stewards, judges and workers were in abundance and the hands-on people could easily be recognised by their mucky boots and ill-fitting, handed down bowler hats.

The hands-off brigade were more Moss Bros and Guardsman-like in their posture and farmers with their assorted livestock were busily pampering their trusting dependents ready for the judging rings before covering their working togs with spotless white coats ready to receive the rosettes.

No wonder we are proud to be Yorkshire.

George Appleby,

Leighton Croft,

Clifton, York.

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, July 19, 2005