Fresh at 40 as show enjoys a flush of youth
A YOUNGER generation came to the fore as a classic show fixture celebrated its 40th year in only its second incarnation at its new home near Bedale.
Mercifully, temperatures were cooler yesterday than at last summer’s scorching North Yorkshire County Show at Camp Hill Estate and in the main ring, Matt Coulter, aka the Kangaroo Kid, drew big crowds as the Australian stuntman gave a daring quad bike display.
But the show stayed true to its roots and featured equine contests, a parade of hounds, a first ever farrier display and all the traditional livestock classes.
Landowner Jo Ropner suggested that visitor numbers were up as people grew more familiar with the show’s new spot in the village of Kirklington, an upwards trend replicated in the number of sheep entries, though cattle numbers dipped for the event.
Chief cattle steward Alan Goldie said: “It’s probably the pressure the agricultural industry is under. Fewer people can justify the cost. But there’s cracking quality on show.”
Mr Goldie said most cattle exhibitors were aged under 30, including his 18-year-old daughter Anna, of Danby Wiske, who won the supreme dairy title for homebred Holstein, Wiskemanor Aftershock Papoose. In reserve was sixyear-old Jersey, Knayton Sultan Thrush, shown by Laura Crosby, 23, of Southend Farm, Knayton.
Dylan Townend, of Broughton near Malton, continued his rich vein of form with Clifftown Ladyluck, a British Blue heifer that has won two other breed championships this season. He took the supreme beef title to pip Hallfield Miranda, a British Blonde shown by Lucy Corner, 23, of Aycliffe, which was named reserve champion.
There were about 700 sheep on show and Johnny Stables, 35, of County Durham, recorded his first ever supreme sheep title with a Bleu de Maine. In reserve was a Wensleydale shown by Anna and Julie Pennell from Darlington that was a breed champion at last year’s Masham Sheep Fair.
Ms Ropner, who runs Camp Hill with her husband Robert, declared the event a success, adding: “We feel really lucky to be part of this.”