The Great Yorkshire Show

The Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate

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The Great Yorkshire Show is a fantastic day out and an excellent visit to get a taste of Yorkshire. There is livestock of all kinds, including cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, and rabbits. There are blacksmiths at work, show jumpers, fly fishing demonstrations, honey displays, sheep shearing contests and beer tents. There are stalls of all sorts, and a wealth of agricultural machinery.

Pictures from the Great Yorkshire Show

Here is a small selection of photos to whet your appetite, and to persuade you to visit in the Great Yorkshire Show in 2008! These photographs of the agricultural event are for sale at 300dpi.

Great Yorkshire Show: Tuesday 10 - Thursday 12 July 2007

The Great Yorkshire Show Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July, 2008

150 Years to Celebrate

The Great Yorkshire Show, a premier UK countryside event, celebrates its 150th show this year. The event brings together the best of British farming with an eclectic mix of country life, entertainment, shopping and competitions and takes place on Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July, 2008. The venue is the Great Yorkshire Showground on the edge of spa town of Harrogate and the show is organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Last year saw more than 120,000 visitors come through the gates, and this celebratory year is expected to attract a record crowd to the 250 acre site.

Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director said: “This is a major milestone in our history and we will be celebrating it in style. The Show’s popularity is very much based on its farming heart and it is not only a first class shop window for the industry, but a fantastic day out. Whether your background is rural, urban or suburban, the Great Yorkshire Show has plenty to appeal. This year more than any other, is certainly the year to be part of it.”

The 2008 Show will include:

* Livestock classes for more than 3,000 cattle, sheep and pigs with additional 150th Show prizes for champions and reserves in several sections

* Top class equestrian competitions spread over three arenas, including international showjumping for record prize money and the popular Inter Hunt Relay

* Entertainment featuring Yorkshire’s own Black Dyke Mills Band and equestrian supremo “the Great Lorenzo”

* Superb food from the region and cookery demonstrations in the purpose built Food Hall

* Daily fashion shows including 150 years of bridal wear

* The Flower Show with a new small gardens feature

* Have a go events including the chance to drive a digger and really make the earth move!

* The Great British Pole Climbing Championships in the popular Forestry Area

Further details will be announced in due course and tickets go on sale on Monday 3 March – www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

Tickets Prices:

Advance:

Adult: £16.50; Concession: £14; Children: £7.50; Family Ticket: £44

On the Gate

Adult: £20; Concession: £16; Children: £9; Family Ticket: £51.

Parking is free and extensive.

Venue: Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, N. Yorkshire. HG5 9BX

Contact Details

The Great Yorkshire Show website - www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk is currently being updated. See also the Society’s site - www.yas.co.uk

Show Office: 01423 541000

The photos below were taken in 2007. (Most photos of the Great Yorkshire Show are available for sale, Hi Res - 300dpi)

email us to purchase photos

History

The first GYS was held in 1838 in Fulford, near York, and moved to Leeds, Northallerton and Hull in subsequent years, before returning to York in 1842. This is the first year for which attendance figures are available; the GYS in 1842 had a paid attendance of 6044. The GYS continued to be held in various places around Yorkshire until 1950, when it was held in Malton.

Since 1951 it has been held in a purpose-built showground in Harrogate. By 1951 the attendance figure was nearly 54,000. No GYS was held in the years 1915-1920 and 1940-1948 due to World War I and World War II respectively.

The 2001 GYS was cancelled due to the outbreak of Foot and mouth disease in Britain.

The 2006 show has been the most successful so far in terms of attendance figures, with 135,111 visitors.

Displays include Dancing Diggers, Showjuming, Stalls and Falconry Displays from Sion Hill Hall

The Showground

The Great Yorkshire Showground is situated off Railway Road, on the outskirts of Harrogate. It was purchased in 1950 by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, with the first GYS taking place at the site the following year. The site is 250 acres (101 ha) in area, and consists mainly of grassland with several permanent structures. These include

• Main grandstand and show-ring

• "White Rose" grandstand and show-ring

• Housing for cattle, sheep, pigs and other livestock

• Multi-purpose conference and exhibition halls (known as the "Yorkshire Event Centre")

• Dining and function facilities (known as "Pavilions of Harrogate")

• Office accommodation for the YAS, which has its headquarters at the showground

The showground facilities are used all the year round for various functions and events ranging from the Great Yorkshire Show itself to antiques fairs, trade shows, business conferences and wedding receptions. It is estimated that some 1 million people visit the showground per year.

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