Event
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Bumper Show of livestock at the Great Yorkshire

Sheep entries are at an all-time high.

LIVESTOCK entries for the 2010 Great Yorkshire Show have received a tremendous boost, with sheep numbers at an all-time high, cattle at their best for at least a decade and pig entries topping those of 50 years ago.

The show runs from Tuesday-Thursday 13-15 July at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, when around 130,000 visitors are expected at the farming showcase.

Sheep entries have peaked at 1952, 120 over last year’s record entry while cattle numbers stand at over 1200. The pig section will have a superb show with over 400 entries – the highest in almost 40 years.

Show director Bill Cowling said: “Livestock entries are at their highest for a long time. We have had a policy of sticking to our agricultural roots and this has paid off with entries going from strength to strength. It’s a great testament to the enthusiasm of our livestock exhibitors and their commitment to us. We will have a tremendous show with both quality and quantity of stock coming in front of the judges.”

Of the 36 breeds and types of sheep which will line up, the biggest entry comes from Texel exhibitors with a total of 271, however the second highest, the Beltex has achieved a record entry of 158 – 30 more than at last year.

Other record entries have been set in the British Charollais section with 145 compared with 126 in 2009, and 48 in the butchers’lamb classes, up seven on the previous year.

Traditional sheep breeds are also making a come-back with Herdwick (47 – 39 in 2009) Jacob (68 – 48 in 2009) Leicester (52 – 32 2009) Teeswater (47- 37 2009) and Whitefaced Woodland (49 – 38 in 2009) all attracting a record number of entries.

Youngsters supporting the event are also on the increase with sheep young handlers entries up by 12 to 48.

Cattle entries stand at an impressive 1226, 113 up on 2009. “We have been ‘full’ in the cattle section for a number of years, but the difference this year has been that exhibitors have got their entries to us much earlier so by mid April we were virtually full.” said Mr Cowling.

Looking at the breeds, both British Simmentals and Holsteins have seen a massive boost.
The event is hosting the National Simmental Show to mark the 40th anniversary of the breed in the UK and as a result Simmental numbers have risen to triple figures for the first time, with a record 119 entries.

The Holstein has achieved a record for the second year running, bettering last year’s entry of 121 to make 151 entered.

Traditional breeds have again attracted greater support with record entries in the Beef Shorthorn (64 – 56 in 2009), Galloway (42 – 11 in 2009), Lincoln Red (25 – 12 in 2009), Longhorn (58 – 50 in 2009), Ayrshire (56 – 31 in 2009) and Dairy Shorthorn (65 – 35 in 2009).

At 408 entries, the pig section is at its best since 1962 and well over the most recent record of 380 entries several years ago. Included in the classes for 11 different breeds on show for the first time is the Oxford Sandy and Black. Once again Saddlbacks are the most numerous breed represented.

There are also classes for any other breeds both modern and traditional and proving ever popular with exhibitors and spectators alike is the British Pig Association Pig of the Year final. In addition, the Supreme Pig Championships, sponsored by Sainsburys, always provides a display of real quality animals.

Chief pig steward Peter Brier said: “We’re almost at capacity with this year’s entry. The Pig of the Year final always proves popular as well as the BPA young stock handlers competition qualifier which gets great support and it’s wonderful to see the next generation coming along.”

Tickets are available either online – go to www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or call 01423 541222.

Marshalls Father’s Day tractor event a wonderful success!

Returning to their roots: a magnificent line-up of Marshalls. Photo supplied

A NUMBER of the original Marshall tractors, spanning over 150 years of the Gainsborough company’s history, returned to Marshall’s Yard – now a shopping centre – to celebrate Father’s Day.

The tractors on display had travelled from various locations such as Beckingham, Gainsborough, Retford, Welton, Askham, and for one exhibitor, it took three hours to drive their Field Marshall to Marshall’s Yard travelling only 6mph from Weston, near Newark.

Tractor enthusiasts were pleased to see the Marshalls return to their roots while children in the area learned about where the machines were built and how they operate. Free face painting and horse and carriage rides around the town also made Father’s Day a fun day for the whole family.

Medi Parry, assistant centre manager, said: “We will be continuing to work closely with The Marshall Club to grow and develop the annual Marshall’s Tractor event to remember and celebrate Gainsborough’s history.”

The next Marshalls Tractor event will be held next year on Father’s Day, 19 June. www.marshallsyard.co.uk

Red Arrows at Chatsworth

THE spectacular Red Arrows take to the skies to open the Chatsworth Country Fair on Friday 3 September, as one of England’s most popular outdoor events returns for its 29th year.

Other highlights will include medieval jousting by The Knights of the Damned and a display by The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team.

Held in the 1000-acre park on the banks of the river Derwent in Derbyshire, the three-day event is packed full of things to watch, do and try.

Country Fair president Alan Titchmarsh will lead the opening ceremony on Friday at 12pm.

Tickets are £13 for Friday, £15 for Saturday and £15 on Sunday, children under 14 enter for free when accompanied by an adult. Gates open at 9am with the closing ceremony at 5.30pm on Friday, 6pm on Saturday and 6.15pm on Sunday. Car parking is free and dogs are welcome on a lead. Discounted advance tickets can be bought online, by visiting www.chatsworthcountryfair.co.uk

Trophies presented at Carrington Rally

ALMOST 40 trophies and awards were presented at the recent Carrington Rally held near Boston, Lincs.

Roy Daft from Frithville won the Duckhams Oil sponsored trophy for Best Tractor on Display with his 1955 Motomeccanica RP3, while the Most Original Steam Engine trophy, donated by AE Dowlman, went to the recently restored 1910 McLaren BF5258, owned by David and Peter Ingall. The Ingalls also won the Best Exhibit (not classified) trophy for their steamer.

Over 30 steamers lined up in the main ring on the second day, simultaneously blowing their whistles and creating a magnificent sight and sound.

Feature tractors, crawlers and John Deere were well represented; 80 crawlers were exhibited, including the last built Track Marshall 155 Mk2 (1994) and nearly 150 John Deere.

The Best John Deere Trophy, donated by ST Belton, was presented to C Garson and B Beba of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, for their 1941 John Deere B. Two trophies for Caterpillar Crawlers were presented, both donated by H Leverton & Co of Spalding. These went to B Bowles of Wrangle, Lincolnshire, for his 1929 Caterpillar 15 (1925-1935) and P Badger of Kettering, Northants, for his 1950 Caterpillar D2 (1936-1956).

Trophies were also awarded for vintage and classic cars and motorcycles, stationary engines and models in the marquee.

Farmer ‘Wink’ officially opened the rally – he said it was a great honour and he attended the show every year without fail.

Following the opening, ‘Wink’ was given a ride round the main arena by the other ‘star’ of the show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Chitty – registration GEN 11 – is the original car built especially for the film of the same name. It is now owned by Pierre Picton, who was responsible for maintaining the car during production
and performed some of the driving sequences, doubling up for leading man, Dick Van Dyke.

Over 6000 visitors attended Carrington Rally during the two days and organisers are already preparing for next year’s show on Sunday 29 and Monday 30 May 2011. The annual vintage auction and car boot sale will precede the rally on Saturday, 28 May.

Record tractor display at the South-West’s largest festival of transport

THE Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza makes a welcome return to Cotswold Airport (previously known as Kemble Airfield) this year from Friday-Sunday 6-8 August taking the show into its 36th year.

Mortons Media Group, publishers of Wrights Farming Register, has teamed up with the organisers to offer 20 pairs of tickets as prizes in an easy-to-enter competition. For your chance to win a pair of tickets, complete the coupon on this page or enter online at www.wrightsregister.com

Originally conceived for steam enthusiasts, the show’s range of exhibits has grown year on year. It now boasts a huge array of vintage transport, including buses, coaches, motorcycles, military vehicles, classic cars, tractors, aircraft, commercial vehicles, traction engines and historic caravans.

A live action arena, interactive demonstrations, rare breeds, shire horses, trade stands and a vintage funfair along with hundreds of curiosity stalls ranging from Victorian memorabilia, antique sewing and knitting machines to model dolls houses, petrol pumps, vintage garden tools and 1940s – 1950s home wares makes this three-day extravaganza one of the UK's best value family outdoor shows.

This year more than 150 vintage tractors will be displayed dating from the 1920s to the 1980s showcasing the engineering development, diversity of design and colours of these powerful machines. Manufacturers represented include David Brown, Massey Ferguson, Nuffield, Zetor, Leyland, Farmall and Field Marshall to name but a few.

The now infamous 'Dancing Tractors' will also return to the main arena, which is a fun display not to be missed! There will also be tractors at work in the working arena display demonstrating their capabilities.

Clive Osborne, director of the tractors section Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza, said: “Each year the show just gets better and better and this one will be no exception. There will be a few surprises in the tractor display which will be of great interest to enthusiasts and general visitors alike”.

Gates open at 10am and a free vintage bus service will be operating to and from Kemble railway station throughout the show to connect with selected First Great Western Trains. A courtesy bus will also shuttle guests to the Bristol Aero collection. Formed in 1990, this collection records 95 years of Bristol aviation and space heritage. Based in a large wartime hangar, the collection includes aircraft, helicopters, missiles and engines. For details of the bus schedule, please refer to the website www.steamextravaganza.com

Buses will depart from outside the main show entrance. All profits are donated to the Cobalt Appeal Fund, Diabetes UK & The County Air Ambulance.

WIN a pair of tickets - 20 chances to win

A Wrights Farming Register reader can win a pair of tickets to the Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza in our free prize draw.

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Events Diary

9-11 JULY
Just dogs Live
East of England Showground, Peterborough
Contact: 01733 234451
www.justdogslive.co.uk

11 JULY
Summer Tractor Run
Market Rasen Roadrunners
Skinners Lane, off A46,
Middle Rasen, Lincs
Contact: 01673 844308/
07860 791254
13-15 JULY
Great Yorkshire Show
Harrogate
Contact: 01423 451222
www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

21 JULY
The Peterborough
Festival of Hunting
East of England Showground
Contact: 01733 234451
www.eastofengland.org.uk/hunting

* It is advisable to telephone beforehand if you have to travel a long distance.

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Or send them to: Janet Richardson, Wrights Farming Register, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 6LZ