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14
Jul
High temperatures and big crowds as 167th Great Yorkshire Show opens
The 167th edition of the Great Yorkshire Show got underway today.
Around 37,500 people attended on the opening day after organisers lift the cap on tickets for the first time since 2021.
The Stray Ferret was at the Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate to provide live coverage of the show throughout the day. You can catch up on all the highlights below.
4pm - Afternoon travel restrictions
A reminder that travel restrictions will be in place this afternoon in Harrogate as people begin to leave the Great Yorkshire Show.
As of 2pm, Wetherby Road between Sainsbury’s traffic lights and the Kestrel roundabout will be one-way to accommodate traffic leaving Harrogate.
This will be in force until 9pm, but may be removed earlier depending on traffic flow.
3.50pm - Harrogate charities share a stand at the show
Three of Harrogate's best-known charities with deep roots in the town, are joining forces at this year's Great Yorkshire Show to showcase collaboration.
Rather than exhibiting separately, Harrogate Neighbours, Artizan and Time Together will share a stand throughout the show, showcasing the impact of partnership working while raising awareness of services each organisation provides across the district.
Throughout the week, each charity will take the lead on a dedicated day, giving visitors the opportunity to meet staff and volunteers, learn about their work and discover how local charities are creating stronger, more connected communities by working together.
Helena Evans, CEO at Harrogate Neighbours, said:
The opportunity to partner with our charity friends to create opportunities and visibility like this for us all is incredibly exciting.
(left) Liz Cluderay, CEO of Artizan, Sue Cawthray, Consultant at Harrogate Neighbours, Helena Evans, CEO at Harrogate Neighbours, Louise Terzza, CEO of Time Together.
3.30pm - Keeping coopering alive
One of the more curious sights at this year’s show is the cooper stand next to Theakston's Brewery bar.
Stood behind it is Euan FIndlay who has been practising the ancient tradition of barrel making for the last 11 years and works for the Masham-based brewery.
Nowadays, he visits the Great Yorkshire Show to keep the ancient tradition alive and encourage those who are younger to pick it up through demonstrations — but also with videos on YouTube and TikTok.
Euan challenges people to make a barrel and offers prizes for the most
Speaking to the Stray Ferret today, he said:
I’ve been doing this [the show] for about the past decade and doing the same thing, keeping the name of coopering alive. I do three demonstrations a day and do a bit of cask raising to keep the name alive.
Euan Findlay.
2.45pm - A classic song for the show
It would not be a complete sunny afternoon without some music. Fortunately, the Harrogate Band were on hand to perform their rendition of Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
You can watch a clip of their performance below.
2.25pm - Vintage farm vehicles on display
It's not just animals at the show, those into their vintage farming vehicles were treated to a display of how farmers did it in the 1950s this afternoon.
Down in the Machinery Demonstration Ring, spectators were shown how farmers over 70 years ago would go about collecting hay.
A true treat for vintage enthusiasts.
2.05pm - Being among the animals
One of the best things about the Great Yorkshire Show is that you're never too far from animals.
This year's show boasts more than 8,500 animals, including horses, cows and birds of prey.
As you would expect, we've been capturing plenty of pictures of them while wandering around today.
1.50pm - Temperatures and crowds rise at opening day of the show
It's a busy and warm one at the opening day of the show as temperatures start to creep over 20 degree mark. According to the Met Office, we're expecting highs of 24 degrees at 4pm.
The quiet period we reported on earlier this morning has turned on its head as it becomes harder to get around the show.
Regardless, people are enjoying the sunny spells with plenty of attractions on display for young and old.
12.00pm - Last hurrah for birds of prey exhibitor
On a sad note, this year’s show will be the last for bird of prey exhibitor Tori Goodall.
Tori, who runs Walworth Birds of Prey, has been coming to the show for the last 17 years and has wowed visitors with her demonstrations, including with her hawks.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret, she said she was retiring from the agricultural show circuit to focus on her pest control business.
She said:
I employ five people and it has really, really taken off —pardon the pun. I just can’t be everywhere. I have done this for 17 years and I love it. But I’m trying to look at what is best for us as a business.
Rachel Coates, Great Yorkshire Show director, and Tori Goodall, birds of prey exhibitor.
11.50am - Yorkshire cricketers pay a visit to the show
Cricketers from Yorkshire County Cricket Club have paid a visit to the show and have been challenging people to a game of swing ball.
Ben Coad and Matthew Firbank were on hand to play at the Vertu Motors stand.
11.25am - Show in full swing
We're in full swing here at the Great Yorkshire Show and the temperature is also rising.
Farmers are in deep conversation with punters about their equipment and plenty of school children have attended on school trips.
A reminder that this is the first year that the show has lifted a cap on tickets since 2021.
11.15am - Mayor of York and North Yorkshire launches rural action plan
David Skaith, Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, launched his rural action plan at the Great Yorkshire Show this morning.
Mr Skaith said the plan, which is backed with £1 million in funding, aims to tackle problems facing the rural community, including housing and "mobile blackspots".
Speaking to the Stray Ferret after his speech in the shoiw's Agri-innovation Village, he said:
"What it does is focus all our strategies that we have into that rural community. It's around how we build the homes that we need in our rural communities and how we improve the connectivity in our rural communities."
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, speaking at the Great Yorkshire Show.
9.15am - Farming sector at "pivotal moment", says NFU president
The president of the National Farmers Union says the sector is at a "pivotal" moment as it looks to use new technology to grow.
Tom Bradshaw told a panel at the Great Yorkshire Show this morning that new technology and agri-tech had a "crucial role" to help the industry.
He also said he hopes to meet Andy Burnham, who is on course to become Prime Minister this week, to discuss the challenges facing the farming sector.
8.40am - Show starts to fill up
The first attendees are starting to arrive at the opening day of the Great Yorkshire Show.
Gates opened at 8am and punters are slowly starting to trickle through. It is still relatively quiet, but we're only forty minutes in to a long day.
8am - Traffic restrictions
Traffic was queuing down Hookstone Road this morning towards Hornbeam Park and appears to be backing up beyond the Kestrel roundabout. However, this is to be expected on the morning of the show.
Drivers are warned that Wetherby Road is now one-way from the Kestrel roundabout to the junction of Rudding Lane towards Harrogate.
The one-way system has also been extended on the A658 towards Harrogate from the Thistle Hill junction (turn off to Knaresborough) to the Kestrel roundabout. This will be for mornings only from 6.30am.
This will be reversed on Wetherby Road at 2pm between Sainsbury’s traffic lights and The Kestrel Roundabout to accommodate traffic leaving Harrogate. This will remain in force until 9pm and the restrictions may be removed earlier depending on the volume of traffic.
7.40am - Thousands expected on opening day
Thousands of people are expected to attend the 167th Great Yorkshire Show this week as organisers put the final touches on the annual event.
The show will return to the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate from Tuesday (July 14) to Friday (July 17).
Hosting everything from birds of prey to giant combine harvesters, this year’s event promises something for everyone.
You can read our full preview here.
7.30am - Show set to open
Welcome to our live coverage of the 167th Great Yorkshire Show.
The show is set to get underway with gates opening at 8am. The weather is set to be glorious with highs of 23 degrees this afternoon and sunny spells throughout the day.
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