District’s agricultural show ‘best in North’ (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale Show is 'best agricultural show in the North'

9:20am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Farming news By David Jeffels

ORGANISERS of Ryedale Show have always claimed it is one of the country’s best – now it has been proved.

Members of the Ryedale and Pickering Lyth Agricultural Society, which organises the summer event, were told at their meeting last Thursday that the show is ranked third in the small agricultural show classes nationwide.

Retiring chairman, Steve Stonehouse, told members: “It’s a great accolade, because with the shows placed first and second being in the South of England, it means that Ryedale’s is the best show of its type in Yorkshire.”

And there was even more for the meeting to celebrate when it was revealed that last year’s show had been a big success financially.

Mr Stonehouse added: “We have some of the best livestock classes in any Yorkshire show, though the diary section did dwindle.”

He added that commercial entries were up and interest in the rare breeds classes was escalating so much that new classes had been introduced.

He said the show’s success had enabled drainage work on the site at Welburn Park, near Kirkbymoorside, which had been completed earlier this month, and he praised the Shaw family for allowing the use of their fields for the event.

“It is a brilliant amphitheatre and we are grateful to the Shaw family for their support,” he added.

The drainage, he said, would improve conditions on the showground should there be a wet spell immediately prior to the event in the future.

The society had been able to invest £30,000 with the Skipton Building Society, alongside £50,000 already in a managed fund, underlining its buoyant financial position, said Mr Stonehouse.

General Secretary Peter Woodall said: “Last year's show was an excellent one.”

The balance sheet showed it made a profit of £13,342, compared to a loss of £3,089 the previous year.

Mr Woodall, who is stepping down from the post after many years, thanked the show’s council and helpers.

“So many people put in a lot of hard work throughout the year to ensure the show’s success,” he said.

Pat Harrison, one of the key organisers of the show, praised auctioneers Cundalls for their input into the show, providing an office base at Malton and much of the administration support.

Willie Frank, of Pickering, was elected the new chairman, while David Cussons was reappointed the show director, and Mr Woodall the treasurer.

The representatives for the three finance and general purposes committees were: Pickering: Les Jones, Stuart Holliday, Willie Frank; Helmsley: Christine Thompson, Fred Fairburn and Chris Leckenby; Kirkbymoorside: William Curtis, John Simpson and Rosie Shaw.

Tributes were paid to four leading members of the show who had died in the past year – Frank Flintoft, Phyllis Ferguson, Joyce Boyes and Lady Shuna Palmar.