A SEARCH is under way for the new leader of two renowned countryside shows.

Bosses at The Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event, Countryside Live, are taking applications for the role of show director, which includes heading up England’s premier agricultural event.

This comes after Bill Cowling, the current show director, announced he would be stepping down following the 2015 events.

Mr Cowling took on the role in 2005 after being involved with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for four decades.

The show runs from Tuesday, July 14, to Thursday, July 16, and is a major event on the rural calendar, attracting around 130,000 visitors each year and the country’s top livestock to its range of competitive classes.

Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said: “Clearly an empathy with and knowledge of farming and the countryside are key factors, as well as the drive to lead our flagship events into the future.

“Under Bill’s leadership our shows have increased in prestige both nationally and closer to home so it follows that we are looking for someone to not only be the public face of our events, but to lead their further development.”

Further information visit www.yas.co.uk