WITH nearly £21,000 worth of trophies and prize money to be won, Ryedale Show has become one of the biggest one-day shows in Britain.

Last year it attracted a record-breaking attendance of 16,000.

The show is an institution with a proud history.

Ryedale Agricultural Society was formed in 1855 at a meeting of “influential gentlemen and tenant farmers” at the King’s Head Hotel in Kirkbymoorside. It was just seven months later that the first show was held on the outskirts of the town in a field occupied by Metcalfe Dobson, with the sum of £127 and five shillings offered in prizes.

At 3pm, a public dinner was held at the Toll Inn for three shillings a head. Since then, the show has gone from strength to strength.

The prize money, described as “extremely good” was further boosted by the various lords of the manor, including Lord Feversham, who regularly gave silver cups to be won outright, if won three years in succession.

Over the years, the show moved between Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley and Pickering, until in the 1960s the decision was made to settle on the present ground at Welburn Park.

Today, the tradition of having a committee from each of the towns to organise the show still exists, and with it goes the presidency, which is this year held by George Teasdale of Helmsley.

General secretary Peter Woodall, said: “The committee of the town hosting the show do all the preparations and work for it.”

This year’s show will be a milestone for Mr Woodall as it will be his last as show secretary after 40 years in the demanding role.

When he became is secretary in 1970, the income amounted to £2,200. Today it runs into tens of thousands – as does the costs of staging it.

Last year’s record-breaking event, made more than £12,000 after all expenses had been paid.

It has eight show rings to accommodate the hundreds of classes and events, which this year will include a top steel band and the Malton White Star Band.

“The show does not rely on star attractions to draw the public because we endeavour to produce a typical traditional agricultural show,” said Peter.

“The show is run by volunteers but still carries an enormous expense for tentage, equipment, prize money, catering, printing and postage costs.”

Entries for last year’s show were up by around 33 per cent and this year they will be topping that record.

Gates open to the public at the show site at Welburn Park at 8.30am.


Mr President has vital role

GEORGE Teasdale, whose family has been farming in the Helmsley district for 300 years, is president of Ryedale Show this year.

Mr Teasdale has been involved with the show – now one of the biggest in North Yorkshire – since he was seven, helping his father by carrying stakes and pen bars to prepare for the annual event.

A life-long farmer, he was manager at Lady Clarissa Collin’s Beadlam Rigg Farm, Pockley, for many years and spent 20 years as an agricultural contractor.

But it is his love of heavy horses for which George is best known. He has judged Shires, Clydesdales and Suffolk Punches at shows in a wide area, and been a steward at Ryedale Show, of which he was made a life member in 2008.

He said: “In my view, Ryedale Show is better than the Great Yorkshire. It’s a traditional farming show with splendid quality livestock and exhibits and rural crafts.”

When he was a competitor in the heavy horses classes, he often attended three shows a week in the main season. His pride as an exhibitor was to see his own horse, Topper, win the decorated horses championship at Ryedale, 14 out of 15 years.

George, of Elmslac Road, Helmsley, was born at West Farm, Sleightholmedale, one of 13 children – 10 girls and three boys – moving to Low Woods Farm, Helmsley at the age of 14. After his father died, the farm was sold, and George became manager for Lady Clarissa Collin.

George’s wife, Pat, said: “All the family are really pleased for George because he has worked so hard for so long for Ryedale Show. It’s a wonderful honour for him.”