2018-08-14 |
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Countdown is on to 121st Kilnsey Show & Sports
All is on track for this year’s Kilnsey Show & Sports, on Tuesday, August 28, the annual Yorkshire Dales highlight that shines the spotlight on the cream of local farming, rural life, food and produce, arts and crafts.
Upper
Wharfedale Agricultural Society, the organisers, report
that arrangements for the 121st show, which brings down the curtain
on the local agricultural show season, are progressing smoothly
and new president Dr
Peter Whitehead says he is looking forward
to “my first year in office with mounting anticipation and fingers
crossed for fine weather!”
An action-packed day-long agenda for both competitors and visitors alike is the show’s hallmark. For the former, there are more than 400 individual show classes, with over 80 trophies to be won – and a total prize fund worth £17,000.
Livestock remains integral to Kilnsey Show and there are again multi-breed sheep and cattle show classes, themselves with prize money of £7,000. From these, three supreme champions will emerge – plus the bragging rights to go with them for a whole year!
Both MVA and non-MVA sheep and many of the recognised local breeds are catered for – Dalesbred, Swaledale, Teeswater, Masham, Blue-faced Leicester, Mule, Texel, Beltex, Jacob, Derbyshire Gritstone, Lonk, Zwartbles, Charollais and any other pure breed, plus standalone prime lambs show classes. The supreme sheep in show will then be chosen.
In the cattle show arena, there are multiple classes for pedigree and commercial beef, and dairy animals. Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle will compete for their own supreme dairy championship, with standalone classes for Highland, Limousin and British Blue pedigree cattle, plus any other Continental and Native breeds. One will become supreme beef champion.
There is also a major equine presence, with horse show classes and events taking place in the main arena throughout the day. These include Shires, Working Hunters, Mountain & Moorland, along with ridden horses and riding classes, all mounting to an exhilarating climax late afternoon with the ever-popular harness racing heats and final, complete with on-course bookmakers.
Under canvas, display tents around the field will cater for all competition tastes, with classes for wine, bread and cakes, preserves, children’s baking and handicrafts, adult handicrafts, photography, art, horticulture, both open and local, and flower arranging. There’s even an open show class for walking sticks.
The many and varied skills of the region’s agricultural communities will also be put to the test with the annual Kilnsey Show Sheep Dog Trials, plus dry stone walling, farm crops, vintage tractor and young farmers’ sheep judging competitions.
Mid-afternoon sees the commencement of Kilnsey Sports, with the central attraction the famous and gruelling crag races, which remain one of the stiffest tests in the land for fell runners.
Junior crag races will be followed by the open highlight, won last year by Nick Swinburn, of Northumberland Fell Runners, ahead of local man Simon Bailey, with another great Kilnsey Crag Race legend Ted Mason, of Wharfedale Harriers, who last won the race in 2016, finishing fourth. All are expected to take part again, with the legendary Ted, now aged 39, still a force to be reckoned with. Back on the field, one-mile and 100 metres handicaps will also be contested.
For the visiting public, who journey from near and far to the annual showcase, there are again a whole host of support events, plus plenty of hands-on educational activities for younger generations, both maintaining and boosting Kilnsey’s appeal as an event for all the family.
Displays, demonstrations and attractions encompassing all aspects of agricultural and rural life include angling on the River Wharfe, sheep shearing, Ben Potter and his falconry display, John and Lou Close with their Langstrothdale Gun Dogs, and the local Fire Brigade, who will once more be demonstrating their emergency rescue skills.
The tremendously popular ‘Local Food Hall’ will showcase the rich diversity and superb taste of local produce. Peel Entertainment Group, from Broughton, whose award-winning Alexander's Bar and Restaurant in Skipton recently celebrated its first anniversary, will be hosting a tent in the food hall selling hand-made truffles and local gins.
Their executive head chef, Struan Macintyre, is also taking part in cookery demonstrations, while other leading local chefs who have confirmed their participation in The Cookery Theatre are Chris Oakden, of The Coniston Hotel and Bruce Elsworth, who recently launched Elsworth Kitchen in Skipton.
Peel Entertainment has again stepped in to sponsor the Children’s Marquee, which will this year feature some new faces, among them KiddyCooks, who will be providing a cooking activity for the children. Also new are North Yorkshire Rotters, with chef Nigel Brown, who will be demonstrating how to use left-over food to create delicious dishes, and Kanga Sports, who will be laying on more physical activities.
The ever-popular Hesketh Farm Park guinea pigs will be back, along with stories by Embsay Community Library, Kumon, the British Trust for Ornithology, Craven Weaving & Spinning Guild, fruit kebab making courtesy of Wellocks, of Colne, Embsay Pre-School Playgroup, plus lots more activities. There will also be the usual nappy changing area and cafe serving children's lunchboxes and home-made cakes.
Up to 100 trade, craft and food stands can also be found around the showground. Gates open to visitors at 9am and the show goes on until 7pm.
On the day, the admission charge is £12 for adults, £2 for children 16 years and under, with the under-5s free. While paid-for parking is also available, there is also ample free parking nearby.
