Sneak Preview for the new Hound Show at the Great Yorkshire Show

Photo caption: Michael Bannister, President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show) is seen here with his harrier hounds Passion and Fortune inspecting the new kennels which have been built for the new Hound Show Area.

Craftsmen have been hard at work building kennels for the new competitive Harrier hounds classes to be held at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show.

The Harriers will be based in the new Hound Show area which is being created close to the existing Country Pursuits Area at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, The Great Yorkshire Show runs from Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July and is one of the premier countryside events on the UK calendar.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s President, Michael Bannister of Coniston Hall, Skipton, North Yorkshire has been a Master of the Harrier Hounds for 35 years and said he was delighted competitive classes for the breed were being introduced.

"The Hound Show is a long-established feature of the Great Yorkshire Show and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to introduce Harriers to the event this year. We hope they will become a regular feature on our programme," he said.

"Moving the hounds down to the Country Pursuits area made perfect sense, and the new area will be a natural focus for countryside and field sport activities." Some 65 kennels are currently being made by staff at the Showground, led by joiner David Atkinson.