Equestrian Section promises Quality
The Great Yorkshire Show has received almost 1,800 entries for this year’s equine section, making the competition as fierce as ever and doubtless giving judges at the prestigious event a tough time.
Dates for this year’s event which prides itself on the high standard of its equestrian entries, are Tuesday 13 – Thursday 15 July when more than 130,000 visitors are expected to flock to the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.
The equestrian section never fails to attract both quantity and quality in entries, and this year is no exception.
There are 32 sections in total, ranging from the Shires to Shetland Ponies and the popular show jumping classes, culminating in the prestigious Ripon Select Foods Cock o’ the North on Thursday afternoon.
In terms of entry figures, ridden hunters have received the most, setting the standard high for the 258 competitors.
The Retrained Racehorse class is new to the Great Yorkshire, as is the First Ridden Mountain and Moorland – each pulling in their fair share of entries.
Another new feature for 2010 is the Top Spec Top of the North Supreme Championship, which aims to find the Supreme Ridden Horse of the Show. Only the winners of the other equine sections are eligible to compete. The overall winner will be presented with £1,500 prize money and a Yorkshire Agricultural Society Supreme Champion Rosette in the main ring on Thursday afternoon, following final judging. Whilst the Cuddy Supreme Championship, also on Thursday, never fails to showcase the best.
Show jumping is always an important highlight in the main arena with some of the country’s leading riders once again competing for the top awards. Nick Skelton, Tina Fletcher and Tim Stockdale are just some of the well known names on the list of competitors. Riders will qualify over the three days for the Cock o’ the North Championship, with £7,000 in prize money on offer and the famous Silver Challenge Trophy. In a thrilling competition, last year’s winner was Will Funnell with Cortaflex Mondriaan, who follows a long line of famous names including the Whitakers, the Smiths and Graham Fletcher, to name but a few.