Cheese greater every show year

This year’s event will see the tenth staging of the Great Yorkshire Cheese & Dairy Show.

To commemorate the milestone a new award for outstanding quality has been announced with organisers calling the section “a key part” of the annual farming extravaganza.

Bill Cowling, honorary show director, said: “The section was re-introduced in 2002 and has gone from strength to strength – from 300 entries in 2002 to virtually 1,000 last year.

“Not only do we have the numbers, but the quality is there too plus we have the range with classes not only for cheese but for ice cream, liquid milk, cream and dairy products.”

The top prize is for the Supreme Dairy Product which last year was taken by the Calderdale Cheese Company.

In addition, this year there will be a programme of informal talks and tastings from a range of exhibitors including Wensleydale Dairy Products and Neals Yard Dairy.

Visitors can also roll up their sleeves and have a go at judging some of the classes themselves.

For this year’s Great Yorkshire Show, the Cheese and Dairy Show is sponsored by Morrisons and is organised in conjunction with Wensleydale Dairy Products and Dee Dairy Services.

The Great Yorkshire Show will run from July 12 to July 14 at the Great Yorkshire Showground on the outskirts of Harrogate.

As well as the thousands of animals competing for the coveted championship rosettes, attractions for this year are to include: Lorenzo’s equestrian display in the main ring each day, top class show jumping, the food hall with the region’s best food and drink, fashion shows with national and regional designers and a series of cookery theatres, as well as more than 5,000 of Britain’s best horses, cattle, sheep and pigs.

Tickets are now available online, www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or by calling the show offices on 01423 541222.