Stage Set For 2015 Kilnsey Show & Sports

The final preparations are being put in place for one of the biggest and most popular agricultural shows in the north, Kilnsey Show & Sports, on Tuesday, September 1.

The annual Yorkshire Dales highlight - this year is the 118th show - continues to attract multitudes of visitors from both town and country, as it shines the spotlight on hill farming, rural life and crafts.

Over 400 show classes offering more than 80 trophies and £17,000 in prize money are again on the action-packed, day-long agenda, with the multi-breed sheep and cattle livestock classes themselves offering a £7,000 prize windfall.

These remain at the heart of the annual extravaganza, notably the sheep section, as Kilnsey maintains its standing as one of the UK's leading shows for many sheep breeds, including those inherent to the Dales and wider region.

Equine enthusiasts are also spoilt for choice, with the main arena featuring show classes for heavy horses, working hunters, mountain and moorland, and ridden horse classes, along with local riding competitions.

Locally produced food and in particular the rich gate-to-plate bounty from regional farmers is also a key element of the event. The renowned Cookery Theatre will again feature entertaining and informative demonstrations by leading local chefs, who will show off their skills and prowess in preparing delicious local dishes, with lamb likely to feature prominently on their menus, as the show falls in British Lamb Week, which runs from September 1-7.

Lined up again are The Angel Inn's Bruce Elsworth, Dales farmer's daughter Stephanie Moon, of Rudding Park, and Grassington House Hotel's John Rudden. A new face in the Cookery Theatre this year is Jason Wardill, executive chef in The Keelham Kitchen at the new Keelham Farm Shop in Skipton.

The Northern Dales Farmers Market will again be in attendance, giving visitors the opportunity to both taste and buy locally produced food.

Multiple support activities around the field are wide-ranging and diverse. They include dry stone walling, sheep dog trials, vintage tractors, produce, handicrafts, horticulture and photography.

John and Lou Close, of Langstrothdale Gun Dogs, are returning with their ever-popular display, which will showcase the retrieval skills of their dogs, with loveable Labradors forming part of the canine line-up for the first time this year.

At around 1.45pm, multiple British Aerobatics champion Tom Cassells, of Skyboard Aerobatics, will again be taking to the skies. He lives near Boroughbridge and will be flying in at the helm of his Cap 232 aerobatic plane to perform his awe-inspiring, often death-defying display. Expect plenty of gyroscopic manoeuvres, including a spectacular end-over-end stunt!

Other activities include the return of The Sheep Show, an educational and humorous live stage event starring a cast of ewes and rams led by Nobby the Norfolk Horn and his two-legged Antipodean MC. There are even dancing sheep! The NFU is sponsorsing this popular attraction.

Other displays and demonstrations throughout the day include the local Fire Brigade, fishing and sheep shearing, while over 100 food, craft and trade stands will also be in attendance.

Gates open to visitors at 9am and the show goes on until 7pm. Admission to the showground is unchanged at £10 for adults, £2 for children 16 and below, with the under 5s free. Parking on the showground is £15 at the main gate, entrance A, and £5 at Conistone Bridge, entrance C. Off-showground parking is free.


Kilnsey Show & Sports is organised by Upper Wharfedale Agricultural Society and its president, Halton East farmer Donald Sunderland, who is undertaking a second year in office, said: "Kilnsey again provides a thrilling, all-action climax to the local agricultural show season. We are all looking forward to a really successful show."

Among Mr Sunderland's guests this year will be Bill Cowling, honorary show director of the Great Yorkshire Show, who farms at Pannal, near Harrogate.

Dales farmer Robert Lambert remains Kilnsey Show chairman, with his wife Kathy continuing to act as secretary. The show office can be contacted on 01756 753259, e-mail info@kilnseyshow.co.uk