The Grand Finale of the 165th Great Yorkshire Show

Friday was the final day as Show Director for Charles Mills after nine years, record breaking champions and a wedding proposal, as the 165th Great Yorkshire Show came to a close.

Action continued throughout Friday in the show rings while a marriage proposal took centre stage at the finals of the pole climbing competitions.

The day rounded off with Charles handing over to new Show Director Rachel Coates before YAS President Martin Cockerill handed over to Geoff Brown MBE.

Charles said: “This has been a wonderful nine years, it has been a pleasure to be the Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show and my highlight has to be the people. I have so enjoyed working with the team and meeting so many amazing people during my time here. I feel very grateful and very proud and I wish Rachel every success with the role.”

The finale of the Show saw the Grand Cattle Parade and the Blythwood Beef Pairs named. The Continental pair winners were Sophie Harvey and Stewart Bett with their British Limousins, while the Native winners were Jennifer Hyslop and Carol Rettic with their Beef Shorthorns.

The last day of the Show saw a host of sheep championships. Overall Champion ewe lamb pair went to CJ Cormack and Gaynor McDowell from Leicestershire with Blue Texels. Gaynor McDowell said: “We’re really pleased to win. It’s the first time showing ewes up here.”

Supreme Champion pair title went to David McKerrow from Aberdeenshire with Texels, who also took the Champion tup pair. He said: “I’m delighted to win. I love this show. I’ve got a seven hour tip home and I’ll be going back with a smile.”

The Supreme Champion interbreed pair was won by Stephen Short from Halifax with Hampshire Downs. He said: “I’m delighted. I’ve never won the pairs before.  A home win is lovely but any win is a good win.”

The Supreme Champion Interbreed Group of Three went to Francis Barbour from Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, with British Berrichon. He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and over the moon. It’s good to see the Berrichon getting the credit it deserves. I sell a lot of Berrichon tups commercially and when people try and buy they come back.”

The Supreme Champion Waterfowl title went to Robin Cornforth of Easingwold with a homebred Cayuga duck which was only hatched on April 16. Robin has been breeding ducks since the 1980s and has won at the Yorkshire Show four times. He said: “To win at Yorkshire is brilliant, I love the show.”

In the Hives and Honey section, the Supreme Champion title went to Sally Fairweather from Sheriff Hutton. She won with her bees wax block, not honey. She’s been keeping bees around 12 years and uses her bees wax to make furniture polish, lip balm, and cosmetics, as well as selling it.

She said: “I’m really pleased to win. You put a lot of time, effort and work into producing your exhibition. To be the best in show is fantastic.”

The Pole Climbing competitions were as fiercely fought as ever, with the Novice title going to Patrick McCoy, who completed the climb in 17.08 seconds. This is his first competition win which means he goes from a novice to a professional for his next competition.

The Professional winner was James Oakley, who completed the climb in 13.13 seconds. And after the final, there was a fabulous marriage proposal.

Peri Dunford, 38, waited until boyfriend Mark Jones had scaled the full height of the competition pole before getting down on one knee – in front of a cheering audience – and popping the big question – and he said yes!