THE man who helped steer the country’s biggest agricultural event to continuing success has been honoured for his work.

Bill Cowling, the honorary show director of the Great Yorkshire Show, was given a lifetime achievement award at a local business awards evening.

And he was given a standing ovation as he stepped up to receive the honour in front of an audience of more than 400 people.

The 2015 Great Yorkshire Show will be his last before he retires from the position which he has held for 10 years.

Judges said Mr Cowling was recognised for building the show to be the premier agricultural show in England and he was a hugely respected and popular figure in the business world.

His association with the show started in 1978 when he became a steward in the cattle section, before joining the cattle committee in 1982. He was elected as a council member in 1989 and took over as honorary show director in 2005.

On receiving the award at the Harrogate Advertiser Business Awards, he was very quick to praise the team he works with.

“I feel very privileged to have been given this award, but really I’m accepting it on behalf of the team,” he said.

“An enormous amount of effort goes into organising an event the size of the Great Yorkshire Show and I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement over the years.”

Mr Cowling has been associated with agriculture all of his life and still works on the family farm near Harrogate.