A PROPOSAL of marriage and a standing ovation for the organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show were the highlights of the second day of the event many doubted could even go ahead amid the mayhem of Covid.

Yesterday 26,000 more spectators flocked through the ground delighted to be ‘sort of back to normal’.

In the main ring at the grand cattle parade crowds clapped loudly after judge Alan Timbrell said: “The organisation of this prestigious show has been absolutely phenomenal bearing in mind everything that has been going on in the past year is astonishing.”

And Ben Atkinson of Atkinson’s Action Horses took advantage of the unique occasion to propose to girlfriend Georgie Jackson as he finished off his main ring display.

Tickets for the show which is being held over four days to ensure compliance with Covid-19 restrictions have been sold out for weeks. Thousands had been many times previously for others it was their first time. Friends Dawn Paterson, Pippa Hahn and Philippa Thompson from Tow Law, County Durham said they were ‘so pleased to be able to get out and spend some cash.’

Dawn added: “It has been wonderful even though they cancelled the W.I. tent. It was really important that they went ahead with the show, it gives us back some normality. Everyone has been so pleasant, and the sun has been shining it’s lovely.”

Many of the main events at the show have had to be altered, the cattle lines have been split in two with only half, the dairy and commercial beef classes attending for the first two days. It paid off for Harryman and Warriner from Pickering who carried off the Commercial Beef Supreme Champion with Miss Dynamite. Mark Harryman said: “It’s such an honour to win in these uncertain times.

Show Director Charles Mill said he had been deeply moved by the applause. “This place really gets into your heart and soul and I thank people for coming to support us. It was a challenge but it is really paying off.”

This year, livestock entries have been split over the four days – with accredited sheep entries and dairy and commercial cattle on Tuesday and Wednesday; and non-accredited sheep and beef cattle on Thursday and Friday.

In the sheep rings, the interbreed pairs reserve champion was Henry Jewitt of Gracie's Farm, Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle, with his pair of badger-faced texels.

He said: "I'm very happy. I would have loved to have won the championship but reserve is still a good result.

"We come to the Great Yorkshire Show every year with either sheep or cattle – but we have brought both this year.

"It is really good marketing for us to pick up awards as we are breeders. The standard of entries this year has been really strong, so it is nice to be recognised by the judges."

In the Young Handlers of MV-accredited championship, Zara Teasdale was crowned the winner in the six to eight age group.

Zara, from Pockley, near Helmsley, was showing her Zwartbles sheep. She said she enjoyed feeding the lambs at home on her farm. In second place was Luke Percy, from Masham, showing his texel. Chief sheep steward John North said: "The quality of entries has been superb, and it has been good to see lots of first-time exhibitors."