Heads were turned skywards at the Great Yorkshire Showground recently as two 93ft poles were craned into position in readiness for the summer’s farming showcase.
The new additions will be trimmed to create an 85ft climbing height and then used for against-the-clock climbing competitions at future Great Yorkshire Shows. They replace the existing poles which had come to the end of their useful lives.
Dates for this year’s event are Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July when around 135,000 visitors are expected to attend what is acclaimed as England’s premier agricultural show. Pole climbing competitions are staged over the three days, and see competitors from across the UK race against the clock in a bid to beat the world record. The Guinness Book of Records lists Australian Mark Bryden as establishing the record for climbing an 80ft pole in 9.61 seconds which he did in 2001.
The poles – created from 70 year old Douglas Fir trees – have kindly been given by Dawnay Estates near Scarborough and travelled the 60 miles to the Harrogate-based showground on a low loader.
There has been a long connection between the two organisations as Dawnay Estates’ Director, Robert Sword, has been the Great Yorkshire Show’s chief forestry steward for the last 25 years. In addition, the tree felling was undertaken by Ron Peacock and Dave Milner who last year received their 30 year Royal Forestry Society Long Service Awards at the event.
In addition to the pole climbing competitions, the forestry area will have an extensive programme over the three days – ranging from chain saw carving to working horse demonstrations.
Elsewhere at the Great Yorkshire Show there will be thousands of animals competing for the championship awards, top class show jumping, an extensive exhibition of regional food and drink and miles and miles of shopping opportunities.
