Simon Hill, Photographer | Great Yorkshire Show 2018

The 160th Great Yorkshire Show:

A Photographer's View

Foreword by HRH The Princess Royal

Preface by HG The Duke of Devonshire

The first time in the 180 years of the Show that a professional photographer has been given unrestricted access to all events and all areas of Britain's premier agricultural show.

ISBN 978 1 9993468 0 5

Price £7.50 + P&P

Available to buy online here

The 'Craven Heifer' - a sculpture by artist Emma Stothard

A soggy start as the Duke of Devonshire helps launch the Great Yorkshire Show's 'Craven Heifer' sculpture

Still smiling despite the weather as media interviews take place for the big reveal of the 'Craven Heifer'

A police escort accompanies the 'Craven Heifer' to Imphal Barracks, York, near to where the very first Show was held, in the Barrack Yard of the 5th Dragoons in 1838

A Ghurkha piper sounds a hero's welcome for the 'Craven Heifer' in front of the Royal Coat of Arms, a remnant of the historic cavalry barracks of the 5th Dragoon Guards

After Imphal Barracks, the 'Craven Heifer' went on tour across Yorkshire to promote the 160th Great Yorkshire Show

Photographer Doug Jackson getting the models into position for a photograph to promote the merchandise for the 160th Show

Limited edition mugs, t-shirts and tops were created to celebrate the 160th Show

'His' and 'Her' Yorkshire Agricultural Society Tweed jackets are modelled for the camera, a percentage from the sales of these tweeds goes back to the Society

Hidden stitching under the collar of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society tweed jackets made by 'Brook Taverner'

Getting the right look for the 'Wool is My Bread' clothing range by 'Shepherdess' Alison O'Neill before a phto shoot to promote the professional fashion show held at the Show

'Shadow' the sheepdog belonging to the 'Shepherdess' gets into the shot with the models wearing the 'Wool is My Bread' range

Delivery of some of the hundreds of crowd control barriers that are hired in for the Show

The 'Job List' for the Facilities Team which includes repair, maintain and build requests, essential to make the grounds 'show-ready'

Plumber Dan Speight maintaining the pipes in the pump house; the Showground's water supply is taken from an on-site bore-hole

Irrigating the lawns to ensure that all areas of the Showground are looking their best for the Show

Marking out the Showground for some of the 1,200 trade stands requires great accuracy

Contractors ensure that correct numbering of the 1.200 trade stands avoids any problems during Show build-up

Over 220 trophies are returned from last year's winners ready to be presented to winners at this year's Show

The trophies are locked in the strong room where Trophy Manager, Edward Smith, ensures they are engraved and polished in time for the Show

Around 9,500 rosettes and cards are packed by Gilian Dodd so that every Steward has what their Judge requires for each Class

From May, more than 400 temporary staff are drafted in and briefed for the wide range of Show jobs - from gate attendants to toilet monitors, litter pickers to time keepers

Spray-washing some of the 150 showjumping poles ready for the competitions

Local stonemason and sculptor, Johnny Clasper, creating a dry stone wall outside the Sponsor's Pavilion which overlooks the Main Ring

Gail Batty and Amelia Saunders from the Facilities Team numbering some of the 376 horse stables

Painting the stables

Over 4,000 exhibitor packs are put together by hand; the packs include a site map, tickets and parking passes

Equine Steward, John Johnstone, helps to prepare the exhibitor packs

Files of schedules and entry forms

Amanda Stoddart-West, the Livestock and Entries Coordinator, is responsible for processing over 12,500 entries across 18 Sections

Colin Tucker moving staging into position for the fashion show

The smallest detail; tending to the garden displays ahead of the Show opening

A members of the Corps of Commissionaires taking the opportunity for a tea break before the public arrive

Early morning litter picking which continues, by the team of 42, throughout the day

Dawn breaks in the cattle area

Warming-up the horses in the collecting ring at 5am

Preparing the cattle for the ring begins with an early-morning spraywash

Zoe Coates, who works in 'Fodder', scrubs up her cow 'Bailmoor Brandy' from the family farm in Baildon

Working up a lather

Hairdryers and hairbrushes in the cattle clipping station help provide the finishing touch

A moment of fun when 'Sporting Soprano' Lizzie Jones met farmer Jimmy Wood and his two-year-old Simmental bull 'Camus Harold'

Hannah Wood keeps a firm control of 'Camus Harold' between photo calls

Press photographers capture Lizzie Jones on the President's Balcony

The shot!

'Old meets new' ... models in 1838 costume created by young designer Joanna Rishworth for the Fashion Show travel between shoots by golf buggy

Staff clearing Stock Avenue ready for the Show to open

Ian King from 'King's Catering' prepares breakfast for 350 Stewards each morning in the 'Pavilions of Harrogate'

A great Yorkshire breakfast starts the day for some of the 400 Judges and 350 Stewards

Food is a big part of the Show with thousands of strawberries sold in the food hall and through caterers

Show stalwart Rosemary Strager in the Cookery Theatre; Rosemary is a huge fan of the Great Yorkshire Show, hailing it the highlight of the year!

The 160th Great Yorkshire Show:

A Photographer's View

Simon Hill Editorial Photographer