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Organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, are simultaneously launching an on-line video series featuring A’ level student Frances Griffiths as she starts her preparations to compete at the event. Away from her studies, Frances shows Holstein dairy cattle and already has a number of rosettes to her name. She will again be competing in the Young Handlers section of this year’s event which runs from Tuesday 13 – Thursday 15 July at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

The camera will follow Frances as she selects potential prize winners from the family’s Holstein herd at Gunthwaite Hall Farm, Penistone near Barnsley, and talks about the ups and downs of preparing for the show ring. “I really enjoy showing, it’s great fun, particularly the social side. In fact the only down side is having to get up at 4o’clock on a show morning which I’m not too keen on!” A student at Shelley College, near Huddersfield, Frances is a member of Cawthorne Young Farmers Club and is currently competing in the YFC’s national junior public speaking competition.

Her parents, Edward and Jenny Griffiths have plenty of rosettes to prove their enjoyment in showing Holstein cattle around the country. In addition Edward has experience from both sides of the “show fence” as he is a respected national judge of Holstein cattle, and is a member of the Great Yorkshire Show Cattle committee.

The episodes will also give viewers an insight into what makes a prize winning animal. John Dickinson, from Doncaster, who judges Jersey cattle, will be giving his thoughts on what goes through a judge’s mind as the animals file past in the show ring. The footage can be seen on the website, www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk and follows the success of last year’s “A Lamb’s Tale” in which thousands of web browsers followed North Yorkshire farmer Mark Elliott and his prize winning Wensleydale lamb preparing for the 2009 show.

Some 125,000 visitors are expected at this year’s show and tickets for the Great Yorkshire Show can be purchased by ringing 01423 541222 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01423 541222      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01423 541222      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. On the 2010 programme are the Bolddog Lings Motor cycle display team, international show jumping, competitive classes for around 5,000 animals, demonstrations of country skills and crafts as well as fashion shows, the new look Garden Show and hundreds of stands selling everything from designer clothing to the latest tractors.

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