Driffield SHow organisers reach for the sky

The nationally acclaimed team has the largest most high tech landing ramp in the world and has recently been featured on the Top Gear Live Tour. The ramp allowed riders to jump gamps of over 75 feet and reach heights of over 35 feet in the air, which gives the riders enough ‘air time’ to perform an array of death defying tricks usually only seen on TV.

The 2013 freestyle team boasts the Best of British riding, and includes top talent in the way of the UK’s 1st rider to backflip a four stroke motocross bike and one of the Uk’s top FMS riders, Dan Whitby, who will also be managing the team this year. The team also includes one of the UK’s highly rated FMX riders and super stylish, Samson Eaton, along with young talent tipped for the top, Arran Powley. Members of the public are invited to meet the stars of the show at the Bolddog Lings interactive stand (stand M151) where they can also find out more about Freestyle Motocross.

Bolddog Lings Team Manager and one of the UK’s top freestyle riders, Dan Whitby, describes the show as “its more than just freestyle. It’s a non-stop show that will entertain everyone from off-road enthusiasts to the general public and will be a must see part of the Driffield Show”. Cheryl Nicholson, Society Manager agreed “each year we try to find a main ring entertainment that will appeal to all ages and we’re confident that this year will be no exception, We already have a wealth of equine expertise throughout the day in the main ring and are sure that the Bolddog Lings Team will only add to the excitement of the day”.

Driffield Show advance tickets are now available at the discounted rate of £12 for adults, £10 for senior citizens, £4 for children plus in an attempt to keep the prices for families down to an absolute minimum a family ticket can be purchased in advance for only £28! In addition there is ample car parking facilities which continue to be free. For those opting to use a greener form of transport, following the success of the initiative started a couple of years ago, a free shuttle bus will be provided between Driffield Town Centre, Driffield Train Station and the Showground and will be operating every twenty minutes.

This year will also see the introduction of the Honey Show within the Horticulture Marquee at the 138th Show.

As well as encouraging Beekeepers to prepare and display honey and wax to the very highest standards the Show will also give non Beekeepers the opportunity to see the different types of honey and products of the hive at their best and to learn of the great value of honey as a food and the honeybee as a pollinator.

In years gone by every local honey association would have had an annual honey show and the Driffield Show organisers are hoping that the Yorkshire Beekeepers Association organised Honey Show will once again encourage this tradition and ensure that the skills of the Beekeepers are carried on.

All the classes at the Show are open to any Beekeeper for wax and honey as the products musts have come from the Beekeeper’s Bees, but the confectionary classes can be entered by anyone who is interested as any honey may be used. The organisers are hoping that there will be lots of jars and honey, some wax and candles, mead and cakes made from honey on display and for the judge to select the winning entries from.

It is often reported in the media that ‘bees are in trouble’. One issue that causes debate is the ongoing use of pesticides and although this may be a contributory factor there remains much uncertainty. However, what is known is that there are other significant actors that cause problems with bee health and the survival of colonies such as our weather, poor summers, long winters and cold springs, the lack of forage and the parasitic mite Varroa destructor.

Due to the above factors the organisers are concerned that this year the entries in the Honey Show may be lower than hoped this year as the Beekeepers have been feeding the bees over winter and unfortunately, not always with success. Subsequently, it is thought that the number of colonies lost during this last winter is in the region of 35% resulting in poor honey crops. However, if this is the case the organisers are ensuring that visitors will not be disappointed as they will be producing a display including information about bees, what we can all do to help sustain them and an observation hive with live bees for the public to see. In addition there will also be Beekeepers at the Honey Show throughout the day to answer any questions. For further information about the Honey Show contact Mrs Wendy Maslin on 01482 656018.

For further information or to purchase Show tickets ring 01377 257494 or visit the Driffield Show site at www.driffieldshow.co.uk.