SOME of the country's most prestigious names from the equestrian world are among the judges for the horse section of the 2003 Great Yorkshire Show.

The show, which this year runs from Tuesday July 8 to Thursday July 10, always attracts entries from some of Britain's leading owners and riders - and the 2003 event will be no exception.

Quality horses and ponies plus well-filled classes are likely to ensure that the judges have a difficult task in selecting the best at Harrogate.

Organisers are promising top-class show jumping, superb in-hand classes, ridden hunters, mountain and moorland ponies and a wide variety of young stock. The increasing number of ponies coming forward underlines the importance of the Great Yorkshire in the equestrian world.

Horse of the Year Show qualifying events, including classes for light, middle, heavy and working hunters, will again feature, and it is hoped that the range of qualifiers will increase in future years.

New for 2003 is the riding horse class, which will take place on Wednesday, July 9.

Amongst the judges who will be officiating at the show is Ann Hooley, who will be judging ride and conformation across several of the hunter classes. Mrs Hooley, who was born and bred in Yorkshire, and now produces eventers, race horses and point-to-pointers, is a popular and well respected face.

Mrs Hooley said: "I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to judge at the Great Yorkshire. I have strong ties with the area so it's always been special to me.

"In addition it's such a fabulous ring to ride, there's plenty of room to show off the horses. The Great Yorkshire is one of the top shows - it's everyone's dream to win there."

John Chugg will have the task of judging the ride in the light, middle and heavyweight hunters. John is well known in judging circles and has judged at Dublin on many many occasions.

In charge of confirmation in the weights classes and hunter breeding is Brian Higham, who has supplied, kept and produced the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt horses for a decade. Brian fully appreciates the importance of correct conformation to assist a hunter to stay sound for a long hard season.

Riding calendar

Endurance GB North & East Yorkshire Group

March 9 Escrick Park Training Ride; April 6 Harwood Dale Training Ride; April 11 Talk by Mary Pagnamenta at Topcliffe.

For further info or to join contact Liz Gibson, Kintail Lodge, Oulston Road, Easingwold, York YO61 3PR Tel: (01347) 821310.

Updated: 09:57 Wednesday, February 26, 2003