Yorkshire Rows boat at land locked show

Visitors will be able to see the tiny quarters where the amateur rowers lived during their 3,000-mile, 67-day journey earlier this year. Called Rose, it was home to Yorkshire women Niki Doeg, Helen Butters, Janette Benaddi and Frances Davies, throughout their adventure.

It will be brought to the show by Niki and Helen, who will also be on hand to meet the crowds for part of the day, they will be accompanied by Niki’s father Pete Rhodes.

He said: “A lot of people have seen the boat and the four rowers on the news, but it’s hard to understand what it was really like until you see it close up.

“We’ve got some steps so that people can see inside and understand just how small a space they lived in for those 67 days. There are boards explaining the construction of the boat and I’ll be talking to people about it.”

Along with Ben Benaddi, Janette’s husband, Pete helped to prepare the boat for the journey. Once they had set off, all their families could do was watch and wait as the challenge unfolded.

“We could see their position on the computer, but it only updated every four hours, so we got into a routine of checking every four hours, even during the night,” he said.

“It was part of an organised event, so the families knew they were being watched by a support crew, which was reassuring. I found it more worrying when they did a practice run from the UK to the Netherlands, through two busy shipping lanes.

“It has been completely life-changing for all of them, and it’s interesting to see the paths they are following since completing the challenge. So far, once the boat is sold, they will have raised over £100,000 for their charities, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Maggie’s cancer centre, and we will be collecting donations at Tockwith Show as well.”

Meanwhile, the show promises to highlight the best of rural life with its usual mix of traditional and new attractions.

Show co-chairman Sam Blacker said: “Everything is running like clockwork ready for show day.”

He added: “We’ve got hundreds of entries for our classes and competitions, our caterers and stallholders are all ready to go, and the committee members have been working hard to have the show field in top condition on the day.

“Welcoming Yorkshire Rows this year is the icing on the cake for us.”

Tockwith Show takes place on the Show Field, Cattal Moor Lane, Tockwith, YO26 7QH on Sunday, August 7. Tickets are £8 for adults and children aged 16 and under go free.

For details, visit www.tockwithshow.org.uk.