ONE of the most well known faces in Craven, Skipton's Mr Sport, Roger Ingham, has carried out commentary duties at the district's shows for the last time this year. Here, he describes how he first started, 65 years ago at Kilnsey. 

 

TIME, alas waits for no-one. And, after 65 years of helping in various roles at Kilnsey Show, and 67 years since I first hitch-hiked to the event as a then 13-year-old, I might have to contend - albeit reluctantly, - I have run my race.

A total of 28 prize tickets in my locker as a competitor, - and not forgetting a few bumps, bruises, two grotesque ankle swellings and two lots of stitches from the crag race - and, collectively overall, bitter sweet memories especially since my eventual 45 years as commentator.

More sweet than bitter though. And since then chairman, Jim Caygill, walked out onto the track and pushed the microphone into my hand as soon as I had finished in the mile race and still in recovery mode.

This being 45 years ago, when a new chapter unexpectedly arose in my life. For, in the next few years, I found myself absolutely inundated with invitations to commentate at other annual events, far and wide across the North, and even at a Scottish Games event.

And, without doubt a particular highlight amongst them all, was when I received an invitation from the organisers of Moorcock Show in Garsdale where then future King, Prince Charles, was to feature as chief guest. And, a day to behold, it turned out to be. Indeed, to a point of Charles almost becoming classed as a personal friend.

For, whenever attending other functions where I might either be competing or commentating, such as Braemar Games or the Great Yorkshire Show, whenever in attendance, the Prince seemed forever keen to make contact and introduce me to the rest of his family including his mother, Queen Elizabeth.

Meantime another upshot, thanks to Jim Caygill’s impromptu “microphone pushing” discretion, being my invitations to commentate at an assortment of charity events, - all for life-supporting causes. And, which themselves, midst my time on the “mike”, amounted to almost a million pounds.

Mr Caygill then, please smile on us from up above.

All for absolutely free. But, one unexpected “perk” - indeed a day to behold, “par-ultimatus” - came in 1999 when a truly magnanimous sponsor, so impressed with my level of raconteur at Kilnsey Show, arranged flight tickets for myself and youngest lad, Joe, - then aged 13 - to see the total eclipse. And, up above the clouds, we saw the absolute lot. What a day.

However, what marks I had ever achieved on the “mike”, at Kilnsey, they might well have been better still except for the presence of two self-styled high-ranking committee personnel whose non-co-operation and almost constant interrupting of me, often mid-sentence, almost became a chapter in its own right. Indeed, even representatives of the BBC who were on site one year for filming, chose to remark on that issue.

When I did though manage more of a free rein before those high-authoritarians dug in particularly hard, the attendance had risen to more than 18,000. And, at that juncture - in the 1980’s and 90’s - the golden proverb…”if it’s not broken, then don’t try and fix it” never bore more credibility. But, rock the boat they did, before, conveniently jumping ship.

Regarding though, all the plaudits which I received from the paying public, besides all the many invitations which I received to compere other events, I must certainly have managed it right regarding those people, namely the paying public who mattered most. But, sadly, me being knocked off my bike, then attacked by a dog, thus causing a crucifying shoulder-injury. And, then suffering a stroke, it has also made the going mightily tough of late.

I therefore conclude by thanking all those wonderful-folk, namely the paying public and others likewise in support, for their much-appreciated parts in their creation of a memorable chapter in my life. Also, best wishes to Ted Mason and his team, for future years in the box seat, and hopefully with more “high-ranking” committee co-operation than myself, - in many years past - had to endure!

May the sun then shine upon you for evermore. Hallelujah!