ENTRIES for the livestock classes at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show are flooding in as deadlines rapidly approach.

The show runs from Tuesday to Thursday, July 9-11, and each year attracts some of the UK’s finest cattle, sheep and pigs to the show ground in Harrogate.

But organisers have issued a reminder on entry deadlines – sheep entries must be received by Tuesday, May 14, cattle by Tuesday, May 21, and pigs by Wednesday, June 5.

Bill Cowling, show director, said: “There’s no doubt that a prize card from the Great Yorkshire is highly sought after – at Harrogate we always have both quantity and quality coming in front of the judges.

“We usually have more than 2,000 entries in the sheep section so that’s virtually a show within a show,the pig sectionis always popular and this year, for the first time, we have the final of the BPA Young Pig of the Year as well as the usual Pig of the Year championship.

“The cattle section is a real highlight – you won’t see finer stock anywhere than in the cattle parades in our main ring.”

The supreme beef championship never fails to draw the crowds and Arwel Owen from Welshpool is the man with the difficult task of selecting the winner.

This will be the first time in many years that the championship will have one judge, rather than a panel. Mr Owen has a pedigree herd of British Charolais as well as a commercial suckler herd. He showed the female champion at last year’s Royal Welsh Show with a Charolais cow which he later sold in his reduction sale for 11,000gns.

He said: “I’ve judged Charolais at the Great Yorkshire before, but this will be the first time for the championship. I was so impressed with the show that since first judging I’ve been back as a visitor several times. There’s a great atmosphere as you walk around, and the standard of the cattle is always amazing. It’s a great show.”

Ashley Fleming who farms in County Down has the difficult task of deciding the dairy championship, and also the prestigious Burke Trophy. Mr Fleming milks about 100 pedigree Jerseys, Holsteins and Shorthorns and has judged at numerous shows across the world.

This year’s beef interbreed judge is Aled Edwards who farms about 350 acres in Dyfed. He will also judge the Blythewood Beef Pairs, both the natives and continentals.

The family’s Dyfri herd of British Limousins is well known, and as well as successfully competing himself, Mr Edwards has also judged at many national shows and was the first British breeder to be elected president of the World Limousin Council.

Show tickets are available either at great yorkshire show.

co.uk, from 01423 541222 or in person from the show office at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

Advance tickets prices: adult £21; concession £20; child £9; family £54. Gate prices are: adult £24; concession £23; child £11; family £62.

Parking is free and extensive. Free buses will run from Harrogate Railway Station.