THE 156th Great Yorkshire Show has attracted record numbers of cattle and sheep entries.

Staged in Harrogate on Tuesday to Thursday, July 8- 10, more than 8,000 animals are involved and more than 135,000 visitors expected.

As The Northern Farmer went to press, cattle entries stood at 1,245, slightly ahead of the previous best in 2010, and sheep at 2,350 almost 300 more than the previous record in 2011.

Equine entries, excluding showjumping, stood at 1,813, pigs numbered 200, and goats had risen from 160 last year to 188.

Among the cattle lines, both the South Devon and the Beef Shorthorn breed societies will stage their national shows at the event, and British White cattle will have classes for the first time.

On the sheep lines, the Zwartles breed holds its national show at the Great Yorkshire.

The English Sheep Shearer of the Year Award and a heat for the final of the English Team Selection (blade shearing) will be held.

A specific class for female sheep shearers will be staged for the first time.

The BPA Pig of the Year Final will be held on the Wednesday, and classes for Pietrain pigs will be held for the first time.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which stages the annual event, has continued with its programme of improvements to the 250-acre site.

Last year, about £500,000 was spent on new roads and extended drainage to weatherproof the site as far as possible. The work has continued over the past 12 months with a further £100,000 committed.

Nigel Pulling, YAS chief executive, said: “We have the most modern showground in the country and the Great Yorkshire is our flagship event, so we need to keep investing in the site.

“To put it in context, we were the first of the agricultural shows to have a permanent base. The Harrogate site was bought in 1950.

Since then, numbers have increased dramatically – our attendance in 1951 was about 54,000 compared with the 135,000 or so expected this year.

“Last year, we put in a temporary road bridge to provide a link to the car parks. This year, in addition, we will have a footbridge, all of which should make it a bit easier for our visitors.”

The Grand Depart for the world’s most famous cycle race visits Harrogate over the weekend (July 5 and 6) immediately prior to the show.

Mr Pulling said: “It’s great to have the Tour de France in Yorkshire and I am sure it will be a wonderful two days. The race will have been and gone by the time the show opens so won’t affect our visitors, but with roads being closed for the race over the weekend, there will be an impact on exhibitors, particularly those bringing animals.

“We have taken this into account, and will open the showground to exhibitors a day earlier than usual, on Friday, July 4, and will be open for them 24 hours a day over the weekend.”

Part of the showground will also be used as car parks for Tour de France visitors.

Mr Pulling said: “We were approached by the Tour organisers and were happy to help. We have made clear from the outset that our priority has to be the Great Yorkshire Show so use for the Grand Depart is subject to the ground conditions being appropriate.”

As well as the competitive classes, the show includes exciting ring displays, demonstrations of country skills, fashion and food shows and hundreds of stands selling everything from designer clothing to combine-harvesters.

The Countess of Wessex will visit the event for the first time on Tuesday, July 8, and the following day The Princess Royal will be guest of honour.

  • Tickets for the show are available at great yorkshireshow.co.uk, from 01423-541222, or from the show office at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

Advance tickets, available until July 2: adult £22; concession £21; five-to-18 years £9; and family ticket (two adults and up to three children) £56.

Gate prices: adult £25; concession £24; children £11; family ticket £64.