IT may be a scaled back Great Yorkshire Show in 2021, but by no means has this impacted on the quality of entries in the livestock championships.

This year, entries have been split over the four days – with accredited sheep entries and dairy and commercial cattle on Tuesday and Wednesday; and non-accredited sheep and beef cattle on Thursday and Friday.

In the sheep rings, the interbreed pairs reserve champion was Henry Jewitt of Gracie's Farm, Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle, with his pair of badger-faced texels.

He said: "I'm very happy. I would have loved to have won the championship but reserve is still a good result.

"We come to the Great Yorkshire Show every year with either sheep or cattle – but we have brought both this year.

"It is really good marketing for us to pick up awards as we are breeders. The standard of entries this year has been really strong, so it is nice to be recognised by the judges."

Mr Jewitt has Dutch spotted, blue texel and badger-faced texels at the show and has around 30 breeding ewes of the badger-faced texels at home.

He said: "The badger-faced texels are new to us. They have a good character and look smart."

Mr Jewitt took champion and reserve champion in the continental category, and female and male champion in any other category, as well as reserve interbreed pairs champion.

In the Young Handlers of MV-accredited championship, Zara Teasdale was crowned the winner in the six to eight age group.

Zara, from Pockley, near Helmsley, was showing her Zwartbles sheep. She said she enjoyed feeding the lambs at home on her farm.

In second place was Luke Percy, from Masham, who was showing his texel.

Chief sheep steward John North said the first two days of the show had gone extremely well.

He said: "It has all been run slightly differently this year but we have been delighted with the amount of support from people wanting to enter.

"With the extra day we've had an extended programme, with MV-accredited breeds being shown Tuesday and Wednesday, and non-accredited breeds coming for Thursday and Friday. It means we have two interbreed supreme champions rather than one, but it has meant we haven't been too overcrowded in the sheep pens and on the showground.

"The quality of entries has been superb, and it has been good to see lots of exhibitors coming here for the first time. People have come from up and down the country too – lots of entries from Devon, some from Isle of Arran. We always get people travelling to us, but it seems to be more so this year.

"I think people have been so grateful to have a show to come to. It's a highlight of the year for so many and as one of the biggest show in the country it was important we came back.

"It has been a a very successful two days and it has been great to see the public back too. We are looking forward to another fantastic two days."

Capacity has been limited to a maximum of 26,000 people a day to minimise any potential crowding and to ensure social distancing can be maintained at all times throughout the site.

This will mean that the show will welcome a total of 104,000 people in total over the already extended four days, instead of the usual 135,000 visitors over three days.

Total livestock numbers this year is 8,130. 750 are cattle, which is lower than usual; and 2,200 sheep made it to the show.