Entries welcomed for Royal Three Counties Show livestock classes

Entries to the livestock classes at Royal Three Counties Show are now open.

Royal Three Counties Show, in association with JCB Paint, which takes place from 14-16 June, is one of the largest livestock events in the UK and hosts a number of national shows for breeds of sheep and cattle as well as being the host of the National Rare and Minority Breeds Show.

Head of shows at Three Counties, Diana Walton said it’s an exciting time for new shows this year.

“We are delighted that the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders Association, Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Association, Kerry Hill Flock Book Society and Castlemilk Moorit Sheep Society are bringing their National Shows to the Royal Three Counties Show for the first time alongside the Beltex Sheep Society and the Hebridean Sheep Society Show making a welcome return.

“Meanwhile, in the cattle section, there are two National Shows taking place for the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society and the Gloucester Cattle Society. It’s looking to be a very exciting weekend.”

The Royal Three counties Show is also due to stage its first ever dairy goat national show with the Toggenburg Breeders Society National Show, which is being judged on the Saturday.

“We will also once again be hosting the ever-impressive Grand Parade Champion of Champions, providing a great climax to the show’s livestock classes and pitting the champions of each livestock section against each other, this year judged by BBCs Antiques Road Trip expert Philip Serrell.” explained Mrs Walton.

Judging this year’s Beef Interbreed entries will be Andrew Shufflebotham from Cheshire and the Judge for the Sheep Interbreed is Mark Smyth from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson will also be in attendance for all three days of the show, bringing some of his own animals from Cotswold Farm Park.

And, with TB regulations still testing the resolve of many show organisers, Royal Three Counties Show will once again require all cattle to be pre-movement TB tested before arriving at the show.

“TB continues to frustrate the cattle industry and cause hardship for many farmers. It is vital that everyone in the industry pulls together to limit the potential for it to spread and in our case that means ensuring that all cattle coming to the show have been tested free of the disease in advance,” explained Mrs Walton.

“This allows us to offer everyone the same opportunity to exhibit no matter where in the country they are from and ensure we are operating best practice to help beat this insidious disease.”
Royal Three Counties Show is ideal for the whole family, with a host of events taking place, including sheep shearing, the ever popular Ask the Farmer marquee run by the RBST and the Poultry Club Championship Show incorporates a Regional Egg Show – a first for 2019.

Adding to the opportunities for young people at the show is the Young Handlers Classes, held for cattle, sheep and pigs across all three days of the show. The Young Farmers will also be on hand for fun and activities including stock judging, tug of war and auctioneering competitions, along with displays in the main arena including Soapbox and Santa Races.

To make an entry at Royal Three Counties Show, head to https://www.royalthreecounties.co.uk/compete/ where application forms will be available from March 1.

Entries for all livestock sections, including the National Rare and Minority Breeds Show, close on 16 April, but early application is advised to avoid disappointment.