Healthy competitive entries for the Royal Cornwall Show

Entries for the competitive livestock and equine classes are strong ahead of the 2019 Royal Cornwall Show which takes place at Wadebridge on 6 – 8 June.

The pig section will see a joint second highest entry in the show’s history. The 237 entries received match last year’s turn out and the classes will be keenly contested once again.

The British Lop, Duroc, Gloucester Old Spot, Large Black, Large White and Pietrain pig breeds all saw increases in support this year and the number of young handlers has risen.

The sheep section has been equally well supported with 1288 entries made for this year’s show. This is the fourth highest sheep entry on record at the Royal Cornwall.

It’s a special year for the British Charollais sheep as the event has been selected as a focus show for the breed.

This will bring national coverage as judging will be broadcast live from the show and provide competitors the opportunity to showcase and promote the quality of their flocks to a wider industry audience.

Exhibitors of this breed have responded and a total of 78 entries have been received for these classes, an uplift on the 2018 figure.

The Blue Texel, Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset, Coloured Ryeland, Whiteface Dartmoor, Texel, Suffolk, North Country Cheviot, Lleyn and the Any Other Continental Pure Breeds have all enjoyed an increase in entries.

The rare breed sheep classes that include the North Ronaldsay, Shetland, Galway, Teeswater and Hebridean breeds will be well represented once again, matching last year.

Cattle section entries are close to last year’s level. The Devon and British Limousin beef breeds have both enjoyed significant rises in numbers. In the dairy cattle the Jersey and Dairy Shorthorns lead the way with numbers rising year on year.

The Poultry section confirmed entries in excess of 830, the highest total since 2016. There will be numerous breeds of pure bred poultry including ducks and turkeys on display along with over 300 plates of eggs.

Horse section and show jumping classes combine to total over 1000 entries once again in 2019.

The ridden heavy horses, heavy horses, retraining of race horses, miniature horses, Shetland pony and skewbald and piebald classes are among those that have enjoyed an increase in support.

Chris Riddle, show secretary, said:

“Yet again we’ve got a really good level of entries across the board for this year’s show. The competition in the classes will be as tough as ever and we look forward to seeing who will be crowned as our Royal Cornwall winners in June.

“We’re very thankful to all of the exhibitors who travel from near and far to participate and help make the event the spectacle that it is.”

For more information about the show please visit www.royalcornwall.co.uk.