It's show time as cattle entries soar

The show season is kicking off with interest high.

The Great Yorkshire Show has reported an unprecedented early rush of entries for its cattle classes in July and the first Yorkshire show of the season, at Otley on May 22, has already sold out all its trade stand space.

GYS director Bill Cowling said this week: "To date we have received more than 800 entries for the cattle show, compared with just over 100 at this time last year, which is phenomenal.

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"Entries don't close until May 25 but we are already virtually at capacity. Whilst on one level we are delighted, on another it gives us a real dilemma. We want as many cattle as possible, for the public to see, but we only have a finite amount of space so some would-be entrants will have to be disappointed. Post July, we will look to see if we can make any adjustments which would help. We would be very happy to listen to any suggestions."

The early applicants are aware that the show admits entries on a first-come first-served basis and Mr Cowling confirmed this would be the case again.

He said space had been made for another 100 cattle by the addition of a marquee for use by the Simmental Society, celebrating their 40th anniversary. It would free spaces in the main cattle sheds. Farmers are asked to note that the commercial beef competition will be held on the Wednesday this year.

The regional show season kicks off with the Newark & Notts on May 8 and 9.

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Yorkshire's first is Otley on May 22. Other dates for this summer are:

JUNE: 6 - Yorkshire Young Farmers at Pateley Bridge; 6 - Messingham, near Scunthorpe; 12 - Honley, near Huddersfield; 19 - Eastrington, near Brough; 19 - Todmorden; 20 - North Yorkshire at Otterington, near Northallerton; 27 - Northern Horse Show at Wetherby; 27- Crowle, near Doncaster; 27 - Derbyshire County at Elvaston, near Derby.

JULY: 13-15 - Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate; 17 - Bishop Wilton, near York; 17 - Cumberland County, Carlisle; 18 - Howden, East Yorkshire; 18 - Aldbrough and Boroughbridge; 18 - Arthington, near Leeds; 18 - Malton; 21 - Driffield; 24 - Cleveland County, Middlesbrough; 24 - Penrith, Cumbria; 25 - Huby & Sutton, near York; 25 - Weeton, between Otley and Harrogate; 27 - Ryedale, Kirkbymoorside; 28 - Borrowby, near Thirsk.

AUGUST: 1 - Sykehouse, near Goole; 4 - Thornton le Dale, near Pickering; 4-5 - Bakewell, Derbyshire; 6 - Hinderwell, near Whitby; 7 - Emley, near Wakefield; 7 - Osmotherley, near Northallerton; 7 - Tockwith, near York; 8 - Bingley, near Bradford; 8 - Trawden, near Colne, Lancs; 11 - Danby, near Whitby; 14 - Halifax;15 - Ripley, near Harrogate; 21 - Rosedale, near Pickering; 21 - Gargave, near Skipton; 22 - Mirfield, near Dewsbury; 25 - Egton, near Whitby; 25 - Reeth, near Richmond; 28 - Malhamdale, Malham, near Skipton; 28 - Bilsdale, near Stokesley; 28 - Wensleydale, Leyburn; 30 - Hope, Derbyshire; 30 - Burniston, near Scarborough; 30 - North of England Pony Show, Harrogate; 30 - Epworth, near Doncaster; 31 - Kilnsey, Upper Wharfedale.

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SEPTEMBER: 1 - Muker, Swaledale; 4 - Keighley; 4 - Kildale, near Whitby; 4 - Knaresborough Flower Show; 4 - Lealholm, Esk Valley; 11 - Penistone, near Barnsley; 17-19 Harrogate Autumn Flower Show; 18 - Stokesley, near Middlesbrough; 20 - Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge; 25-26 - Masham Sheep Fair.

OCTOBER: 17 - Norton, near Sheffield; 23-24 - Countryside Live, Harrogate.

CW 24/4/10