Number crunching total high at Newark

Organisers of the Newark & Nottinghamshire County Show (8 and 9 May) are reeling from the mass of entries received across all sections of livestock and horses. Now that entries have finally closed, the number crunching has revealed a total of 1,099 received for cattle, dairy, sheep and pig classes the highest for several years.

Sheep entries are almost 100 up on last year itself a record approaching a total of 400 across several breed classes. This year sees separate classes for Beltex, Jacob and Southdown sheep while the Best Group of Three has 29 entries vying for the Patrick Radford Challenge Cup.

Entries have also risen in the Beef and Dairy Cattle sections, with over 500 in the former, including over 150 for the Commercial Beef classes. Such is the demand for space that a marquee has been hired to accommodate the additional entries.

The Red Poll Annual Show, which made its first appearance at Newark last year, has almost 40 entries including two from HM The Queens herd at Sandringham.

Eleven exhibitors have entered for the Best Group of Three class with the Stanley Sheldon Perpetual Cup being presented to the winner.

In the Dairy classes there has been a significant rise in Dexter entries up a staggering 170 per cent – and the future for livestock farming looks bright with 12 entries in the Beef Cattle Young Handler 8-14 years and 15 entries in the 15-21 years. The first and second from these two classes will go forward to contest the Championship and win the William Stainforth Memorial trophy.