Moreton Show's 60th birthday looks set to be a record-breaker (From Cotswold Journal)

Moreton Show's 60th birthday looks set to be a record-breaker

10:00am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News

MORETON Show looks set to celebrate its 60th year with a bigger and better event than ever as entries continue to roll in.

Sheep classes have always been well supported but this year they have soared to a record level with a massive increase of 23 per cent on last year.

Lynn Parkes, the new livestock secretary, said she was delighted that her first year in the role had been so successful.

Well known throughout the farming industry and currently registrar of the Cotswold Sheep Society, Mrs Parkes said: “I have tried this year to increase the numbers in some of the classes that were not so well supported last year.

“I have been working with the different breed societies as well as farmers to make sure that this year we have a good showing in each class.

“It will be nice to see our loyal supporters at the show together with many new entrants who are showing with us for the first time.”

On show day, Saturday, September 1, there will be a chance for junior exhibitors to enter in either cattle or sheep young handlers classes, with entries being taken at the livestock secretary’s tent during the morning. A large number of horse entries is expected, especially in the Horse of the Year qualifying classes due to so many shows having to be cancelled due to the weather earlier in the year.

Horse section secretary Liz Day said she was also looking forward to increased entries in show jumping classes with a record prize fund this year in the Six-Bar Challenge of £1,500, 1.30m £1,000, retrained race horse classes of £750 and the pairs relay of £500.

She said: “For the first time in two years we do not clash with the Scope Festival of Show Jumping and we are hoping that a lot of the top show jumpers will be entering at Moreton this year.”

Tickets for the show are now on sale at local outlets or at moretonshow.co.uk.