THIS year’s Great Yorkshire Show has become a recordbreaker a fortnight before it is even due to start.

Organisers report that they have had more entries for the competitive classes than ever before.

The 2009 show sees a total of 12,189 entries compared with the previous best of 11,789 two years ago. Last year, entries were hit by the restrictions imposed due to the blue tongue outbreak.

Honorary show director Bill Cowling said: “This is an amazing total, and it is very evident that there is a huge enthusiasm for the Great Yorkshire Show, and indeed for rural life generally.”

There are classes across 24 sections, from driving four-inhand coaches to classes for honey, poultry, show jumping and the backbone of the event, the cattle, sheep and pig sections.

Mr Cowling added: “This year we have a number of individual records – in sheep we have 1,832 entries which is a marvellous total by anyone’s standards, wool entries are strong at 210 – the previous best was 189 – lamb carcase numbers stand at 80, and our cheese and dairy show equals last year’s best of 835.

“The new classes for harriers have proved popular with a very creditable 161 entries.”

This year will be the 151st Great Yorkshire Show. It runs from July 14 to 16 at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate.