A RECORD number of cattle were entered in the first ever National Charolais Show at the Great Yorkshire Show today (Tuesday, July 11).

Competitors travelled from as far afield as Cornwall and Ireland to compete as 72 cattle were entered across 11 classes.

For North-East farmer Neil Blyth, it was a worthwhile trip from his Hartlepool farm as his heifers Marwood Magician and Marwood Minister won a first in the Pairs.

Mr Blyth, whose family have farmed at Elwick for almost 20 years, is an annual visitor to the Great Yorkshire Show and tasted success two-years-ago with a bull, champion Marwood Journal.

He said he was particularly pleased with the performance in the Pairs this year and of the two heifers and two bulls entered he won two thirds, a fifth and sixth place.

“I am over the moon,” he said.

“It is our national show this year so there is a much larger entry than usual, and we won the best pair of animals with Marwood Magician and Minister which is nice.”

British Charolais Cattle Society chief executive Peter Phytian said the show was a “great opportunity” to introduce the Charolais breed to a wider audience.

He said: “Searching for a new venue we are thrilled and honoured that the Yorkshire Agricultural Society has provided us with the opportunity to bring our National Charolais Show to the Great Yorkshire, one of the most renowned events in the show calendar.”