ONE of the key sections of the Great Yorkshire Show has a new head.

Tim Abbey, who farms at Long Marston, near York, has taken on the role of chief cattle steward.

The section is a fundamental part of the annual three-day show, with about 1,000 cattle across 20 breeds. The cattle parades of prizewinners in the main ring are among the highlights of the Great Yorkshire which, this year, runs from Tuesday to Thursday, July 12-14.

Mr Abbey has been a cattle steward at the event for 30 years, and follows in the footsteps of his father, Frank Abbey, the nationally and internationally renowned dairy cattle breeder, who played a vital role over 50 years with the show's organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. He was chief cattle steward between 1949 and 1984.

"It's a major responsibility, not least because the Great Yorkshire has one of the strongest cattle entries of any show," said Mr Abbey, who succeeds Bill Cowling, who is show director-elect.

"Entries are coming in now and we look set for another impressive three days with well filled classes and quality cattle."

Last year entries stood at 1,029, a return to the high numbers of the 1990s, before foot-and- mouth disease.

Mr Abbey began his connection with the show as a ring steward, progressing to assistant cattle steward working with Mr Cowling and Margaret Chapman.

He is also a member of the Yorkshire Agriculture Society's governing body, the council and of its executive committee and now chairs the cattle committee. He is married to Sam and they have three children.