The 2015 Cheshire County Show will be a right royal occasion thanks to a visit from the Countess of Wessex.

The show, which is held at the Tabley Showground near Knutsford, is expected to attract around 80,000 visitors over two days on Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24.

And the crowds will have plenty to enjoy at what has become one of the UK’s leading agricultural shows.

Royal visitor

Chairman of the Cheshire County Show Tony Garnett said: “The Cheshire Show is such an important part of our community and remains a great focus for agricultural excellence.

“I am especially looking forward to this year’s show as we are delighted to be welcoming the Countess of Wessex as our 2015 president. So many people help make the show such a tremendous success and it will be an honour to share their stories with the Countess.”

This year's Cheshire County Show is held at the Tabley Showground near Knutsford on Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24
This year's Cheshire County Show is held at the Tabley Showground near Knutsford on Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24

The show remains focussed on the county’s rich agricultural history and is renowned for its cattle classes, which will be bigger again in 2015 with the much anticipated Long Horn Society National Show, featuring more than 90 Longhorn cattle from across the UK.

The breed, famous for its long horns and distinctive brown and white coat, has come back from the brink of extinction to enjoy a huge resurgence in numbers and popularity in recent years.

Rare breed

Debbie Dan, secretary of the Longhorn Society, said: “Just 40 years ago there was only 200 of these animals left in the world, but now, thanks to the work of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, we are enjoying numbers of up to 12,000.”

The Longhorn Society National Show, which will start on day one of the Cheshire Show, is expected to attract breeders from all over the UK and will see bulls, cows, heifers and calves competing for the top spots across several classes.

Debbie added: “We are delighted to be bringing our event to the Cheshire this year. Not only does the Longhorn produce some of the world’s best beef, but it is also very beautiful with its distinctive features. It will be a real spectacle for all visitors to the show to enjoy.”

Longhorns line up for this year's Cheshire County Show
Longhorns line up for this year's Cheshire County Show

The show also boasts a championship standard poultry section, one of the largest light horse entries of any county show in the country and a dog class with more than 2,000 competitors.

Other livestock classes this summer include sheep, pigs and goats with entries expected to be up on previous years.

Chairman Tony Garnett added: “Cheshire is well known for its thriving and vibrant farming community and, as always, this year’s show will be a true reflection of all that is good and great about it.”

Equestrian lovers can prepare themselves for an action packed schedule at this year’s event with the horse section set to be the biggest yet with around 3,500 entries competing in more than 230 classes and a further 20 Shire horse classes.

Horse of the Year Show

The 260-acre showground will also host more Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers than any other event in the country with more than 50 different classes competing for the top spots.

As always, farming will remain at the heart of the show with the Sainsbury’s Agri-Centre providing a focal point for farmers, butchers, cheese makers and a whole host of other producers and suppliers to educate the public on the industry and how their food makes it to the supermarket shelves.

The Creamline Dairies Main Ring will be offering a jam-packed schedule throughout the two days with sensational displays from birds of prey, the pony club and the grand parade of champions.

Other attractions include: vintage machinery; a farmers’ market; countryside experience with birds of prey; traditional and modern rural crafts; floral displays; a host of celebrity chefs at the Roberts Bakery Food Hall; more than 600 trade stands spanning an incredible five kilometres.

Tickets are on sale now priced: adult £16, child £8, senior citizen £13, concessions £13, child (over five years and under 16 years) £8, family (two adults and two children between 5-16) £35. To buy tickets or for more information visit, www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk