Show season is certainly well and truly upon us, and while the Royal Highland Show is almost a distant memory, the first of the two-day agricultural events in Scotland, kick off next weekend with the Border Union Show at Kelso.

Friday, July 28, is the main horse show day, while Saturday, July 29, will feature the main livestock judging to include three National breed shows, for the North Country Cheviot, Jacob and Hebridean breeds.

With entries on a par with last year, total numbers stand at 993, to include 75 dairy goats and 184 shepherds crooks, not to mention a further 1000+ entries for the ladies industrial, poultry and rabbit sections.

The main equine day on the Friday boasts no fewer than 85 classes and a total of 496 entries, with a further 33 classes for 200+ light and heavy horses on Saturday. This year is also the 50th year of the Donkey Society, so entries are up from 24 to 31 with the introduction of miniature Donkey classes.

Outwith the horse and livestock sections, visitors attending this two-day event can also look forward to some delicious food, amusements, great shopping, countryside activities and an exciting main ring programme on the Saturday afternoon featuring top motorcycle team, the Imps – a team of children aged between the age of six and 16.

The other main attraction is the Celebration of Fordson, a unique parade of tractors with one from each decade from a 1917 Fordson F ( which cost $600 ) to the biggest 2017 Ford / New Holland with a retail price of £200,000 !

There is also lurcher racing, grand parade of livestock, champion of champions, heavy horse turnouts display and the carriage driving championship also featuring in the main ring on Saturday.

Once again, there are 20 plots showing all manner of environmental crops grown in the countryside, and the Food Fair will show off the best produce from both sides of the Border with 45 stands in the Exhibition Hall. The Craft and Gift Hall is also full while outside there are some various 200 trade stands to keep adults and children amused.

Livestock judges

Champion of champions – R Black, Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, Cupar, Fife.

Beef

Beef inter-breed individual and pairs – D Benson, Oakdene Close, Claverdon, Warwick.

Aberdeen Angus – D Evans, Tree Bridge Farm, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

Hereford and native beef breeds – Mrs P Evans, Tree Bridge Farm, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

Limousin, continental beef breeds and young handlers – Mrs H McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee.

Commercial cattle – R Black, Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, Cupar, Fife.

Young handlers – Mrs H McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee.

Sheep

Sheep inter-breed and young handlers Classes – R Telford, Branton East Side, Powburn, Alnwick, Northumberland.

Border Leicester and Scotch Half-Bred – R Weir, Dressertland, Closeburn, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.

Lleyn – H Nelless, Thistleyhaugh Farm, Lonhghorsley, Morpeth, Northumberland.

Suffolk – S Buckley, Sittinglow Farm, Doves Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire.

Texel – G Jones, Foxhall Farm, Henllan, Denbigh.

Zwartbles – Miss CA Anderson, Castle Street, Forfar, Angus.

Any other breed and prime lambs – B Cockburn, Stirkfield, Broughton, Biggar.

Blackface – R McTaggart, Glen, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkudbrightshire.

Bluefaced Leicester – S Mackay, Dudlees, Otterburn, Northumberland.

Cheviot – A Reid, Glendearg, Langholm, Dumfriesshire.

Hebridean – Mrs K Heeley, Brinsop Hall Farm, Greenlaw, Berwickshire.

Jacob – R Locker, Greenlaw Mill Farm, Greenlaw, Berwickshire.

Kerry Hill – Mrs L Dixon, Mowhaugh, Yetholm, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

Lairg-type Cheviot – F Irving, Teviotrig, Whitchesters, Hawick, Roxburghshire.

NC Cheviot – H Sleigh, St Johns Wells, Fyvie, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

Shetland – N Spenceley, 19 Prospect Fields, Hawsker, Whitby, N Yorks.

Unregistered Suffolks – C Bradbury, Satchells, Lilliesleaf, Melrose.

Dairy goats – G Smith, Guildy Den Farm, Monikie, Dundee.

Clydesdale – Mrs S Pinkney, High Grange Farm, Hett Village, Co Durham.

Entry – Friday – Adults £11 Concessions £9

Saturday – Adults £16 Concessions £14

Children (under 16 accompanied by an adult) free both days

Public parking £3