More than 1100 head of livestock, including 113 dairy cattle, 233 beef cattle and 766 sheep have been entered for Dumfries Show, the largest agricultural event in the South-west, which opens its gates to the public on Saturday, August 5.

This year it is also hosting the Scottish Limousin Club Grand Prix, while in another first, the Bluefaced Leicester sheep section has classes for both the traditional and crossing types.

Always a big horse show, entries for this year’s event staged at the Showfield Park, New Abbey Road, Dumfries, stand at 445, which combined with a further 88 goat entries takes the overall entry to well over 1600 head. With so much to see and do throughout the day, judging starts at 9am with the grand parade of stock at 2.15pm.

Outwith the livestock, there is a huge range of main ring attractions, including James Dylan’s Stuntworld Motorcyle Stunt Show, Dumfries and Stewartry Foxhounds,  vintage machinery and the presentation of no fewer than eight long service medals.

New to the event this year is an entertainment ring which will feature a dog scurry, Daffy Dill and Douglas The Clown; Young Farmers’ tug o’ war and a pipe band, while other areas of the showfield include Young Farmers’ competitions; free face painting by the Dumfries Guild of Players and spinning, weaving and dying demonstrations in the fleece tent.

The usual array of trade stands includes agricultural implements to cars and renewable energy to toys and children’s entertainment. The Craft Fayre is again fully booked this year with 55 stands which provide a wide and variety selection of goods, while the popular Food Festival will again be showcasing many local and home produced products, with demonstrations by Jak O’ Donnell – patron of The Sisters restaurants in Glasgow.

The only cheese competition to be staged outwith the Highland Show, is again taking place in the Food Festival marquee.

While the Saturday is ultimately the main day, unaffiliated showjumping will be held on Friday, August 6, from 9am with BSJA showjumping staged on Saturday, August 7.