Fine weather and the promise of three days of competition, entertainment and fun brought visitors pouring into the Royal Cornwall Show yesterday.

Among the exhibitors, there was an early accolade for the Lostwithiel-based Trewithen Dairy which has been shortlisted for three major awards, including one from show hosts the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association in recognition of the company's contribution to the Cornish dairy industry.

Employing more than 130 people at its Greymare farm plant, Trewithen is also a finalist in the Grocer Awards 2015 and was shortlisted for the 2015 Food and Beverage Design Effectiveness Awards.

Jayne Mitchell from Lostwithiel has entered the equine section with her new Dales pony for the first time, although she has worked with horses all her life and is no stranger to competing. Dartdale Jimmy Lad will be lining up in the class for stallions, mares and geldings aged four years or over.

'After having a few scatty Thoroughbreds and a few falls, I decided to downsize to ponies and go for something that everyone in the family could get involved with,' said Jayne.

'Secretly, of course, we would love him to win a rosette being that he is the only licensed stallion in Cornwall.

'But he is also here to promote the breed which is on the critical-endangered rare breeds list.'

In the competitive classes, the sheep section saw the second highest entry on record, with 1,173 sheep making the sheep marquee home for the three days.

There was also a big increase in the number of cattle competing, with just short of 100 extra stalls booked.

The pig section has just six fewer entries than last year, with a total of 208 pigs, the third highest recorded entry.

Equine entries are down a little from last year but still number nearly 1,200, and showjumpers will be out in force, with a qualifier increase on last year's figure to number 230.

An early success was show regular Peter Rowe, from Trewint, Menheniot, who won the cow and calf award in the Devon Cattle section. His son Ashley was also competing with his Ruby Red Devon Sampson which took second place in the same class.

Today (Friday June 5) Princess Alexandra, one of the show's vice presidents, is set to make her sixth visit to the event.