More than 400 sheep have been entered for this year's 113th annual Oxford A&P Show, on Saturday, March 31, which has Royal Event status for the sheep section.
President and sheep breeder Ivan Evans said there would be Royal Agricultural Society medals up for grabs for each breed in the sheep section.
''It's one of the biggest one-day shows in New Zealand for sheep,'' he said.
''Since 2001 we've only been below 300 entries twice and this year it's the biggest since our centennial show, when we had more than 700 sheep.
''It's a real thrill to have so many sheep and it's probably a reflection of how well the show has been run over the last few years that people keep coming back.''
There were three feature sheep breeds at the Oxford show this year, including dorpers, poll Dorsets and Perendales.
It is the first time dorpers have been entered in the show, with 60 entered including 17 from Winton, Southland.
There were 26 poll Dorsets and 36 Perendales.
''One Perendale breeder is coming up from Central Otago, which is fantastic,'' Mr Evans, himself a well-known Perendale sheep breeder, said.
''It's mind-boggling that a guy would pick up his sheep and come all this way.''
He said there were a handful of committed sheep exhibitors from the local area, including Dave Martin, Dave Gillespie, Hugh Taylor, Richard Frahm, the Lynch family and the Burrows family, who keep turning up with sheep each year.
-By David Hill
