A prestigious new award which will highlight the best cattle shown in three counties is being sponsored by Gloucestershire's Nimrod Veterinary Products.

For the first time, three agricultural shows have joined forces to stage a new "Triple Crown" competition for showing cattle.

The Three Shires Cattle Trophy will go to the exhibitor who gains the most points across three shows, Hanbury Countrywide Show, Worcestershire and Burwarton Show in Shropshire, which have already taken place and Moreton Show in Gloucestershire, which is being held on September 2.

The "Triple Crown" is sponsored by Moreton-based Nimrod Veterinary Products, manufacturers of the SELEKT cattle rehydration system.

Donna Renney, Nimrod's operations director said: "So far the quality of beef and dairy breeds at Hanbury and Burwarton has been excellent. For generations Britain has been a global leader in the development of breeds through selection and Nimrod wants to support the continuation of this global eminence in farming."

Handlers will accumulate points by showing their cattle at all three shows and the running total will be kept secret until the finale at Moreton Show on September 2.

As well as the £1000 top prize, the runner-up will receive £300 and £150 will go to third place.

Lynne Parkes, Moreton Show livestock secretary said: "It'll be a bit like revealing the results of the X Factor for cattle!

"Our treble, involving all three shows, is aiming to attract some of the best cattle from across the country and we'd like to encourage handlers to compete for what will be the equivalent of a premier league title in cattle showing."

Peter Kirton, chief cattle steward at Burwarton said: 'We wanted to create a new, prestigious and exciting competition for cattle showing. This is the traditional cattle class with a modern twist and we hope people will enjoy what we have to offer at all three shows."

Richard Heath, secretary at Hanbury said: "We think it's a great idea to form a partnership in cattle showing and I'm looking forward to seeing how the cattle progress through the classes at each show.

"It's going to be pretty exciting by the time we get to Moreton in September to see who's our first 'Triple Crown' winner."

Come to Moreton Show on September 2 to see the winner. Visit www.moretonshow.co.uk for more information.

Picture: Donna Renney, operations director at Nimrod Veterinary Products, with Hallon Talented Eda, who won the Best Holstein Award and Dairy Cattle Championship at Burwarton Show, with the owners, RT Tudor & Son, and judge Stuart Hassall (right)