GREY skies and a severely reduced livestock section did nothing to deter visitors to the first day of the 2008 Royal Cornwall Show yesterday. The last-minute decision by Defra not to extend the Blue Tongue Disease protection zone for cattle, sheep and goats to Cornwall resulted in a blanket ban being imposed as late as Wednesday on exhibitors from outside the county coming to the show. In the sheep section the number of exhibitors was down to just 25 per cent of the usual line-up. But local exhibitors seized the chance to shine and among the early winners was James Sleep from Trevadlock Farm, Congdon's Shop, who picked up some well-deserved first places in the British Charollais classes, including Ram Lamb and Ram. Cattle In the cattle section, which always attracts a strong up- country entry, numbers were down to just 300 Cornish exhibits. Among them was Gayle Bersey of Lynher Valley Aberdeen Angus from Downderry. She took first in the heifer class yesterday with her home-bred two-year-old Lynher Valley Elmariposa. Today The Princess Royal is due to open the new £1m- plus members pavilion at the heart of the showground before going on to visit the stands of some of the show's charities, the food and farming exhibit and the flower show. She will also meet members of the Cornwall Federation of Women's Institutes.