For the first time, Launceston will host the competitions, that are held at a different royal show each year.

The competition will feature more than 100 competitors from Australia and New Zealand who will be pitted against each other in eight categories.

National competitions and Launceston Show Society committee member Ian Blades said he had confidence in the Tasmanian team.

“We have had a lot of success in the past and the team we have this year is very good,” he said.

The full Tasmanian team includes: Josh Smith, from Chudleigh; Stuart Lehman, from Yolla; Alice Hall, from Scottsdale; Gabriel Horton, from Beauty Point; Jessie Morgan, from Perth and Molly Cornish from Beauty Point.

The group will be competing in their respective categories of dairy cattle handling, dairy cattle judging, beef cattle handling, merino sheep judging, merino fleece, beef judging, meat sheep handling. 

Miss Hall will compete in two categories, beef handling and as the Tasmanian representative for the show’s rural ambassador.

Mr Blades said each member of the Tasmanian team had to win the state final in order to participate in the nationals.

The state that has the most wins over all categories will win the Keast Shield.

”The winners of the competitions will be judged the national final champion,” he said.

This year will be the first time the national championships have been held outside of a capital city royal show and Mr Blades said it had been 18 months in the making.

“It is a really good event and it gives the New Zealand guys a chance to compete in a national event,” he said.

“It’s a top competition and we have some really professional young people competing.”

The championships are held in New Zealand once every seven years.

It has also been seven years since Tasmania hosted the event, when it was hosted at the Royal Hobart Show.

The national finals will be hosted alongside the Launceston Show’s normal agricultural competitions.

Mr Blades said entries for the beef and dairy competitions had been strong so far but hoped for more entries as the show draws closer.

The Launceston Show will be held on October 6-8 at the Inveresk showgrounds. For more information go to http://www.launcestonshowground.com.au/