THE season of spring sheep shows kicked off in the dale with the Middleton-in-Teesdale Spring Show of Swaledale Sheep on Saturday.
The event at High Force Hotel returned after a two-year hiatus because of coronavirus restrictions.
Supreme champion of the day went to a gimmer shearling shown by David Mallon, with Peter Walton’s ewe taking the reserve honour.
Show referee Robbie Dalton described the quality of sheep on display as “very good” but expressed disappointment at the reduced number of exhibitors, compared with previous years.
He said: “It is wonderful to be back but, with Covid, I think we have been knocked out of gear.
“I think people are getting ready to turn out again [for future shows] and see friends they haven’t seen in a while.”
Desptie the lower than usual turnout, the show attracted exhibitors from Eggleston, Baldersdale, Forest
-in-Teesdale and Cumbria.
Richard Betton, who arranged the licences for the show, said shepherds had a difficult time getting their sheep in the right condition for the show, particularly because of heavy snow following Storm Arwen.
He added: “I have never dug out as many sheep, some of them were four foot under.”
Show secretary Hannah Hunter thanked the many businesses and groups that had donated prizes for the show.
She said: “People have been very generous for the raffle and it is really appreciated.”
Results
Open Classes
Aged ram: 1, MC Staley & J Gorst
Shearling ram: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon
Tup hogg (large breeders): 1, P Walton
Tup hogg (small breeders): 1. MC & AR Staley; 2, M Iceton
Ewe shown in milk: 1, P Walton; 2, M Iceton
Gimmer shearling shown in milk: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon
Gimmer hogg (large breeder): 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, P Walton
Gimmer hogg (small breeder): 1, MC & AE Staley; 2, J Hutchinson; 3, M Iceton
Tup or gimmer lamb: 1, M Iceton; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon
Young handler: 1, Joshua Mallon; 2, Olivia Mallon
District classes
Top hogg: 1, P Walton
Gimmer hogg: 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, P Walton; 4, TW Hutchinson
Pair of females: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, P Walton; 3, TW Hutchinson
Special Classes
Ewe of gimmer lamb shown in milk (small breeder): 1, J Hutchinson; 2, J Mallon; 3, M Iceton
Tup hogg or gimmer hogg: 1, MC & AE Staley; 2, P Walton; 3, M Iceton
Tup hogg, not in hands of breeder: 1, P Walton
Tup hogg, not previously shown: 1, MC & AE Staley; 2, M Iceton
Gimmer hogg, not previously shown: 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, J Hutchison
Two gimmer hoggs: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, TW Hutchinson
Three best sheep: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, P Walton
Tup hogg, owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, P Walton; 2, MC & AE Staley; 3, MC & AE Staley
Best sheep owned and bred A district: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, P Walton; 3, TW Hutchinson
Best sheep owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, P Walton; 3, MC & AE Staley
Best sheep shown by small breeder: 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, MC Staley & J Gorst
Best gimmer hogg in the show: 1, TW Hutchinson
Best top hogg in show: P Walton
District champion: P Walton
Reserve district champion: TW Hutchinson
Champion female sheep: S Bentley & DJ Mallon
Champion male sheep: P Walton
Reserve supreme champion: P Walton
Supreme champion: S Bentley & DJ Mallon
