THE first Swaledale sheep show of the year has been a hailed a success with a rise in entries and spectators.
Middleton-in-Teesdale Spring Show of Swaledale Sheep, at High Force Hotel, also attracted a number of exhibitors from outside of the district.
Champion on the day was a ram exhibited by Matthew Staley with the reserve going to show vice-chairman David Mallon’s ewe.
Judge Arron Boyle, from County Donegal, in Ireland, was impressed with the standard of entries.
He said: “There are some fine animals – definitely nice beasts even though it has been a hard spring.”
Mr Boyle got his first flock of Swaledales in 2014 after seeing the breed on an episode of BBC’s Lambing Live and currently has a flock of 130 ewes, along with 20 Suffolks.
He added that the climate in the hills of County Donegal is the same as Teesdale making the breed ideal with more Irish farmers taking them on.
The judge said: “Our district now has 70 members.”
Mr Mallon was thrilled with the turnout at the show.
He said: “The entries were really good after what was a tough spring. I haven’t seen it as busy since covid. It has been an effort to get the show going after covid, but it was a very successful day. We also had a good entry of exhibitors from outside the district which is great to see.”
The vice-chairman extended his thanks to Andrew Lindsey, of High Force Hotel, for his “fantastic support”.
Results
Aged ram: 1, Messrs Staley; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, N Hardisty.
Shearling ram: 1, M Watson; 2, T Brogden; 3, R Hird.
Tup hogg (large breeder): 1, R Hallam; 2, AR Dent; 3, AR Dent.
Tup hogg (small breeders): 1, JPS Partnership; 2, E Haughey; 3, T Brogden.
Ewe shown in milk: 1, T Brogden; 2, JPS Partnership; 3, AR Dent.
Gimmer shearling shown in milk: 1, T Brogden; 2, JPS Partnership; 3, AR Dent.
Gimmer hogg (large breeder): 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, M Watson; 3, T Brogden.
Gimmer hogg (small breeder): 1, S Taylor; 2, H Hutchinson; 3, TW Hutchinson
Tup or gimemr lamb: 1, R Hird; 2, JB Fletcher.
Young handler: 1, O Mallon; 2, J Taylor; 3, E Taylor.
District classes
Aged tup or shearling: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, P Walton.
Tup hogg: 1, R Hird; 2, JB Fletcher; 3, AR Dent.
Ewe or gimmer shearling: 1, JB Fletcher; 2, R Hird.
Gimmer hogg: 1, H Hutchinson; 2, M Watson; 3, TW Hutchinson.
Pair of females: 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, M Watson; 3, JB Fletcher.
Special classes
Tup hogg: 1, Messrs Staley; 2, M Watson; 3, R Hird.
Two tup hoggs: 1, M Watson; 2, AR Dent.
Two gimmer hoggs: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, M Watson.
Ewe or gimmer shearling shown in milk: 1, AR Dent.
Tup hogg and gimmer hogg: 1, M Watson; 2, T Brogden; 3, JB Fletcher.
Aged tup or gimmer shearling and hogg: 1, P Walton; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon.
Ewe or gimmer shearling and gimmer hogg: 1, T Brogden.
Gimmer hogg: 1, T Brogden; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, S Taylor.
Special prize best male and female: 1, M Watson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, T Brogden.
Three best sheep: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, JB Fletcher.
Best sheep owned and bred in A district: 1, M Watson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, JB Fletcher.
Best sheep owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, M Watson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, Messrs Staley.
Best sheep shown by small breeder: 1. Messrs Staley; 2, R Hallam; 3, S Taylor.
Best sheep not to have won a prize: 1, AR Dent; 2, S Taylor.
Best gimmer hogg in show: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon.
Best tup hogg in show: 1, M Watson.
District champion: 1, M Watson
Reserve district champion: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon .
Best female sheep: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon.
Best male sheep: 1, Messrs Staley.
Supreme champion: 1, Messrs Staley .
Reserve supreme champion: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon.
