“THERE’S prizes and surprises at shows.”
So said Lartington farmer Clive Dent after his shearling ram was judged champion Swaledale at the Bowes Show on Saturday, ending Robert Hutchinson’s recent run of success.
However, the overall champion sheep on the field was judged to be Jeffrey Teward’s gimmer shearling Texel.
Mr Dent and Mr Teward, from Staindrop, said they were both delighted and surprised by their respective successes.
Mr Teward’s champion, which was home bred and born in February last year, had come reserve in its class the previous week at Wolsingham.
“I’m over the moon. It’s a very nice surprise,” he said.
He described his winner as having a “very bright character” as well as good style and confirmation.
Mr Dent’s Swaledale champion was bred by Geoff Marwood and bought as a tup lamb and he plans to keep it to use in future as a stock ram.
“I was surprised – you don’t think you’ve got a winner at home, but it’s up to the judge, which one he likes the most,” he said.
Mr Hutchinson’s gimmer shearling was judged female champion and local champion in the Swaledale section, while his ten-year-old son Joe was champion young handler in the ten to 16 class and daughter Lydia, 7, achieved a second place rosette in the under tens, which was won by five-year-old Martha Breeze, from Manfield, who showed good knowledge and skills with her Zwartble.
Elsewhere in the sheep classes, it was a good day out for Pam Pollock, who had travelled across from Cumbria to show her Herdwicks.
Her shearling ram took the championship.
A couple of regular visitors also enjoyed success at the show.
Ian Cousin, from Kirkby Stephen, picked up two breed trophies. His one gimmer lamb picked up the prize in the Mules, while his gimmer shearling was the best of the bunch among the Blue Faced Leicesters.
Ben Cowton, from Tow Law impressed with his Beltex gimmer shearling to take top spot in the any other breed commercial section.
In the Texels, Lartington’s Ben Sartin received the local championship for his gimmer shearling.
There was a familiar name on the Zwartble trophy – Peter Addison’s gimmer shearling was judged champion.
Unfortunately, this year’s show – back after missing 2020 due to the pandemic – was not untouched by Covid.
A positive test meant one of the cattle exhibitors was unable to make it, leaving just a handful of head for judges Robin Williamson and Carl Stephenson to cast their eyes over.
Despite the lack of competition, Taylor Charlton was glad to have made the trip from Penrith, to give one or two of his younger beasts a bit of experience at a smaller show before going on to others.
His haltered Limousin cross calf was judged the best of the bunch to be awarded the commercial cattle title, with cow and calf from the same home taking reserve.
In the shorthorn section, Megan Souter’s mother and daughter combination of seven-year-old Ashwater Grace and Jodame Rihanna, born in April, took the section title and overall cattle championship.
Ashwater Grace, a seven-year-old, had her first calf aged two and Rihanna is her fifth.
While there was no horses at this year’s show, there was plenty to keep exhibitors and visitors entertained, including an open trial staged by the Northern Sheepdog Association which highlighted just how difficult it is to put a group of four unwilling sheep into a pen.
The produce tent featured more than 1,000 entries and the fun dog show proved as popular as ever, with two rings running side by side.
There were gun dog and birds of prey demonstrations and even Punch and Judy, to provide a bit of traditional entertainment for the younger visitors.
Results from the show field
COMMERCIAL CATTLE
Judge – Mr R Williamson
C3 – Haltered Calf born in 2021
1st – Taylor Charlton
2nd – Taylor Charlton
C4. A Pair of Cattle (Any combination)
1st – Taylor Charlton
C5 – Cow and Calf
1st – Taylor Charlton
Champion – Taylor Charlton
Reserve Champion – Taylor Charlton
SHORTHORN CATTLE
Judge: Mr C Stephenson
C6 – Heifer up to 12 months
1st – MR & JE Souter
2nd – MR & JE Souter
C7 – Heifer over 12 months
1st – MR & JE Souter
C8 – Heifer and Calf or Cow and Calf
1st – MR & JE Souter
Champion – MR & JE Souter
Reserve Champion – MR & JE Souter
Overall Cattle Championship
Champion – MR & JE Souter
Reserve Champion – Taylor Charlton
BLUE FACED LEICESTER
Judge – Mr M Dent
S1. Aged or Shearling Ram
S2. Ram Lamb
1st – IR Cousin
2nd – P & S Addison
S3. Ewe or Gimmer Shearling
1st– IR Cousin
2nd – P & S Addison
S4 . Gimmer Lamb
1st – P & S Addison
2nd – IR Cousin
S5. Best Pair, Male or Female
1st – IR Cousin
2nd – P & S Addison
BFL Championship
Champion – IR Cousin
Reserve Champion – P & S Addison
MULES
Judge – Mr M Dent
S7 . Ewe or Gimmer Shearling
1st – I & AR Watson
2nd – I & AR Watson
S8. Gimmer Lamb
1st – IR Cousin
2nd – JC & A Metcalf
3rd – I & RA Watson
S9. Two Gimmer Lambs
1st – JCA & A Metcalf
2nd – IR Cousins
3rd – C Stephenson
S10. Five Gimmer Lambs
1st – JC & A Metcalf
2nd – C Stephenson
3rd – I & RA Watson
Mule Championship
Champion – IR Cousin – with a Gimmer Lamb
Reserve Champion – I & RA Watson – with a Shearling
TEXELS
Judge – Mr G Wilkinson
S11. Aged Ram
1st – RA & JH Coulthard
2nd – M Wood
3rd – Coulthard & Sartin
S12. Shearling Ram
1st – ER & BW Sartin
2nd – RA & JH Coulthard
S13. Ram Lamb
1st – ER & BW Sartin
2nd – Messrs Teward
3rd – RA & JH Coulthard
S14. Ewe
1st – ER & BW Sartin
2nd – ER & BW Sartin
3rd – RA & JH Coulthard
S15. Gimmer Shearling
1st – Messrs Teward
2nd – Messrs Teward
3rd – ER & BW Sartin
4th – Miss A Stones
S16. Gimmer Lamb
1st – Messrs Teward
2nd – Messrs Teward
3rd – ER & BW Sartin
4th – M Wood
S17. Pair of Gimmer Lambs
1st – Messrs Teward
2nd – ER & BW Sartin
3rd – RA & JH Coulthard
S18. Ram Lamb And Gimmer Lamb
1st– Miss A Stones
2nd -Messrs Teward
3rd – ER & BW Sartin
S19. Group of Three (containing 1 male & 2 females)
1st – Messrs Teward
2nd – ER & BW Sartin
3rd – RA & JH Coulthard
S20. Aged or Shearling Ram (Local Exhibitors)
1st – M Wood
2nd – ER & BW Sartin
3rd – RA & JH Coulthard
S21. Ramb Lamb ( Local Exhibitors)
1st – RA & JH Coulthard
2nd– ER & BW Sartin
3rd – T Guy
S22. Ewe or Gimmer Shearling (Local Exhibitors)
1st – ER & BW Sartin
2nd – RA & JH Coulthard
3rd – ER & BW Sartin
S23. Gimmer Lamb ( Local Exhibitors)
1st – ER & BW Sartin
2nd – M Wood
3rd – ER & BW Sartin
Texel Championship
Champion – Messrs Teward
Reserve Champion – RA & JH Coulthard
Texel Local Championship
Champion – ER & BW Sartin
Reserve Champion – M Wood
ZWARTBLES
Judge – Ms L Brown
S24. Aged or Shearling Ram
1st – MD & GL Smith
2nd – AJ Thorburn
S25. Ram Lamb
1st – MD & GL Smith
2nd – AJ Thorburn
3rd – AJ Thorburn
S26. Ewe
1st – P & S Addison
2nd – AJ Thorburn
3rd – MD & GL Smith
S27. Gimmer Shearling
1st – P & S Addison
2nd – O Breeze
3rd – MR & GL Smith
S28. Gimmer Lamb
1st – MR & GL Smith
2nd – O Breeze
3rd – P & S Addison
4th – MR & GL Smith
S29. Pair of Gimmer Lambs
1st – MR & GL Smith
2nd – O Breeze
3rd—AJ Thorburn
S30. Male & Female, any age
1st – MR & GL Smith
2nd– AJ Thorburn
S31. Group of Three, containing 1 male and 2 females
1st – MR & GL Smith
2nd – AJ Thorburn
Zwartble Championship
Champion – P & S Addison
Reserve Champion – MR & GL Smith
ANY OTHER BREED – COMMERCIAL
Judge – Mrs S Wilkinson
S32. Aged or Shearling Ram
1st – P Wilson
2nd – B Cowton
3rd – M Collin
S33. Ram Lamb
1st – B Cowton
2nd – M Collin
3rd – B Cowton
4th – P Wilson
S34. Ewe or Gimmer Shearling
1st – B Cowton
2nd – M Collin
3rd – B Cowan
4th – P Wilson
S35. Gimmer Lamb
1st – B Cowton
2nd – P Wilson
3rd – B Cowon
4th – M Collin
S36. Group of Three (1 male & 2 Females)
1st – M Collin
2nd – P Wilson
3rd – B Cowton
S37. Ram Lamb & Gimmer Lamb
1st – M Collin
2nd – B Cowton
3rd – P Wilson
Any Other Breeds Commercial Championship
Champion – B Cowton
Reserve Champion – P Wilson
ANY OTHER BREED – NATIVE
Judge – Mr E Thompson
S38. Aged or Shearling Ram
1st – A Donkin
2nd – Dowson & Sartin
S40. Ewe or Gimmer Shearling
1st – Dowson & Sartin
S41. Gimmer Lamb
1st – Dowson & Sartin
S42. Group of Three (1 male & 2 Females)
1st – Dowson & Sartin
Any Other Breeds Native Championship
Champion – Dowson & Sartin with Cheviot
Reserve Champion – Dowson & Sartin with Cheviot
Any Other Breeds Overall Championship
Champion – Mr B Cowton with Beltex
Reserve Champion – Dowson & Sartin with Cheviot
Terminal Breeds Championship
Champion – Messrs Teward with Texel
Reserve Champion – Ben Cowton with Beltex
HERDWICKS
Judge – Miss N Race
S44. Aged Ram
1st – T Rigg
2nd – C & P Pollock
3rd – T Rigg
S45. Shearling Ram
1st – C & P Pollock
2nd – T Rigg
3rd – T Rigg
S46. Ram Lamb
1st – C & P Pollock
2nd – J Stott
3rd – T Rigg
S47. Ewe
1st – T Rigg
2nd – J Stott
3rd – T Rigg
S48. Gimmer Shearling
1st – C & P Pollock
2nd – T Rigg
3rd – J Sott
S49. Gimmer Lamb
1st – C & Pollock
2nd – J Stott
3rd – T Rigg
S50. Pair of Gimmer Lambs
1st – T Rigg
S51. Ram Lamb and Gimmer Lamb
1st – J Stott
2nd – C & P Pollock
3rd – T Rigg
S52. Group of Three, containing one male and two females
1st – T Rigg
2nd – J Stott
S53. Group of Three Females
1st – T Rigg
2nd – J Stott
S54. Group of Three Males
1st – T Rigg
S55. Aged or Shearling Ram ( Local)
1st – T Rigg
2nd – T Rigg
S56. Ram Lamb (Local)
1st – T Rigg
2nd – T Rigg
S57. Ewe or Gimmer Shearling (Local)
1st – T Rigg
2nd – T Rigg
S58. – Gimmer Lamb ( Local)
1st – T Rigg
2nd – T Rigg
Champion
Herdwick Championship
Champion – C & P Pollock
Reserve Champion – T Rigg
Local Champion – T Rigg
Reserve Champion – T Rigg
SWALEDALES
Judge- Mr R Owen
S65. Shearling Ram
1st – Dent Bros
2nd – I Cowperthwaite
3rd – JS Calvert
S66. Aged Ram
1st – MC Stayley
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – Dent Bros
S67. Ram Lamb
1st – R Hutchinson & Sons
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – J Stayley
4th – DC & KL Hutchinson
5th – JS Calvert
S68. Pair of Ram Lambs
1st – R Hutchinson & Sons
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – DC & KL Hutchinson
S69. Ewe to have reared a lamb
1st – R Hutchinson & Sons
2nd – TW Hutchinson
3rd – Dent Bros
S70. Gimmer Shearling
1st – R Hutchinson & Sons
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – R Hutchinson & Sons
4th – DC & KL Hutchinson
5th – JS Calvert
S71. Pair of Gimmer Shearlings
1st – R Hutchinson & Sons
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – DC & KL Hutchinson
S72. Gimmer Lamb
1st – R Hutchinson & Sons
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – TW Hutchinson
4th – MC Stayley
5th – Dent Bros
S73. Pair of Gimmer Lambs
1st – R Hutchinson & Sons
2nd – TW Hutchinson
3rd – Dent Bros
S74. Ram Lamb and Gimmer Lamb
1st – TW Hutchinson
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – DC & KL Hutchinson
S75. Group of Three, containing one male and two females
1st – TW Hutchinson
2nd – Dent Bros
3rd – DC & KL Hutchinson
S76. Best Male or Female to have been show but not won a prize
1st – I Cowperthwaite
2nd – JS Calvert
3rd – DC & KL Hutchinson
Swaledale Local Champion ( Male or Female)
Champion – R Hutchinson & Sons
Reserve Champion – Dent Bros
Swaledale Male Champion
Champion – Dent Bros
Reserve Champion – MC Stayley
Swaledale Female Champion
Champion – R Hutchinson & Sons
Reserve Champion – R Hutchinson & Sons
Overall Swaledale Champion
Champion – Dent Bros, Shearling Ram
Reserve Champion – R Hutchinson & Sons, Gimmer Shearling
OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion Local Sheep on the field
Judged by the Referee Judge- Mr E Thompson
Champion – R Hutchinson & Son, Swaledale
Reserve Champion – ER & BW Sartin, Texel
Champion Sheep on the Field
Judged by all Judges on a points system
Champion – Messrs Teward with Texel
Reserve Champion – B Cowton with Beltex
YOUNG HANDLERS
Judge – Mr E Thompson
S64. Best Young Handler, to be aged under 10 on show day showing either a gimmer lamb or ram lamb.
1st – Martha Breeze
2nd – Lydia Hutchinson
3rd – Darcy Hutchinson
4th – Grace Collin
S65. – Best Young Handler, to be aged 10 to 16 years on show day showing either a gimmer lamb or ram lamb.
1st – Jo Hutchinson
2nd – Stephen Teward
3rd – Matthew Collin
4th – Elliot Hutchinson
5th – William Bellas
6th – Aidan Marmont
7th – Tom Blenkiron
Champion Young Handler
Champion Young Handler – Jo Hutchinson
Reserve Young Handler – Martha Breeze
Champion Local Young Handler
Champion – Lydia Hutchinson
Reserve Champion – Jo Hutchinson
HAY
Judge – Mr E Thompson
F2. Best Bundle of Old Land Hay
1st – G Foster
2nd – T Blenkiron
3rd – M Wood
Champion – G Foster (Old Land Hay)
Reserve Champion – T Blenkiron (Old Land Hay)
DOGS
Judges: Miss A McCosh (small dog classes) Miss C Addison (large dog classes).
D60 – Best Young Handler
1st – Thomas Bousfield with Winston
2nd – Phoebi Wall with Vera
3rd – Lucinda Ewin with Bex
D62 – Best Small Pet Dog
1st – Angela Purdy with Millie
2nd – Josh Williams with Toby
3rd – Lucinda Ewin with Autumn
D63 – Best Terrier
1st – Angela Purdey with Millie
2nd – Josh Williams with Toby
D64 – Best Sheepdog or Bitch
1st – Penny Wilson with Mist
2nd – Susan Moyes with Dougie
3rd – Katy Mottershead with Luna
D65 – Best Gun Dog
1st – Elizabeth Fisher with Mags
2nd – Sophie Watson with Joey
3rd – Mark Beckwith with Elmo
D66 – Best Large Pet Dog
1st – Judy Allen with Annie
2nd – Kathy Alderson with Churchy
3rd – Susan Moyes with Dougie
4th – Elizabeth Fisher with Mags
D67 – Dog with Waggiest Tail
1st – Linda Cassidy with Buddy
2nd – Orla Tynan with Faolan
3rd – Emma Mairs with Lola
Champion Dog
Champion – Penny Wilson with Mist, Border Collie
Reserve Champion – Angela Purdey with Millie, Terrier