Of nearly 3000 sheep entries at the Great Yorkshire Show, it was the second year a North Country Cheviot ewe took the Interbreed title.
William Thomson's homebred, four year old ewe out of a Crookstone sire was a fine example of the breed, with good udder and strong mouth, according to the panel of judges.
Kelso-based Mr Thomson commented that after taking breed and Interbreed at the Royal Highland Show he was tempted to retire her, but she still seems in fine fettle!
Northern breeds were represented well in the competition, with a Swaledale two-shear ram taking the reserve.
Bought for £8500 at Kirby Steven Market in October, this was the first outing for John Bradley's tup, part of a 500-strong flock based in Skipton.
Interbreed W Thomson’s N.C.C ewe; res, J Bradley’s Swaledale ram
Leicester B W and D J Glaves and Son’s shearling gimmer; res, D A Goodman’s shearling gimmer
Teeswater D A Chandler’s shearling ram; res, A J Fisher’s shearling gimmer
Bluefaced Leicester G Shapiro’s ewe; res, H J Stenton’s ewe
Lincoln J C Nichael’s yearling ewe; res, M D and J Coney’s shearling ram
Wensleydale J Prescott’s shearling ram; res, B R Field’s yearling ewe
Bleu du Maine T S and E J Goldie’s ram; res, J W and K M Davison’s shearling ewe
Hampshire Down C Horrell Ltd’s shearling ewe; res, L Chasney’s ram lamb
Suffolk I D Briggs’ shearling ewe; res, A R Bulmer’s shearling ram
Oxford Down G C Watson and C J Grain’s shearling ram; res, A W Rutherford’s shearling ewe
Ryeland S M Davison’s shearling ram; res, P Maddock’s shearling ewe
Texel J Forsyth’s ewe; res, J W Mellin’s shearling ewe
Charollais J R and D A Eagland’s ewe; res, R and M Paterson’s group of three
Vendeen R N Howie’s ewe lamb; res, C J Vernon Miller’s ram
Rouge J Smithson’s ewe lamb; res, J Redfern’s ewe
Berrichon du Cher M E and H S Crane’s ram; res, M E and H S Crane’s ewe
Beltex T A Jackson’s ram; res, J W Cowan’s ewe
Blackface P Turnbull’s ewe; res, N I Allonby’s shearling ram
North Country Cheviot W and J Thomson’s ewe; res, J Jackson’s ram
Derbyshire Gritstone J Eggleton’s ram; res, J Eggleton’s ewe lamb
Lonk C Crowther’s shearling; res, J Hey’s ram
Swaledale J Bradley’s ram; res, R J Dixon’s ewe
Whitefaced Woodland Middlesborough Council’s ewe; res, A R Howard’s ram
Rough Fell T, L, B and J Knowles’ ewe; res, T, L, B and J Knowles’ ram
Dalesbred J H and J Ryder and Sons’ ewe; res, J K Wilson’s ram
Herdwick V Watson’s shealing ewe; res, D Thomson’s ram
Shetland A Hill’s ram; res, D Thomson’s ram
Lleyn G Shepherd shearling ram; res, G Shepherd’s shearling ewe
Hebridean D Braithwaite’s ewe; res, J and K E Moore’s ram
Jacob S J Dodsworth’s ram; res, G Connor and S Dalrymple’s ram
Zwartbles C Scott’s ewe; res, A M Duckworth’s ram lamb
Masham M and B Allen’s shearling gimmer; res, M J Croft’spen of two shearling gimmers
Mule R J D and F J Wilson’spen of two ewes; res, R A Carter’s pen of two shearling gimmers
Half Bred Female X Terminal Sire M T Bulmer’s pen of two gimmer lambs; res, J Hall’s pen of two mature ewes
Commercial Lamb Carcases K D Morrison’s Beltex x Texel Cross; res, R G Findlay’s Beltex X Beltex Cross
Any Other Pedigree Breed B W and D J Glaves and Sons’ Southdown; res, J R Williams’ Southdown