Beltex crosses lead Royal Highland Winter Fair sheep

Beltex cross lambs from Michael Dunlop, Biggar, have just clinched the overall championship in the sheep section of the Royal Highland Winter Fair.

Having stood first in the Young Farmers class earlier in the day the pair then went on to clinch the butchers lamb championship before going on to take the overall championship under judge Brian Glaves, Scarborough.

The lambs weighed in at 93kg and are by an Airylon tup out of homebred ewes. This was the first time Mr Dunlop, 22, has entered the Winter Fair. Mr Glaves described the lambs as perfect for the modern meat trade with flesh throughout them. "From the shoulders through to the loins and down to the gigot these were absolutely outstanding lambs."

Standing reserve to the champions were the reserve champion butchers lambs, another pair of Beltex lambs from John Guthrie. These weighed in at 86kg and are by a homebred tup from Mr Guthrie's Cuiltburn flock.