Beltex pair scoop championship at Royal Highland Winter Fair

A pair of two pedigree Beltex lambs from Mr Andrew Bishop, Epitfield Farm, Gloucestershire, scooped the sheep championship at this year’s Royal Highland Winter Fair.

The pair weighed in at 103kg and are by the farm’s home tup Luggsmill Dylan.  Coming to the Edinburgh show for the first time ever, Mr Bishop said it had been his ambition to come and win in Scotland, having won championships at other shows south of the border in the past.

Judge Joanne Hall, Inglewood Edge, Dalston, Cumbria, a regular on the showing circuit, said of the winning pair:  “I noticed them from the first time they cam out in their class, and they were a very good, even pair.  Every where I touched them was meat, and they stood out to me right from the start.”

Taking reserve sheep champion at the show was a pair of light Beltex ewe lambs from Mr Andrew Morton, Lochend Farm, Denny, Stirlingshire.  These two weighed in at 85kg and are by Beachy Norman, who was bought by Mr Morton for 3,200gns.  Mr Morton won the championship at last year’s show.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE SHEEP CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

The James Swan Challenge Trophy, awarded to the best pen of lambs in the Blackface, Cheviot, Half Bred, Swaledale and Cross sections at the show, was awarded to Mr D M White’s pair of Swaledale, pure bred lambs.

The James Wylie Perpetual Challenge Trophy, awarded for the best pen of sheep in the Cheviot sections, was presented to Douganhill Farms’ pair of North Country Cheviot lambs.

Breed Championships

• Blackface, pure bred champion awarded to Mr H F Hamilton.
• Swaledale, pure bred champion awarded to Mr D M White.
• North Country Cheviot, pure bred champion awarded to Douganhill Farms.
• South Country Cheviot, pure bred champion awarded to Bridgewater & Wood.
• Mules & Crosses champion awarded to J & G Sinclair’s pair of mules.