Bishops take Smithfield sheep championship s

Andrew, Becky and Charlie Bishop have dominated the sheep section here at Smithfield, taking the overall championship with their Beltex lambs which took the overall championship in the Continental Shortwool section before going on to lift the overall award.

These lambs, by a homebred tup in The Bishops flock of 1500 ewes, weighed in at 42kg and were selected from a batch of 350 wethers earlier in the autumn. Having stood reserve twice in the past Mr Bishop was delighted to lift the overall title for the first time as well as taking the exhibitor bred championship too.

In second place in the overall championship was John Hall and daughter Joanna with their pair of Beltex lambs which stood second to the Bishops pair in the classes yesterday and followed them through to be reserve Continental sired lambs before going on to reserve overall.

These are by two different tups, one an Airyolland tup and the other an imported tup from Belium. Mr Hall lifted the championship title two years ago at the last Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair.

Taking the native championship was Malcolm Stewart, Brotherstone, Melrose, with his pair of Suffolk sired lambs. These are by Sandyknowe Show Scott The Way and out of Texel cross ewes.