Martin Brown’s Beltex take Countryside Live sheep title

Bedale-based Martin Broan has just clinched the Farmers Weekly/Taking Stock sheep championship at this weekend’s Countryside Live, Harrogate, with a 91kg pair of Beltex lambs from the 600-ewe flock he runs with his wife Val and daughter Hannah.

Judge Steve Gibbons, Hay on Wye, said the lambs were presented on the point of perfection and had been firm favourites from the moment they won their class.

The same pair of lambs had taken the champion ticket at Skipton’s show of Beltex sired lambs in early August said Mr Brown and he also took the overall title at the Great Yorkshire Show in July with another team of Beltex.

Mr Brown also took the reserve Continental championship and reserve overall titles with another pair of Beltex crosses, this time a duo which tipped the scales at 78kg. He also clinched the best single lamb award with one from the winning pair.

Taking the native championship was Mike Allen with a pair of Suffolk x Texel lambs from his 200-ewe flock. These tipped the scales at a combined weight of 105kg.