Northern breeds dominate sheep lines

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