Northumberland County Show Report

With its final year at Corbridge, there were plenty of celebrations to be had at this year’s Northumberland County Show, especially in the livestock section.

Cattle

First time exhibitors at the show, S & H Illingworth from Lockerbie had a roaring performance in the cattle section with their July 2010 born heifer, ‘Glenrock Fantastic’, taking top honours as Overall Beef Champion and Champion of Champions. Winning both the Limousin Champion Maiden heifer and the female champion, the beast, sired by Haltcliffe Vermount and out of Glenrock Spangle, didn’t fail to impress judge Jimmy Walton who said she was a ‘tremendous animal’.

Reserve Overall Beef Champion went to Suarez, a May 2011 commercial beast put forward by Messrs Sedgewick and Slack from Ricknall Grange.

In the dairy section, Carkin Jordan Mia, a beast put forward from A and JE Smith, Richmond took the Overall Dairy Champion with Parkhead Sweet Pat from local exhibitor, Messrs GG Baynes and Son, Slayley in Reserve.

Sheep

In the sheep section, it was a superb Suffolk gimmer who took away the Interbreed Champion award and Reserve Champion of Champions. From the Thrunton Flock, this tremendous example of the Suffolk breed, owned in partnership between Northumberland farmers Hugh Annett and John Campbell, was a deserving winner. Reserve Interbreed Champion went to Messrs T Nesbitt and son.

Best Wool sheep was taken away by T Forster and Son from Lowes Fell with their Blue Faced Leicester. Scottish exhibitor Firm of G Gray took away the Interbreed Group Championship. A fine selection of sheep were on show

Young Stock

While the cattle section had some tremendous beast, young handlers and young stock played an important role in the judging too. Joanna Harrison, pictured above, (20) of P & CA Harrison, Breckney Hill took away the Champion Handler award in the dairy section Showmanship class with a stylish young beast while Beth Teasdale (17) of Messrs GG Baynes & Son took the reserve title.

P & CA Harrison’s success continued when they stole the Champion Calf title with a tremendous young calf they put forward born between 31st Sept and 31st Dec 2010. The reserve title went to M & D Wilson of Little Ormside.

Twelve year old Josh Bellas took the Young Beef Handler Champion while H Slowen (16) took Reserve in the beef classes.

(Report and photo provided by Matthew Sharp)