Smithfield sheep title heads to Bishops too

In a quite unprecedented run of form the Smithfield sheep title has gone to Andrew and Becky Bishop with their Beltex crosses. This makes it five out if five for the couple this year, including Countryside Live, Agri Expo, English and Welsh Winter Fair and now Smithfield, included in that are back to back English and Smithfield wins and debut wins at Countryside Live and Agri Expo and a first win in Wales.

Their winning pair are by Lugsmill Laney and were described by judge Andrew Walton as being as close to perfect as any pair could be. “No matter where you look on these lambs there is flesh and they handle brilliantly.” It was a team effort from the Bishops with shepherdess Rachel Story and dresser Kate Gunn both playing their part in getting the lamsb right for the day.

Reserve overall was John Hall and daughter Joanne Skelton with a pair of Dutch Texel crosses by a ram bred by Robin Slade. These were out of Beltex cross ewes and were hard to split from the champions according to Mr Walton. They followed them through from the shortwool Continental championship earlier this morning.