Archive Article: 1997/09/12
After the inaugural event last summer, the second Great Yorkshire Sheep Sale took place last week…
About 260 animals, representing 13 breeds, were entered for the event, held at the Great Yorkshire Showground. Texels, Suffolk and Charollais accounted for the bulk. Here the Suffolks get put through their paces.
They start them young in Cumbria… ask 20-month-old Edward Hird.
Smile, youre a winner… the supreme champion eventually went to a Charollais ram lamb from J and W Ripley, Thirsk.
Right: Making the long journey south was Jim Thomson (left). He brought North Country Cheviot females from Hownam Grange, Kelso, his hill farm rising to 1600ft above sea-level. Here, Jim chats about the prospects for the year ahead with Keith and Elaine Stone. The Stones didnt have quite so far to travel – they came from Richmond, North Yorks.
The run-up to the big day was a busy time for show secretary Christine Thompson, seen here talking to Lincs-based Jim Garnar. Mrs Thomspon took some of her Ile de France sheep to the event, but they didnt find a buyer. "Well keep them over the winter and decide what to do with them as shearlings," she says.
Philip and Shirley Hughes apply the final touches to their Texels.
For some people it was a case of coming to the showground, buying some sheep, and then dashing home to get back on the combine.