Champion animal bucks trend to be the best in show

May 28 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

WINNING the Champion of Champions title at the Northumberland County Show rounded off a great day for the region’s sheep farmers at Bank Holiday Monday’s event.

Peter Forster’s Bluefaced Leicester tup hogg was chosen as the best animal in the show from the grand parade of champions, ending years of dominance by cattle in the overall championship.

The Bluefaced Leicester went forward to the grand parade after being named the supreme champion in the sheep section after gathering the most points over the day.

Mr Forster, from Lowes Fell near Hexham, said the tup was a good example of the best Bluefaced Leicester characteristics.

“He has the sharpest face, he has a nice body with the depth and width. He has a good outlook all the way, because of his sharp head,” he said.

This year’s sheep section at the show, held in Corbridge, attracted a bumper entry after the mild spring weather.

Sheep chief steward Robert Raine, who runs the section with his wife Jackie, said: “It’s gone very well. The weather’s really good for the showing of sheep.

“It’s been a better show – we’ve had 80 more sheep. There was a better spring and lambing was drier.”

Mr Raine, who farms Blackfaced sheep at West Woodburn, said there had been entries from as far north as Dumfries in Scotland and from Yorkshire in the south.

He said: “Fairly well the same people come every year, they are good supporters and there are some new ones.”

The Raine family have been stalwarts of the sheep section of the County Show since it began in its present form.

“I’ve been doing it all of my life and my dad did before me – all 28 years of the show,” said Mr Raine.

“I’ve been the steward for 10 years and my dad did it before, and my wife helps out.”

Exhibitor Robert Percival travelled to Corbridge from Cumbria with his Suffolk sheep. He said that producing a sheep that shows the best of the breed’s traits is essential.

“They have to conform to the breed characteristics,” said Mr Percival.

He chooses the animals he plans to show weeks in advance, then has a routine to prepare them.

“They were clipped six weeks ago., then sprayed with dip,” said Mr Percival. “I’ve been showing for 40-odd years – you’ve got to support the breed. It’s advertising the breed and getting breed publicity, and you meet a lot of people as well.”

You’ve got to support the breed. It’s advertising the breed and getting breed publicity