Report: Bentham Show 2011 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Report: Bentham Show 2011

12:59pm Wednesday 7th September 2011 in High and Low Bentham news By Kate Proctor, Reporter

THE star of TV’s Lambing Live had his work cut out as he judged some of the ‘high-quality’ sheep at the 139th Bentham show.

Andrew Marston, of Kirkby Stephen, who featured on the BBC programme in April, took to the pens to judge the Swaledale sheep classes at Saturday’s show and was presented with the healthiest line-up the event has seen in years.

Winner of the Swaledale ram lamb class, Andrew Huddlestone, of Botton, near Lowgill, said: “I’m pleased to win, both the sheep next to me were extremely good sheep.

“He took a while judging, it was a tough one definitely.”

Heavy rain that has blighted the show in the past held off until the late afternoon, allowing all of the classes to go ahead.

Show secretary Val Lawson said: “We’ve had some very wet years but this time the weather held out until late afternoon so we managed to get through everything. It was a good show this year, and the standard of the horticulture and handicraft classes was particularly high. Numbers were also up for poultry. The tent was practically bursting at the seams.”

In the horse categories, smartly turned out schoolgirl Alice Sagar, of Endmoor, beat women twice her age to win the champion equitation trophy. She will compete in the Westmorland County Show on Thursday and said her win at Bentham Show had boosted her confidence ahead of the competition.

The trophy for champion sheep went to John Stott, of Crosscrake, for his charolais ewe, which earlier in the day had won best male sheep.

New for this year was a zwartble sheep category, which was won by Raymond Heigh, of High Bentham.

The rare Dutch breed is growing increasingly popular in the North West and Mr Heigh said: “It’s something different and a new challenge.”

In the cattle classes, there were some strong winners despite a decline in entry this year because of a wedding attended by many of the exhibitors.

Champion cow went to David Booth of WA & A Booth of Settle who was showing his Friesian Holstein, Feizor Shottle Meggie, for the first time.

“Her dam won the Royal Show in 2005 and this year was the right time to show her so I’m pleased to have won on her first time,” said Mr Booth. “The judges praised her size, strength and the quality of her udder.”

The show’s horticulture and produce tent was crammed with delicious-looking cakes and home-grown vegetables including giant onions, leeks and courgettes.

Trophy winners: R Loxham & Son Cup, most points cattle section: R&E Butterfield. John Pattinson & Sons Cup, best exhibit cattle classes: WA&A Booth. Preston Farmers Challenge Cup, best female in cattle classes: WA&A Booth. Natwest Bank Trophy, best pair of cows/heifers: R&E Butterfield. James Procter Silver Challenge Cup, best heifer calf (20 mile radius): WA&A Booth. TS Jackson Memorial Shield, best animal on field (8 mile radius): WA&A Booth. Jeremiah Hartley Cup, best exhibitor bred heifer: R&E Butterfield. Simon Swinn Cup, cow/heifer with best udder: WA&A Booth. YFC Challenge Cup, best heifer: WA&A Booth. Richard Taylor & Son Cup, best herd: JK Gorst & Son. Society Tankard, best group Upland sheep: N Cowperthwaite, Society Tankard, best group Lowland sheep: J Garth & Son. Moffinber Perpetual Challenge Cup, best Suffolk gimmer lamb: M&N Gornall. Shrigley-Fiegl Silver Cup, most points in sheep classes: JJ&D Huddleston & Sons. Major Cowan Trophy, best black-faced ram: JJ&D Huddleston & Sons. Coultherd Perpetual Challenge Trophy, best female sheep: J Garth & Son. Dalgety Agricultural Ltd, best male sheep: J Stott. Barclays Bank Cup, champion classes B68 to B73: M Garth. Midland Bank, Bentham Cup, supreme champion Swaledale: N Cowperthwaite. Pye Farm Feeds Shield, supreme champion sheep: J Stott. Brians Barbecues Shield, reserve supreme champion sheep: J Garth & Son. Dalesbred Sheep Challenge Cup, champion Dalesbred: G Haygarth. Brians Barbecue Shield, best overall group of sheep: J Garth & Son. Nemsa Hawes Branch Shield, champion Mule: JD&L Whitfield. Eden Farm Supplies Cup, best group of Swaledales: N Cowperthwaite. Rennie Trophy, best exhibit Stick dressing: RW Cannan. Rainford Cup, best children’s ridden pony: P Mallinson. North Ribblesdale Agricultural Silver Cup, best ridden horse: S Hurst. Townson & Maudsley Cup, overall champion in Equitation: A Sagar. H Broadley Silver Cup, best hunter with Vale of Lune Harriers: L Metcalfe. Mash Trophy, champion working hunter: L Metcalfe. Metcalfe Cup, show jumping up to 12.2hh: L Garwood. Stonegate Cup, open show jumping: S Throup. Mr & Mrs Cliff Bell Shield, champion shire horse: G Dodd. Mr & Mrs D Gardner Cup: G Dodd. Jack Beck Memorial Cup, best turned out shire horse: B Stevenson. Mr Cliff Bell Cup, best shire horse young handler: K Harvey. North Ribblesdale Agricultural Society Cup, most points vegetable classes: C Martin. Society Cup, most points cut flower classes: ME Brown. Society Cup, most points floral art classes: G Warin. Mr & Mrs W Park Silver Rosebowl, best sweet pea exhibit: ME Brown. Jackson Trophy, most points children’s domestic section: S Wills. Angela’s Barbecue Shield, most points children’s handwork classes: T Corlett. Dr Elizabeth Dowell Silver Tray, WI handicraft section: Low Bentham. North Ribblesdale Cup, most points adult domestic classes: R Wills. Mrs Angus Silver Cup, most points adult handwork classes: S Brennand. Low Bentham WI Rosebowl, best fruit cake: M Lawson. WI Roses Cup, five articles on named theme: Low Bentham. Mr & Mrs David Johnson Tankard, best exhibit children’s handwriting classes: AJ Hodgson. Bentham Traders Cup, most points art classes: S Worswick. Brians Barbecues Shield, most points wine classes: B Taylor. High Bentham WI Plaque, best adult handwork exhibit: D Place. Society Cup, best bird in poultry show: S Ormerod. Cup, best hard feather: P Burns. Shield, best soft feather: S Ormerod. CP Newhouse Shield, best child’s poultry exhibit: R Mellin. North Ribblesdale Agricultural Society Cup, most points egg classes: GC Taylor.