ONE of the largest sheep entries for years was a highlight of Ravenstonedale Agricultural Society’s annual open show.

The traditional family day at High Lane Field, Newbiggin-on-Lune, also attracted many young exhibitors.

And with 23 people entering the under-16 young handlers competition, president Thomas Knowles was delighted to see the next generation support the show.

Mr Knowles, a member of the Rough Fell Sheep Breeders Association, said: “I have been showing sheep at Ravenstonedale for more than 20 years and our family continues to enter sheep in the show.

“We have handed over to the next generation, and we can see today the interest the young people have in farming.”

Ladies secretary Angela Law said entries in the industrial tent were also up this year.

“When we were setting up the displays the night before we discovered the space wasn’t large enough to fit all the entries in and we had to take over part of the catering area,” she said.

Chair of the ladies committee, Fanny Jackson added: “Entries have been up across the classes, especially the children’s classes. And we have had a great support from the Young Farmers.”

And a gift of a ewe to three daughters brought champion success for the Bland family of Cotegill Farm, Gaisgill. The girls – Heather 11, Rachel, seven, and Sarah, four – bred the ewe and her Gimmer Shearling came first and the tup lamb second while the mother ewe came first in the Rough Fell Sheep Open Classes – and the girls took champion young handler with their Gimmer Shearling.

And the overall sheep champion of the show went to Andrew Brown of Asby Hall, Great Asby, who won with his mule, born in March this year.

Mr Brown said: “This is the first time I’ve shown this mule in the ring, and it will be the only show as I’ll be taking her to sell at the Kirkby Stephen auction.”

And Kirkby Stephen school boy Liam Fox, 13, had success with his working springer spaniel Sky. The ten-month-old pup took first in the small dog class.

Bob Cannon, from Kendal, enters 40 agricultural shows in Cumbria and took three firsts at Ravenstonedale for his hand-made crooks and walking sticks And Ronald Raine of Crosby Garrett is also another regular exhibitor at the summer shows with his vintage tractor. He took first in the vintage vehicle section with his David Brown 30D.

RESULTS

INDUSTRIAL Produce Perpetual Silver Cup, W Ellis.

Silver Cup given for class 24, Mrs B Dent Silver Cup for most points in classes 1-22, Mr JS Hodgson Edna Stubbs Cup for most attractive garden, Mr and Mrs T Nicholson & Mr & Mrs S Hodgson.

Confectionery Silver Cup given to exhibitor gaining most points in classes 26-65, Mrs V Bridgens Silver Cup for best outstanding exhibit in classes 26-65, Helen Shields The Bread Shop trophy for most points in classes 50-21, A Law.

The Bread Shop Cup for winner of Class 29, Mrs V Bridgens Handicrafts Silver Cup for most points given in handicrafts, Mrs J Nicholson Rose Bowl for best exhibit, Mrs J Nicholson Photography Silver Cup to exhibitor gaining most points overall in all ladies classes - produce, confectionery, handicraft and photography - GM Pew.

Bread Shop Cup for most points in photography classes, Christine Potts and JS Hodgson Children’s Classes Silver Cup for best exhibit in children’s classes, Claire Huck.

Silver Cup for exhibitor gaining most points in the children’s section, Leanne Huck Silver Cup for most points in visitor class, Ella Capstick SHEEP A Silver Cup won outright given by Mr JU Jackson for the Sheep with the best coloured leg and bone 1. VR Guy 2. NC Dodd Roughfell Champion New Roughfell Sheep HRS Bland Silver Cup held for one year for Champion Young Handler HRS Bland Points Cup held for one year donated by Trident Feeds presented to the exhibitor gaining most points HRS Bland Silver Cup to be held for one year for Champion Young Handler Rebecka Lumley Silver Cup given by Mr JU Jackson for Champion Sheep in classes 47-51 HRS Bland Swaledale Champion Animal in the Swaledale Classes, H&M Hutchinson Reserve Champion, C Cannon The Arthur Birbeck Memorial Cup for champion local Swaledale, P Capstick.

Reserve Swaledale Local, JW & CR Birbeck Blue Faced Leicester The Hallam and Huck Trophy and Replica for the Champion Blue Faced Leicester, P Brown Reserve Champion, P Brown Silver Cup to the exhibitor gaining most points in the Blue Faced Leicester Sheep Classes, P Brown.

Mule Tankard given by MSD Agvet for the Champion Mule Gimmer Lamb, KA Brown & Sons Perpetual Silver Cup for the Reserve Champion Lamb, KA Brown & Sons Local Mule Silver Cup for Champion Local Mule, G&HR Shields Suffolk Silver Cup for Champion Suffolk, R Batty Reserve Champion, JW Capstick Silver Cup to the exhibitor gaining most points in Suffolk classes, JW Capstick Texel The Tom Winder Memorial Cup for Champion – Non Accredited Texel, M/S Ladds Reserve Champion Texel, E&H Winder Silver Cup for most points in classes 143-148, G&H Winder Any other breed Silver cup for AOB champion, Josh Brunskill.

Reserve Champion AOB Dawn Armer Overall Sheep Champion K&A Brown with a mule Reserve Overall Sheep Champion WH&M Hutchinson with a Swaledale YOUNG HANDLER (under 16) Handling Skills 1 Bradley Thompson, 2.Alison Capstick, 3 J Elliot.

RI Brown Cup for the young handler aged 16 years and under showing the best handling skills, Bradley Thompson STICK SHOW Challenger Stick – Heredities Challenge Award for the Champion Stick, Bob Beaty Raymond Whiteman Tankard for best shepherd’s stick horn or wood, JJ Williamson DRY STONE WALLING Silver Cup given for two yards of crammed dry stone walling, D Law.

YFC STOCK JUDGING COMPETITION Young Farmers Cup, Darran Clarke