Repeater Rocket wows the judges at Northumberland once again

Alan Forster said: “When he won last year it was only the second time in the show’s history a sheep had won. To do it again is unbelievable. He was the smallest animal in there, but he has such presence and seems to enjoy the attention.”

On his way to this win, the two-year-old ram had to overcome a strong challenge from the North of England Mule champion, a gimmer hogg owned by Fran and Ron Wilson, from Armathwaite to take the sheep inter-breed title.

The Forsters also won the sheep group of three with the ram and his son and daughter, which were also class winners.

Reserve in the champion of champions was the Limousin bull, Greenhill Viper, owned by Cormack McDowell Partners, from Eastriggs, who was a clear winner of the pedigree championship, judged by all the breed judges.

He then went head to head with the commercial champion, John Fenwick and Richard Anderson’s 25-month-old, Limousin cross heifer, Lady Gaga, for the supreme beef championship, judged by Willie Longlands, Hexham, and once again came out on top.

Reserve in the pedigree championship went to J.B. Bowness, Penrith, with the four-year-old, British Blue bull, Croftends Bruno, by Tintin De My, who was champion in the any other continental section.

Claiming the dairy inter-breed title was the Holstein champion, Hailstone Geno Sunray, by Beware Juror Geno, from Mark and Diane Wilson of Ormside Lodge, Appleby.

This was Sunray’s first outing of the season, having been champion at Cockermouth and reserve at Appleby last year.

The fourth calver gave 14,000 litres in her third lactation, and judge Percy Telfer, Stamfordham, said she had a little more power and maturity than his reserve, Michael Howie’s, Ayrshire, Morwick Peggy 85.

Morwick Peggy calved her third four weeks ago and is currently giving 45 litres. Mr Howie milks 200 cows, mainly red and whites, with some Jerseys and Holsteins, near Morpeth.

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