Show season ring round-up: Sheep champion

With the show season drawing to a close, we are reflecting on the sheep that have won the ribbons across the country.

clock • 3 min read
Show season ring round-up: Sheep champion

We look at the inter-breeds from six notable shows across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  

The sheep pictured below were all inter-breed champions at their relevant show.  

Who is your favourite champion from the 2023 show season?

 

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The Balmoral inter-breed sheep

Balmoral  

North Country Cheviot  

A North Country Cheviot ewe from Jack Smyth and William Rankin, Newtown Stewart, Co. Tyrone, took home the sheep inter-breed sash at Balmoral.  

The two-shear ewe sired by Allanshaw William was purchased privately two years ago, as part of a batch of 30 hogs from Allanshaws Farm, Galashields.  

It was a first-time win for the ewe, but not for exhibitor Mr Smyth who took home the beef inter-breed title last year at Balmoral with his Charolais cow.  

  

See also: Cheviot hill rams to £18,000

 

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The Royal Cornwall inter-breed sheep

The Royal Cornwall   

Charollais  

The Royal Cornwall show champion was a Charollais ewe tapped out by judge, John Campbell, Alnwick, who runs the Rosebrough flocks of Suffolks, Texels and Beltex.   

The home-bred ewe by Bronwydd Undeniable from Thomas Nancekivell's 40-head Heatham flock, Bude, has won numerous championships but this was its first outing of the season.  

  

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The Three Counties show inter-breed sheep

Three Counties   

Beltex  

Taking the supreme sheep title was the terminal sire breeds and Beltex champion, a shearling ewe from Aled Groucott's Swffryd flock, Gwent.  

By Airyolland Fujiyama, out of the successful show ewe, Swffyd Diamante, it was also breed and continental champion at Bath and West Show.  

  

See also: Royal Highland Show report 

 

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The Royal Highland inter-breed sheep

Royal Highland  

South Country Cheviot  

It was the South Country Cheviot which was tapped out as the supreme overall sheep winner in this year's Royal Highland inter-breed sheep judging.   

The team at W.J. Douglas and Son, Upper Hindhope, Jedburgh, won with the home-bred, three-crop ewe, Kale Camilla, one that Gavin Douglas picked out as part of the show team not long before his untimely death this spring.   

A Stirkfield Willie Wastle daughter, a ram originally bought in as a two-shear from Lockerbie, and out of a home-bred ewe.  

  

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The Great Yorkshire show inter-breed sheep

Great Yorkshire  

Suffolk  

The supreme championship fought off a record entry of 3,500 sheep at the Great Yorkshire.   

The inter-breed was awarded to the Suffolk champion, a one-crop ewe from T. J. and C. R. Boden's Sportsmans flock, Stockport, shown by Tom Boden.   

Sired by Howgillfoot Major and out of a Forkins Dizzy Rascal sired ewe, it was bought from Lilia Hutchinson's Howgillfoot flock at the Three Nations sale at Carlisle last year for 18,000gns.  

  

 

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The Royal Welsh show inter-breed sheep

Royal Welsh  

Dutch Spotted   

The Dutch Spotted claimed claimed the sheep inter-breed and continental title champion at the Royal Welsh show.   

The shearling ewe, Barquhill Faith, was exhibited by Hannah and Ali Jackson, Annan.  

Bought as a foundation ewe for their son Robbie's flock, she was bought for 3,000gns from Carlisle last autumn and has won the Royal triple, taking the breed champion rosettes at the Highland and Yorkshire before clinching the Royal Welsh.  

  

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