On the weekend of 5th July, Cumbria Support Group held a native breed sheep show and young handlers event at the Westmorland Show Ground, as part of the Country Fayre. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was limited to Cumbria Support Group members, local judges were invited along to help further reduce any risks and to help keep travel to a minimum.

All pens were presented in a long line, with participants on one side and visitors the other. This did make judging somewhat of a chore, but the visitors loved being able to see all the different breeds of sheep and it gave them the opportunity to ask lots of questions.

There was an amazing show of sheep including 23 different breeds, with one class having 33 entries. Across the two days, over 5000 people got to see the sheep and the young handlers really excelled in showing their stock in perfect conditions. We had over 50 entries in the young handlers classes, with the youngest being just four years old! They all did an amazing job, with some very lively sheep! Gabe Mather was awarded Supreme with a Suffolk and Sarah Hayton won Reserve with a Gritstone.

Young handlers’ classes were won by Leo Watkinson, Ruby McKenzie, George Fell and Carrie Tyson, with George being awarded Supreme Young Handler and Ruby in Reserve. Hill and Heath Champion was won by Alice Hayton with a Derbyshire Gritstone Shearling, and Rachel William won Reserve Champion with her Kerry Hill Lamb. Primitive Champion was a Hebridean Shearling Tup owned and shown by Carrie Tyson, Gabe Mather stood Reserve with his Manx Ewe. Longwool Champion was a Border Leicester aged tup owned by Sarah Miles with a Teeswater Lamb owned by Sue Tyson and Rachel Willan in Reserve. Shortwool Champion was a Suffolk Gimmer Lamb owned by Jack Holdroyd and shown by Gabe Mather. A Hampshire Tup Lamb from Sarah Miles was Reserve.

Special thanks go to Sarah Miles, Heather Clough, Sarah and Alice Hayton for helping organise the event and making sure we kept on track. Huge thanks also to our judges who gave up their time and experience; Ian Grisedale, Vicky Watson, David Waine, Judith Galbraith and Seth Mather.

Lastly, thanks to our Sponsors for offering up some fantastic prizes, donated by Tyndall, Furness and South Cumberland Supply and Wynnstay Agriculture.

Some of the winners were captured at the event by Louise Thompson - below:

                                 

 Young Handlers overall Champion                   Hill & Heath Champion & Reserve                   

George Fell, with judge Seth Mather             

          

                   Supreme and Reserve                                          Longwool Champion and Reserve