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06/08/08
This year’s Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh champions were among a quality line-up at the third annual National Progeny Show for pedigree and commercial Beltex sheep, though neither clinched supreme honours.
David Findlay, right, with his Beltex National Progeny Show champion, joined by judge William Carson.
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This accolade went to a two-shear ewe from David and Diane Findlay, of Birdridding Farm, Coverham, Leyburn, who were achieving back-to-back championship successes at the high profile Northern Beltex Club -organised fixture at Skipton Auction Mart. (Sat, Aug 2)
The victor, reserve female champion at the Royal Welsh Show ten days earlier, pipped the 2008 Great Yorkshire and Skipton female champion exhibited by David’s brother Richard Findlay, of Quarry Farm, Westerdale, Whitby. Both are founder members of the Northern Beltex Club.
Ironically, David’s title winner was by a ram bought in Ireland by brother Richard and was awarded the Ivan Ashton Memorial Trophy by an Irish judge, William Carson, of Ballymena, whose father Jim was the first person to import Beltex sheep into Ireland. The Carsons have since had many successes in the exhibition arena, including twice being Irish National sheep champions.
David Findlay also presented the class-winning gimmer shearling and reserve champion female, which had earlier become this year’s overall Royal Welsh champion.
The overall reserve Skipton champion was the first prize-winning gimmer lamb exhibited by another National Progeny Show regular, Cecil Hutchinson, of AC & C Hutchinson, Brickyard Farm, Kirkby Wiske, Thirsk.
Reserve female champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire and Ryedale Shows, the runner-up was by a tup from the Cumbrian-based Buckles flock at Barras, Kirkby Stephen. The sire has been entered at Carlisle this year.
Mr Hutchinson also sent out the male champion, a ram lamb, as well as winning the shearling rams class with an entry that was male champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. Richard Findlay again had to settle for the reserve male championship with his aged ram class victor, though he went on to win three same sire classes with his Beltex trios.
The commercial lambs title went to Martin and Val Brown, of Beechwood House Farm, Newton-le-Willows, Bedale, who were champions at the inaugural National Progeny Show in 2006 and reserve champions last year.
They dominated the butchers’ lambs section this year, winning every class they entered and receiving the C Maguire Trophy for their 35 to 40kg victors. For good measure, the Browns also had the reserve champions in the under 35kg class.
While entries in the show were restricted due to continuing Bluetongue movement regulations, the fixture again did a great deal to highlight the growing stature of the Beltex breed, notably as quality butchers’ lambs when crossed with other popular breeds.
Many of the entries at the National Progeny Show can be expected to appear in the Beltex Sheep Society’s eighth annual production show and sale of pedigree rams and females at Skipton Auction Mart, on Saturday, September 13. The fixture is again open to all society members, with a 200-plus entry anticipated. There are cash prizes of £100 for the champion and £50 for the reserve. Entries close on August 15.
Results – pedigree classes: Beltex aged ram – 1 & reserve male champion RG Findlay, Westerdale, Whitby, 2 DR & DC Findlay, Coverham. Shearling ram – 1 AC & SA Hutchinson, Kirby Wiske, Thirsk, 2 RG Findlay. Ram lambs – 1 and male champion AC & SA Hutchinson, 2 Sir Ken Morrison, Myton-on-Swale, York, 3 AC & SA Hutchinson.
Ewe - 1 & female & supreme champion DR & DC Findlay, 2 RG Findlay. Gimmer shearlings – 1 DR & DC Findlay, 2 RG Findlay, 3 Sir KD Morrison. Gimmer lambs – 1 and reserve show champion AC & SA Hutchinson, 2 DR & DC Findlay, 3 AC & SA Hutchinson. 3 shearling rams by same sire – 1 RG Findlay. 3 ram lambs by same sire – 1 RG Findlay.
Butchers’ lambs: Under 35kg – 1 AM & HV Brown, Newton-le-Willows, Bedale, 2 AC & SA Hutchinson. 35 to 40kg – 1 & 2 AM & HV Brown, 3 RG Findlay. 40 to 44kg – 1 AM & HV Brown, 2 AC & SA Hutchinson. Over 45kg – 1 AC & SA Hutchinson. Under 40kg – 1 AM & HV Brown, 2 DR & DC Findlay, 3 AC & SA Hutchinson. Over 40kg – 1 AM & HV Brown , 2 AC & SA Hutchinson.
The championship contenders at the Beltex National Progeny Show.
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