High Force spring title goes to Harwood gimmer hogg

THE first Teesdale sheep show of the season attracted top breeders to High Force at the weekend.
The Middleton-in-Teesdale Spring Show of Swaledale sheep was held at the High Force Hotel on Saturday, May 20.
Michael Watson’s gimmer hogg, from Stoney Hill, at Harwood, took the honours as supreme champion. Shown by his daughter Rachel, the gimmer hogg was also district champion and best female sheep in the show.
The runner up was an aged ram bred by S Bentley and DJ Mallon. The ram, which was shown by David Mallon, of Pallet Crag Farm, in Eggleston, also won reserve district champion and best male sheep in the show.
Show chairman Morris Scott said: “It has been a very good show. There has been a lot of good sheep about.
“Entries were up at little bit from last year and it was mainly locals showing which is a big thing. The judges did an exceptional job.
“I would like to thank Lord Barnard for coming and presenting the prizes and I would like to thank the show secretary Hannah Hunter for doing as much as she does.”

Results
Open classes
Aged ram: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Shearling ram: 1, J Nattrass; 2, C Alderson. Tup hogg (large breeders): 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, R Walton; 4, J Nattrass; 5, R Walton. Tup hogg (small breeders) 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, C Colling. Ewe shown in milk: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, J Nattrass; 4, JR Walton & Son. Gimmer shearling shown in milk: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, JR Walton & Son. Gimmer hogg (large breeder): 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, J Nattrass; 4, R Walton; 5, R Walton. Gimmer hogg (small breeder): 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, C Alderson. Tupp or gimmer lamb (2017 born): 1, J Nattrass; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, TW Hutchinson; 4, M Iceton; 5, M Iceton. Young handlers class (<16 on show day): 1, J Hutchinson; 2, M Iceton; 3, J Scott; 4, H Hutchinson; 5, J Mallon.
Special classes
Two tupp hogs owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, S Bentley and DJ Mallon; 3, M Watson. Ewe or gimmer shearling shown in milk (small breeder): 1, M Iceton; 2, M Iceton. Tupp hogg and gimmer hogg: 1, M Watson; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, J Nattrass. Aged tup or shearling tup and hogg: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, J Nattrass. Ewe gimmer shearling and gimmer hogg: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, JR Walton & Son. Tup hogg not in hands of breeder: 1, J Hutchinson; 2, T Nattrass. Tup hogg not previously shown: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, J Nattrass. Gimmer hogg not previously shown: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, J Nattrass; 4, M Iceton. Special prize for the best male and female (shown as a pair): 1, M Watson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, JR Walton & Son, 4, J Nattrass.
Two gimmer hogs owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, M Watson; 3, JR Walton & Son; 4, M Iceton. Three best sheep owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, M Watson; 3, S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Special prize given by JN Pinkney for the best sheep shown by customers: 1, TW Hutchinson. Tup hogg owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, M Watson; 4, R Walton. Challenge cup for best sheep owned and bred in ‘A’ District: 1, M Watson; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Perpetual challenge cup for best sheep owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, M Watson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, F Allinson & Son; 4, JR Walton & Son. Best sheep shown by a small breeder: 1, C Colling; 2, M Iceton; 3, C Alderson. Best sheep not to have won a prize: 1, M Iceton; 2, R Walton.
District classes:
Tupp hogg: 1, M Watson; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, JR Walton & Son. Ewe or gimmer shearling: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, TW Hutchinson. Gimmer hogg: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, M Watson; 4, TW Hutchinson. Pair of females owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, TW Hutchinson. Best gimmer hogg in show: M Watson. Best tupp hogg in show: TW Hutchinson. District champion: M Watson. Reserve District Champion: S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Championship for best female sheep: Champion: M Watson. Reserve champion: F Allinson & Son. Championship for best male sheep: Champion: S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Reserve champion: TW Hutchinson. Supreme Champion: M Watson. Reserve Supreme Champion: S Bentley & DJ Mallon.