Teesdale area farmers celebrate success at Yorkshire Show

TEESDALE shepherds enjoyed success at the Great Yorkshire Show taking several of the top championship titles, including the champion Swaledale title.

Anna Pennell with her Teeswater ewe Tayla 

Tom and Kay Hutchinson, of Forest-in-Teesdale, followed on from last year’s success by winning the Swaledale championship with their home-bred ewe. The ewe was produced by their own tup, Kingshaugh Yan, and a ewe brought from Long Green.
But the Hutchinsons had to settle for reserve champion in the interbreed hill championship, a title which they won last year. Nevertheless, the family is happy with the outcome.
Ms Hutchinson said: “All three sheep came home with prizes so you can’t complain.”
Their ewe came through the ranks, initially winning the category for a ewe of any age which is rearing a lamb in the current year.
A significant win for the area came in the form of a local breed which took the supreme champion title in the “wool on the hoof” category.
Anna Pennell, of Todd Hall, Farm, Redworth, claimed the title with her Teeswater ewe Nipna Tayla. The ewe took the same title in the Royal Norfork Show this year.
Ms Pennell said: “It was brilliant.
“We have had a few reserves in the past but this is the best we have done.
“It is a lot of work to get her fleece like that, so we were really happy.”
The shepherdess spent about 15 hours preparing Nipna Tayla for the show.
The Pennell family have been breeding the rare Teeswater and Wensleydale longwool breeds for about eight years, having moved to the area from Lincolnshire.
Although a native breed, only about five farms in Teesdale breed Teeswater sheep. The Teeswater is bred exclusively for its wool.
Ms Pennell, who is secretary for the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders’ Association, also had some success with her dales ponies, taking a third position in the ridden category with her horse Nipna Heather.
About 30 dales ponies competed in the category.
Romaldkirk farmer Henry Jewitt had considerable success with his Beltex sheep taking a third position with his ewe lamb, a second position in the group of three category as well as the reserve champion title.
In the produce section, Teesdale Cheesemakers' Jonathan and Alison Raper claimed a bronze award for their goat’s cheese.
Meanwhile, the Eccles family of Middleton-in-Teesdale were celebrating after Westwick Heather took reserve champion in the dales ponies section.