Robert Hutchinson’s Swaledale gimmer shearling by a £42,000 Patrick Sowerby tup was judged champion sheep on the field and he received the Novartis Animal Health Cup.
On a day when occasional showers sent visitors in search of cover, the sheep classes were keenly contested.
It was another gimmer shearling, shown by Annie Stones, from Marrick, in Swaledale, which took the Texel championship, while Jean Wilson, from Mattadale, retained the prize for top Herdwick she won last year, when the breed was introduced to the show.
It is 40 years since Mrs Wilson first won the championship at Appleby – a feat she hopes to repeat again next year.
Restrictions due to the worries about bovine TB meant the small field of cattle were housed outside this year.
The champion was a six-month-old British Blue cross heifer, from Wilkinson & Marwood, based in Leyburn.
In the equine classes, the champion Dales Pony was Hollingside Holly II, shown by Richard Walker, while there was success for Rainesmill Fell Ponies, of Cockfield, as Lunesdale Black Ice II took the title in that section.
However, the overall winner in the mountain and moorland classes was judged to be Raisbeck Calico, ridden by Annabel Dickinson.
George Atkinson’s trip across from Great Aspy, near Appleby, was well worth the effort as his 1968 Massey Ferguson 165 won best tractor on show. Mr Atkinson spent about a year restoring the vehicle.
One of the most popular – and hotly contested – competitions of the day was the dog section.
After much consideration, retired vet and author Neville Turner chose Welsh springer spaniel Benji, owned by Catriona Clarke as the champion.
Reserve was a collie called Tribe, shown by Kathryn Hutchinson, from Barnard Castle, and the best young handler was 13-year-old Sarah Hall, from Bowes Moor.
In the marquee, where this year, the prestigious Headlam Trophy was up for grabs for the best exhibit from a resident of Bowes and Gilmonby.
Ann Irving, from Bowes, impressed with her piece of calico work to take the cup.
Mrs Irving has spent the last year honing her calico skills at the Carlbeck Centre, Lunedale, where she attends a weekly craft class on a Wednesday afternoon.
“There are all different crafts on there, but when I saw calico, I thought it was totally gorgeous.
“Some of the others set me off, showing me how to do it,” she said.
Away from the competitions, there was much to keep visitors entertained, from a display of dog agility and Punch and Judy shows to the tug o’war team from the Turf Turners going through their paces.
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