IT was another good year for Frances Barbour when she secured her third overall championship in the Berrichon ring, which saw an increased entry of around 50%, winning this time with a three-crop ewe.

Named Newark Nike, she was on her first outing and is by Rakefoot Jacobite, a tup bought at Carlisle back in 2010 which was grand-sire of the leading tup lambs, while the mother was also behind the second prize tup lamb.

Frances, who runs 40 ewes at Newark, Sanquhar, Dumfries, and was aided by her daughter-in-law, Lynn, also lifted the reserve male title with one of the aforementioned tup lambs. This one is a son of Rakefoot Nijinsky, another Carlisle purchase that has been a consistent breeder, while the lamb’s maternal line is rather impressive, as his grand-dam was champion here in 2012 and virtually unbeaten.

In reserve overall was the male leader, a shearling from the Holtom family, Park Farm Cottage, Cornets End Lane, Meriden, that was bought at Carlisle as a lamb from the Windrush flock in partnership with R and J Bett. He is by Windrush One in a Million.

Standing reserve female was a home-bred gimmer from Robert and Jean Graham, Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, which was brought out by shepherd Alastair Wyllie. Sired by the 2000gns Rakefoot Million Dollar Man bought as a lamb and out of a bought-in ewe, this was her first outing for the small flock of just nine breeding females.

LEADING awards:

Judge: J Yeo, Incledon, Georgeham, Braunton, Devon.

Supreme – Mrs F Barbour’s ewe; reserve – L Holtom’s tup. 

Male – L Holtom’s tup; reserve – Mrs F Barbour’s tup lamb.

Female – Mrs F Barbour’s ewe; reserve – R and J Graham’s gimmer.

Bred – Mrs F Barbour’s ewe.

Ram – 1, L Holtom; 2, ID Johnston; 3, L Holtom.

Ram lamb – Mrs F Barbour; 2, Mrs F Barbour; 3, R and J Graham.

Ewe – 1, Mrs F Barbour; 2, E Burgess; 3, R and J Graham.

Gimmer – 1, R and J Graham; 2, ID Johnston; 3, ID Johnstone.

Ewe lamb – 1, ID Johnston; 2, Mrs F Barbour; 3, ID Johnstone.