A MASSIVE display of crooks and sticks was hailed as one of the best ever shows for quality, by veteran judge, Charlie Grant, who has been placing sticks for more than 40 years.

"It's one of the biggest and best shows for quality I've judged," said Mr Grant. "All the classes were strong with the plain wooden sticks being the hardest to judge as they were so good. The novice section was also very strong."

The event, which had more than 160 crooks forward, saw a one piece hazel stick from Philip Roskell, a sheep farmer from Tigh-Na-Bruich, Moffat, crowned supreme. Well known on the show circuit, this entry made four or five years ago, was champion at Lowther this year and two years ago secured the champion of champions accolade at Yetholm.

Unfortunately there is no award for the reserve, but the best novice, was Barry Frizell, from Wigton, Cumbria, who has only been making sticks since May of this year and has already picked up several novice championships. His winner this time was a wooden stick made from a hazel shank and an oak burr.