A strong MV accredited sheep section saw no fewer than 15 animals out for the inter-breed competition, which saw the Charollais champion land the silverware for the supreme overall.

Taking top spot was Michael and Melanie Alford’s home-bred shearling ram, Foxhill Vermin, all the way from Cullompton, Devon.

The couple, who run just 12 Charollais ewes were exhibiting sheep at the Yorkshire Show for the first time with new stockman/shepherd, Will Price at the helm. They have however triumphed on several occasions here with their pedigree Limousins.

The tup, a son of the 16,000gns Scottish-bred Loanhead Triathlon, is out of a home-bred ewe.

“He is a real stand out sheep with a great carcase and mobility – a tremendous animal and an outstanding example of the breed,” said inter-breed judge, Paul Tippetts, Shifnal.

Settling for reserve was the Texel best, a big shearling ram from Antony Carter, also from Devon, who established his 30-ewe flock in 1991.

His winner, by Usk Vale Corker, is out of a Rhaeadr Best of the Best sired-dam.

In the MV accredited inter-breed pairs competition, Mr Tippetts tapped out a Dutch Spotted duo as his choice of supreme. This comprised the champion and reserve from Graham Jackson, Lancaster and Ali Jackson, Annan, respectively.

Graham’s home-bred shearling is by Mount Pleasant Corker and out of a home-bred ewe, and paired up with Ali’s home-bred gimmer, which is by Tiptop Charlie and out of an imported ewe.

Mr Tippetts commented: “For me they were the best pair being well balanced and matching. They just showed more power throughout.

Henry Jewitt’s Badgerfaced Texel duo from Barnard Castle, were presented the blue and white sash in the inter-breed pairs.

Any other continental/native breed

It was a triple victory for Henry Jewitt’s 30-ewe Badgerfaced Texel flock from Barnard Castle when it secured the champion and reserve honours in the any other breed section, with the duo also taking the reserve inter-breed pairs.

Leading the way here was a home-bred ewe lamb backed by imported Sunnybank genetics on both sides.

Mr Jewitt’s tup lamb, by the same sire, but out of another imported ewe that was national champion in Holland, landed the reserve.

Beltex

Ali Jackson from Annan had a field day on the first day at the Great Yorkshire, bagging various champion and reserve tickets in the MV accredited sheep section, to include the Beltex championship with a ram lamb.

His lamb was purchased in January at a J36 sale from David and Karen Shuttleworth, and is by Kingledores Endeavour and out of a Heber Park dam.

The reserve was a three-year-old ewe from Aled Groucott from Crumlin, Gwent. She is by the 60,000gns Topflight Al Pacino, and out of a home-bred ewe.

Bleu Du Maine

One of the UK’s largest Blue Du Maine flocks which has been going strong for 29 years, secured the championship for Jonathan and Sue Skinner, Wymondham, Norfolk.

Their two-shear Ernford ewe is a daughter of Rumwell Percile and out of a home-bred ewe.

Scottish breeder and first time exhibitor, Andrew Wylie from Angus, secured the blue and white sash with his shearling ram, Balbrydie Tyeson. He is a son of Perdi Rockstar and out of Maunby Ousel.

Blue Texels

Stephanie Dick is already well known for breeding beef cattle and she’s made a name for herself amongst the Blue Texels too, after scooping the championship for her first time exhibiting sheep.

Her ewe lamb from Mains of Throsk, Stirling, is a daughter of Sunnybank Escobar and out of Derg Dior.

Kevin Watret and Ali Jackson from Annan were again in the line-up, winning the reserve honours with a ram lamb by Hackney Your Joking, bred from the £4500 Cleenagh Disney Queen.

Border Leicester

Young Dan Grinnall (16) secured the breed championship for his first time exhibiting at Harrogate, with a four-shear ewe from his small flock from Kidderminster, Worcs.

She is sired by Manifold New Design and out of a Jameson-bred ewe.

Lanarkshire’s Jennifer Brown bagged the blue and white ribbons with a gimmer from her 25-ewe flock. A daughter of Muirmouth Northern Dancer, bred from a ewe by Alticane Abracadabra, she is bound for next month’s 125th National Border Leicester Show, at Carlisle.

British Berrichon

Yarburgh Big Ben was awarded the championship among the British Berrichon for Jade Bett from Louth, Lincolnshire.

This shearling ram on his first outing, is by Windrush Protector and out of a Snowdonia ewe.

Following on behind and lifting the reserve was the ewe lamb, Windrush Wildcat from Windrush Farming Partners, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. She is a daughter of Headlands One In A Million and out of Snowdonia Petra.

British Charollais

Michael and Melanie Alford from Cullompton, Devon, secured the red, white and blue ribbons among the Charollais, with their shearling ram, Foxhill Vermin, which later went on to land the inter-breed MV honours.

Brought out by stockman, Will Price, this big tup is by the 16,000gns Loanhead Triathlon and out of a home-bred ewe.

Narrowly missing out on the top spot was a one-crop ewe from Stirlingshire breeders, Nicola Henderson and sons, Rowan (5) and Struan (3).

Their ewe was bought in privately as an ewe lamb from Logie Durno for Struan’s first birthday, being a daughter of Cannahars Super Star, out of a Logie Durno ewe.

British Rouge

The Alfords also secured the top spot among Rouge with the bought in gimmer, Knighton Wench, bred by late Percy Tait.

Purchased at the flock dispersal last October at Carlisle, she is by Raindale Universe and bred from Knighton Sugar Tits, which was part of the inter-breed pairs at the Royal Highland Show in 2019.

Knighton Wagamama, another purchased at the dispersal, this time by Ali Jackson, Annan, landed the runner-up ticket. This gimmer is by Tullyvallen Schumacher and out of a Knighton-bred dam.

Dorset Horn/ Poll Dorset

Richard and Sarah Fitton of the Dynamite flock from Bolton, Lancashire, swept the boards among Dorsets, landing the champion and reserve honours.

Supreme was a September-born ewe lamb that was purchased in Ireland in February for 1200gns from the Kilvaddy flock. She by Dornard Xman.

A shearling ram from the couple lifted the reserve. It was bought privately from Laura Weir of the Lisnafallin flock and is by Ballytaggart United.

Dutch Spotted

Graham Jackson, his partner Amy, and daughter Ellie, from Lancaster in North Yorkshire, went straight to the top amongst the Dutch Spotted, winning with a home-bred shearling ram.

He is by Mount Pleasant Corker and out of a home-bred ewe.

Scottish breeder, Ali Jackson was again in the tickets, after winning the breed title and inter-breed honours here in 2019, lifting the reserve honours with a home-bred gimmer by Tiptop Charlie, out of an imported ewe.

Hampshire Down

A ewe lamb from Steven Short, Halifax, West Yorkshire, took centre stage as champion in the Hampshire Down classes.

She is a daughter of Chaddlehanger King Eric and out of a home-bred dam.

Father and son duo, Adrian and Richard Rundle, Newquay, made their trip from Cornwall worthwhile when they bagged the blue and white ribbons.

Their January-born ram lamb is by Treworthal Firestorm and out of Ballycreely Seamus.

Lleyn

Brothers, Ian and Tom Walling, Over Whitlaw, Selkirk, did the double among the Lleyns landing both the champion and reserve tickets.

The top spot was awarded to the three-crop ewe by a John Blakey ram which was purchased at Carlisle for 3200gns and out of a home-bred ewe. Her sole other outing was at the Royal Highland Show in 2018 where she stood reserve champion as a gimmer.

The duo who run 900 Lleyn ewes, picked up the reserve with their second prize gimmer, by a Linda Jenkinson tup. She will be forward for sale at the breed sale at Carlisle in September.

Suffolk

Dumfries-shire breeders, Roy and Sharon Hiddleston, daughter Annabelle and son Gregor, added another championship to their Harrogate list after landing the top spot with a shearling ram.

Their tup, Kinbally Crash Ball, from the Irongray flock, stood first in his class at the Royal Highland Showcase event and is sired by Mullaghboy Goliath and out of a Kinbally ewe.

Three times previous winner, Pamela Lupton, Ripon, had to settle with reserve with a gimmer daughter of Limestone Limousine bred from a home-bred ewe.

Texel

It was all smiles for Antony Carter from Devon, on day one of the show, when he was awarded the breed championship, with a shearling ram.

He is by Usk Vale Corker and out of a Rhaeadr Best of the Best sired-dam.

New breeder, Craig Douglas, Penrith, started on a high when he landed the reserve title in his first year breeding. His winner, a gimmer that stood third at the Showcase, is by Deveronvale After Shock and out of a Knock Yardsman daughter.

Zwartbles

Dumfries-shire based Neil Millar and his mother Joyce, did the the double amongst the Zwartbles, winning the breed title for their first time exhibiting at Harrogate, with the same female that stood champion at the Showcase.

Show stopper here was Joyfield Havanna, one of 20 breeding females in the flock from Kirkpatrick Fleming. She is the result of a flush from a Cynefin ewe lamb bought at Carlisle, that has since bred gimmers to 2000gns and 1800gns twice, and sired by the privately purchased, Millburn Sam.

Near neighbour, John Thorburn, Annan, lift the runner-up ticket with his two-shear ewe, Holmlea Good Golly. A daughter of Holmlea Elzar, out of a home-bred ewe, she is one of 70 in the Holmlea flock.