Border Leicester Society celebrates 125 years

The Border Leicester Sheep Society is set to mark 125 years of this versatile breed, by hosting an innovative National Show at Harrison and Hetherington Market in Carlisle, on Saturday the 7th of August, starting at 12 noon.
President of the Border Leicester Sheep Society, Pete Brown said: “Holding a National Show gives us the opportunity to get together and learn more about individual flocks, whilst also reflecting on the history of the society and celebrating those who have made big strides developing their breeding and genetics.”
A panel of progressive judges include representatives from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, with the male classes and championship being judged by Isobel Duncan from Aberdeenshire, alongside Coote Geelan from Co Leitrim in Eire.
Representing England and judging the female classes and championship will be Gill Watkins from Hereforshire who is joined by Olwyn Hughes Owen, from Anglesey, representing Wales.
Sister act, Jan Howell and Carol Evans will be placing the group class, whilst the young handlers will be in the hands of Anna Johnson, whose late father Dr Jack Brown, founded the Bonniebraes flock in 1965.
The overall supreme championship will be decided by John Evans of Halton, owner of the oldest flock in Wales, along with former society president, Clark Stewart of Kininmonth.
The event will conclude with a celebratory awards dinner in the evening, which will be held in the Harrison and Hetherington Market Auctioneer Restaurant at 7:30pm, with the championship trophy being presented along with a cheque of £500 to the overall champion. A raffle will also be drawn, with the winner having the pick from two Border Leicester gimmers, which have been independently valued at £2000 each.
Classes are open to all members of the Society, and facilities will be in place to allow both MV accredited and Non MV accredited sheep compete for the "Greenlands Insurance" championship trophy.