An Anniversary National Show to commemorate 125 years of the Border Leicester Sheep Society at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, proved a huge hit with exhibitors, spectators and organisers.

The show saw a gimmer from Tom Tennant and family’s 25-ewe Westforth flock, from Selkirk, take the supreme, with a one-crop ewe from Duncan Whyte’s Mearns flock, Glasgow, land the reserve honours.

“It was the biggest show of Border Leicester sheep for generations and there was strong quality throughout all classes. There were a lot of good sheep that didn’t win a prize, purely because of the big entry,” said breed president, Pete Brown.

“We are delighted at how the show went. It was a great celebration of 125 years of the breed, seeing exhibitors competing and having fun again.

“We are aiming to build the society back up to where is was in its hey day. Ten years ago, membership was down at 134, but they're already back up at 220 and increasing all the time. Breeders are trying to take the Borders back to the top of the crossing sires where they should be,” added Mr Brown.

Overall champion was a home-bred gimmer from Tom Tennant and family. A daughter of Alticane Thistlecrack, she is out of an Eildon Last Chance sired-dam, which is also the dam of Westforth Barbadian – a real influencer in the breed.

This ewe from Duncan Whyte stood reserve supreme Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2021

This ewe from Duncan Whyte stood reserve supreme Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2021

The blue and white ticket was presented to the reserve female, a one-crop ewe from Duncan Whyte’s Mearns flock. She stood third in her class at the Royal Highland Showcase and is by Clola Double Deal, out of a home-bred ewe by Fordafourie Festival.

Supreme male was the shearling ram, Mearns Majesty, jointly owned by Pete and Nicky Brown, Bonniebraes, and Tom Tennant.

Leading the males was this shearling ram jointly owned by Pete Brown and Tom Tennant Stuart Walker Photography 2021

Leading the males was this shearling ram jointly owned by Pete Brown and Tom Tennant Stuart Walker Photography 2021

Male champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show and a second prize winner at the Royal Highland Showcase, he was bought last year at Lanark for £2000 from Duncan Whyte. His breeding includes Muirmouth Morelos, onto a Mearns ewe by Clola Double Deal.

The Tennants also landed the reserve male honours with the second prize shearling ram which was bred by John Hamilton, Silvermuir, and sired by Alticane Thistlecrack. He is out of a Kilphin sired-dam, and is destined for the Kelso Ram Sales, next month

First prize ram lamb was the best from Matt Steel’s Ditton 15-ewe flock. He is by Ditton Whambam and out of a Lammermuir Jake sired-ewe.

John Barrowman’s Knockglass flock, from Stranraer, won both the aged ram and ewe lamb classes before securing the pairs and group of three.

The aged ram, Drennans Class Act – a two-shear son of Didcot Duster, out of a Kilphin sired-dam – stood second at the Royal Highland Showcase this year. A daughter of his was first in the ewe lambs having taken the same award at the Royal Highland Showcase. The pairs was won by a duo of ewe lambs by Drennans Class Act and Knockglass Golden Eye.

From the groups, it was a family outing for the first prize aged ram and his two daughters, a ewe lamb and gimmer, from Mr Barrowman.

Youngsters showed their enthusiasm too with strong young handlers classes as well as stockmanship programmes happening throughout the day. Champion young handler was Robbie Aiken, with Blair Mill winning reserve.

LEADING awards:

Aged ram – 1, John Barrowman (Knockglass); 2, S and A Watson (Intockhouse); 3, Stephanie Wilson (Pasturefields).

Shearling ram – 1, PM and NJ Brown (Bonniebraes); 2, Tom Tennant (Westforth); 3, S and A Watson (Intockhouse).

Ram lamb – 1, M and A Steel and Sons (Ditton); 2, Neil Howie (Lyham); 3, Mary Laidlaw (Drennan).

Ewe – 1, Duncan Whyte (Mearns); 2, Katie Buchanan (Diamond); 3, Mary Laidlaw (Drennan).

Gimmer – 1, Tom Tennant (Westforth); 2, John Barrowman (Knockglass); 3, Duncan Whyte (Mearns).

Ewe lamb – 1, John Barrowman ( Knockglass); 2, Tom Tennant (Westforth); 3, Ian Walker (Alticane).

Pairs – 1, John Barrowman (Knockglass); 2, S and A Watson (Intockhouse); 3, Katie Buchanan (Diamond).

Group of three – 1, John Barrowman (Knockglass); 2, Robbie Aiken (Springview); 3, Tom Tennant (Westforth).

Wool on the hoof – 1, Mary Laidlaw (Drennan); 2, Tom Tennant (Westforth); 3, Allan Grant (Benroy)

Young handlers up to 12 years old – 1, Blair Mill; 2, Sandy Watson. 13-16 years old – 1, Murray Ker; 2, Robbie Aiken; 3, Katie Aiken; 4, Euan Mill; 5, Gordon Grierson. Young handlers stockmanship throughout the day – 1, Robbie Aiken; 2, Euan Mill; 3, Katie Aiken; 4, Murray Ker; 5, Elliot Stockwell.