WITH Glendale Show set in the shadows of the Cheviot hills and playing host to the English National show of North Country Cheviot sheep, it was rather fitting that the champion of champions title was awarded to a Northie ewe. 

It was, in fact, a ewe from north of the Border that landed the top title when the one-crop park-type leader by Wandylaw Scrumpy Jack from father and son team, Jimmy and Willie Thomson, of Hownam Grange, Kelso, was the pick of supreme judge, Michael Aynsley. 

"She's a fantastic sheep and has the X factor," said Mr Aynsley, a former farmer of North Country Cheviots himself at Wards Hill. "I was looking for something that shouted 'look at me', and I certainly found it with her."

Mr Aynsley said it was a close call between the sheep leader and his reserve for the champion of champions, a Limousin heifer from the Cormack family, Greenlaw, Duns. Their Homebyres Nindi, a 16-month-old Ampertaine Gigolo daughter presented by Fraser on behalf of wife Christine and their children, Cameron and Chloe, was bought privately just a few months previously to act as a founding member of their Triple C herd. 

The powerful Northie ewe, which stood champion at Border Union Show as a gimmer, had already caught the eye of the sheep inter-breed judge, Allan Wight jnr, Midlock, who awarded the reserve sheep honours to a Suffolk shearling ram from another father and son team, John and Ed Campbell, from Rosebrough, Chathill. Marking a successful 44th year showing at Glendale for John, their strapping lad is by Lands Las Vegas. 

Sticking with the sheep section and the English National Show of Cheviots was headed up by the Allen family, Alnwick, who won the hill section outright with a gimmer from their Stouphill flock and led the park types with their reserve section champion, a gimmer from their Humbleheugh flock.

The Scottish Farmer:

     The Cormacks' Homebyres Nindi, reserve champion of champions

With three cattle sections – commercial, pedigree native and pedigree continental – presented for judging by Tom Arnott, he found his overall reserve champion in the shape of a commercial cow and calf outfit from Fred Murray, East Horton, Wooler. This home-bred seven-year-old cow by a French Limousin bull had a July-born heifer calf at foot by Lodge Hamlet. 

LEADING awards:

MV accredited sheep
Suffolk
(Judge: J Park). Champion and reserve sheep inter-breed – J and E Campbell, Rosebrough, Chathill, Alnwick, with a home-bred shearling ram by Lands Las Vegas. On his first outing from John, who has been exhibiting at Glendale for 44 years, and son Ed, this lad is out of one of 60 pedigree ewes and is destined for Kelso Ram Sales. Reserve – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership, North Middleton House, Wooler, with a home-bred ram lamb. Shearling ram – J and E Campbell. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – Lilburn Esates Farming Partnership. 

The Scottish Farmer:

     John and Ed Campbell's Suffolk shearling, reserve inter-breed

Texel (Judge: J Park). Champion and reserve – I Murray, Shepherd's Cottage, Hetton Law, Lowick. Ian's champion was his inter-breed winner and champion of champion from Northumberland Show, a home-bred gimmer which is among the first crop of AI-bred Glenway progeny by the 6000gns Garngour Yeltsin, while her dam is by Brackenridge Underdog. In reserve for the 120-ewe flock was a ram lamb by Livery Predator, bred from a Teiglum Windfall daughter. He won his class at Northumberland and is the first Glenway lamb in the ring at Carlisle next week. Shearling ram, ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – I Murray. Ewe – JW Davison, Lough Green, Langley. 

Zwartbles (Judge: Miss F Brown). Champion – S Craig, Eildon Mains, Melrose, with his champion from Kelso Show, a gimmer by Glenfield Duke and out of the privately purchased Pen-Y-Ghent View Caitlan, one of 100 ewes in Stuart's flock. Reserve – Mrs C Anderson, Wallridge Cottage, Ingoe, with the privately purchased ram lamb, Wallacetown Fenton. This first prize winner from Allandale and Kelso shows, which stood reserve champion at the former and best opposite sex to the champion at the latter, is by Wallacetown Cairn and out of a Dutch import. Ram lamb, ewe – Mrs C Anderson. Gimmer, ewe lamb – S Craig.

Any other continental (Judge: R Rennie). Champion and reserve – N Howie, North Lyham, Chatton, Alnwick, with two Vendeen lambs. Neil's champion was his third prize ewe lamb from the Great Yorkshire which is backed by home breeding, being by Lyham Remi and out of a Lyham ewe. In reserve was a ram lamb that was fifth at the Yorkshire and this time by Lyham Oasis and out of a home-bred ewe. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – N Howie. 

Non-MV accredited sheep
Prime lambs
(Judge: R Hall). Champion – Miss F Mellor, The Granary, North Farm, Warenford, with a pair of Beltex-sired lambs. Reserve – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership, North Middleton House, Wooler. Continental-sired pair up to 42kg, native-sired pair 42kg and above – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership. Continental-sired pair 42kg and above – A Walton, South Broomford, Chathill. Beltex-sired pair up to 42kg, Beltex-sired pair 42kg and above – Miss F Mellor. 

Suffolk (Judge: T Cockburn). Champion – A Walton, South Broomford, Chathill, with a home-bred shearling ram that is set to be sold at Kelso Ram Sales. He is by a £4000 Skelfhill tup bought at Kelso and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – Wrangham Farms, Lowick, with a home-bred one-crop ewe on her show debut. She is full of home breeding. Shearling ram – A Walton. Ram lamb – D Mair, Kypie Farm, Mindrum. Ewe or gimmer – Wrangham Farms. Ewe lamb – J Herdman.

Texel (Judge: T Cockburn). Champion – JR Whitecross, Clarabad Mill, Paxton, with a home-bred shearling ram by a Ballochneck tup and out of a home-bred ewe. First in his class at Duns, he will be on offer at Hexham. Reserve – A Walton, South Broomford, Chathill, with a ewe lamb by a Kelso-bought Haymount tup and out of a home-bred ewe. This was her first outing. Shearling ram, gimmer – JR Whitecross. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – A Walton. 

Hill-type Cheviot (Judge: H Wilson). Champion and English National champion – WD Allen, Stouphill, Humbleheugh, Alnwick, with a gimmer by a home-bred tup that goes back to a Sorbietrees sire, while her mother was bred at home by Billy and Kate, daughter Ruth and son Dallas. She placed first in her class at the Allens' local show, Powburn, on her only other outing. Reserve – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso, with a ewe full of home breeding that was marking her best result in the show ring for father and son team, Jimmy and Willie. English National reserve – A Hutcheon, Hartside, Powburn, Alnwick, with a shearling ram by Hartside Hill Trouble, a home-bred tup Alan sold to Hethpool at Lockerbie last year for £1200. Out of a home-bred mother, he was first in his class at Border Union Show and will be for sale next year. Shearling ram – A Hutcheon. Ram lamb, ewe, aged ram – W and J Thomson. Gimmer – WD Allen. Ewe lamb – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Selkirk. 

The Scottish Farmer:

     The Allens' English National hill champion, a gimmer

Park-type Cheviot (Judge: M Williams). Champion, sheep inter-breed champion and champion of champions – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso, with a one-crop ewe that is proving to be the best yet by the £600 Wandylaw Scrumpy Jack that stood champion at the Great Yorkshire, while her mother is by Durran Peebles. This powerful ewe stood champion at the Scottish National at Kelso, last year, as well as first in her class at the Yorkshire earlier this year. Reserve, English National champion and English National reserve – WD Allen, Humbleheugh, Alnwick. Winning the English National title for the Allen family was gimmer by the 2016 Royal Highland Show inter-breed champion, the £4000 Synton Ringmaster, while her mother is by a Carruthers tup. She won her class at Border Union on her only other outing. Landing the reserve English National title was the family's pen leader for Lockerbie, a shearling ram by Philiphaugh Renaissance out of an Allanshaws Lopez-sired ewe. This was his first outing. Ram lamb, gimmer, shearling ram – WD Allen. Ewe, ewe lamb – W and J Thomson. 

Blackface (Judge: S McClymont). Champion and reserve – G Herdman, Edlingham Demesne, Alnwick. Taking the championship was a gimmer by a Mitchelhill sire out of a ewe by a Stewartshields tup. She was shown as a lamb. Reserve here was a shearling ram of the same breeding which was on his first outing and will be on offer at Lanark. Aged ram – N Mather, Haugh Head Farm, Wooler. Shearling ram, ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – G Herdman. 

Bluefaced Leicester – Traditional type (Judge: D Gray). Champion – K Gray, Wrangham Farm, Lowick, with a three-crop Shrewbridge ewe bought at Carlisle as a gimmer. Sired by a Longwynd tup and out of a Shrewbridge ewe, she won her class at Powburn. Reserve – M and N Gray, Low Espley, Morpeth, with their K10 Espley, a shearling ram by the £8500 F2 Ashes bred from a Red Cottage ewe. He was fourth at Peebles and is one of 19 heading to Kelso Ram Sales. Shearling ram, ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – M and N Gray. Ewe – K Gray. 

Bluefaced Leicester – Crossing type (Judge: S McClymont). Champion and reserve – J Herdman, Edlingham Newtown, Alnwick. Taking the top ticket was a March-born ewe lamb by the £3600 J1 Hotbank bought last year in partnership with Haprew, Newbigging Walls and Corsbie. Bred from a ewe by the H2 Carry House, she stood reserve champion at Border Union. In reserve was a previously unshown one-crop ewe by the same H2 Carry House while her mother is by the K1 Midlock. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – J Herdman.

Mule (Judge: R Hall). Champion – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership, North Middleton House, Wooler, with a ewe lamb that is the same way bred as the ewe lamb that stood champion of champions here in 2016. Her sire is an ET-bred Edlingham tup by the £19,000 C2 Midlock, while her dam is a Blackface cross Swaledale ewe. Reserve – J Elliot, Branton East Side, Branton, Alnwick, with a four-crop ewe by a Newbigging Walls sire and out of a home-bred Blackie ewe. She was inter-breed champion at a previous Alwinton Show. Ewe – J Elliot. Gimmer, ewe lamb – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership. 

Commercial sheep – Native sire (Judge: R Rennie). Champion – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership, North Middleton House, Wooler, with a ewe lamb by a home-bred Suffolk tup and out of a home-bred Mule ewe. Reserve – R Stott, Elilaw, Thropton, Morpeth, with a Half-bred gimmer. Gimmer – R Stott. Ewe lamb – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership. 

Commercial sheep – Continental sire (Judge: R Rennie). Champion – Wrangham Farms, Lowick, with a home-bred shearling ram by a Digga's Beltex sire and out of a three-quarter Beltex ewe. This was his first outing. Reserve – Miss F Mellor, The Granary, North Farm, Warenford, with a female. Shearling ram, ewe – Wrangham Farms. Gimmer, ewe lamb – Miss F Mellor. 

Black wool sheep (Judge: D Gray). Champion and reserve – JR Whitecross, Clarabad Mill, Paxton. Robin's champion was a two-crop ewe by a Texel tup and out of a ewe that goes back to a Zwartbles. She was placed here last year. In reserve was a twin sister to last year's champion, a gimmer by a Texel and out of a black ewe. Ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – JR Whitecross. 

Jacob (Judge: Mrs C Ormiston). Champion and reserve – A and J Fife, Coldrife Cottage, Chathill. Taking the championship for Andrew and Julie was a three-shear tup called Adamski Topic which was bought at St Boswells from Adam Christie as a shearling to work on their Coldrife flock. He has been shown successfully and won a number of championships. Reserve here was their champion from two years ago, a one-crop ewe by a Brockielaw sire. Ram, ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – A and J Fife. 

Rare/minority breeds (Judge: Mrs C Ormiston). Champion – Miss E Reeves, Cherry Tree Cottage, Haugh Head, Wooler, with a non-registered Hampshire Down shearling tup known as Sid. He was bought privately from Joe Henry and is used on commercial and pure ewes. Reserve – Miss C Holmes, Westfield, Tranwell, Morpeth, with a female. Ram – Miss E Reeves. Ram lamb – Mrs A Forsyth, Three Farms, Harle. Ewe/gimmer – Miss C Holmes. Ewe lamb – Mrs S Trimmings, Lightwater Cottage, Mitford, Morpeth. 

Sheep young handlers (Judge: A Wight jnr). Aged 12 and under – 1, Henry Mair; 2, Master Watson. 

Cattle (Judge: T Arnott). Champion and reserve champion of champions – Cormack family, Flourish Walls House, Greenlaw, Duns, with Homebyres Nindi, an April, 2017-born Ampertaine Gigolo daughter bought privately from John Logan by Fraser along with two others to found the Triple C herd of wife Christine and their children, Cameron and Chloe. She is bred out of Homebyres Indi, a Haltcliffe Eubank daughter, and was on her first outing since her purchase. Reserve – F Murray, East Horton, Wooler, with a commercial cow and calf outfit. The seven-year-old Limousin cross cow, which was shown here as a calf, is by a French Limousin sire while her July-born heifer calf is by Lodge Hamlet. Commercial – Cow with calf, home-bred commercial – F Murray. Calf, baby beef heifer – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership, North Middleton House, Wooler. Baby beef bullock – J Craggs and J McGregor. Bullock – J Craggs, Glower-Oer-Him, Sedgefield. Heifer – Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership, North Middleton House, Wooler. Pedigree continental – Bull under two years – J Logan, Humebyres, Kelso. Cow or heifer in milk – Miss L Corner, Rye Close farm, Aycliffe. Heifer born in 2015 – Messrs Morgan and Johnson, Beanley Carr Farm, Trimdon Village. Heifer born in 2016 or 2017 – Cormack family. Pedigree native – Bull under two years – JHC Campbell, Thrunton, Whittingham, Alnwick. Cow or heifer in milk, heifer born in 2015 – Miss L Taylor, Springhill Farm, Berwick upon Tweed. Heifer born in 2016 or 2017 – WD Allen, Stouphill, Humbleheugh, Alnwick.