Torrential rain fell throughout most of the judging of the Bluefaced Leicester progeny show judging at Penrith leading to a difficult day for the judges, stewards and the exhibitors, who carried on regardless.
In the traditional section, judge, Tudor Harris of the Bonvilston flock, found his champion in a gimmer by the L1 Ashes from Alan McClymont's Kirkstead flock from Yarrow. Reserve female champion at the Highland show she also made up part of champion winning progeny group too with three gimmers by the Ashes tup, which as a team also took the reserve in the same competition last year.
The reserve came from the Piel View flock of Scott and Clare Thomason, with a team from Walney Island. Their ewe lamb by the 15,000gns R1 Hope which they bought out of Builth Wells last year took the reserve, with all six lambs on show from the flock sired by him, which went on to win their classes in the progeny sections. The ewe lambs won the runner up trophy in the progeny groups too.
In the crossing section, judged by Bob Hargreaves of the Barley, the Porter family's Riddings flock topped the tree with a ewe lamb by the N2 Skeughdale. She is out of a Hewgill-bred ewe by the L7 Riddings.
The reserve champion came from the Thornborrow family's Dawyck flock, making their debut at the show, with a shearling ram bought at Carlisle last autumn from Steel. He is by the Bruno tup that Steel retained.
The Pedley's Yore House flock enjoyed a good day, taking three prizes out of four in the tup lamb class, with Neil and Mary Marston, Highberries, securing a second place to split them up a bit.
Richard Pedley judged the Mules and found his champion winners in three ewe lambs from Martyn Archer, Carry House. They are out of Hexham Blackface ewes and sired by the £25,000 Midlock Magic, bought with the Steel flock at Hawes last year. He is by the P2 Riddings and goes back to the mother of the G34 Midlock. He has bred well, with one of the trio of lambs by him standing first at the Highland and another by him, from Steel, taking second in the same class.
Martin Allan was the runner up in the Mule progeny section with three ewe lambs out of Swaledale ewes. They are by the £10,000 Harkerside bought at Hawes last year.
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