Two historic sheep events have been held in North Cumbria — the Mungrisdale Swaledale sheep show and Keswick Herdwick ram fair.
The 93rd Mungrisdale Swaledale show took place on Wednesday, 21st May, when there was a good turnout for quality, although numbers were probably a little down. This was partly due to bluetongue zone regulations which made it difficult for farmers from North Yorkshire and Lancashire to exhibit as they have in the past.
However, breeders from the North Lakes area brought along the pick of their flocks, as did some from the Eden Valley, for what they regard as the opening to the sheep showing season.
The overall championship went to Luke Staley, of Poppin Cottage, Kaber, for his home-bred gimmer shearling, which was sired by a tup from Robert Tennant. This ram was reserve champion at Hawes in 2023, when it sold for £10,000. The champion’s mother was a ewe from Bail Hill.
The Staley family have been showing at Mungrisdale for a few years, but Luke said this was the first time they had taken the championship. Reserve champion honours went to Matthew Emmott, Wythop Hall, Cockermouth, for a shearling tup purchased at Kirkby Stephen. This sheep also took the local championship.
The reserve local champion was a gimmer hogg shown by Messrs Cockbain, Rakefoot Farm, Keswick. This home-bred gimmer was sired by Richard Harker tup.
The show chairman was John Rowland, while this year’s president was Rachel Buckle, who is about to step down as secretary of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders’ Association.
The following day saw Lakeland hill farmers gather for the Keswick Herdwick ram fair, which dates back to the 19th Century and over the years has attracted supporters including famous children’s author Beatrix Potter, who did much to maintain the fortunes of the area’s native sheep breed.
As usual, the fair was held at Keswick’s Townsfield, by permission of the parks trust, under the auspices of The Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association (HSBA). It was a lovely sunny day, ideal for showing the sheep and a number of interested visitors to the area dropped in to enjoy the event. Competition was keen, with some quality rams being put before the judges.
The trophies were presented by the HSBA president for 2025, Amanda Carson. One of those she gave out was the Edmondson Cup for the best registered shearling ram, given in 1928 by Penrith-based agricultural merchant Thomas Edmondson.
This was claimed by Anthony Hartley, of Turner Hall, Seathwaite, for a ram which was second in its class as a hogg at last year’s fair. It went on to win the overall championship for 2025.
Anthony said his champion was sired by a tup from George Harryman, from Hawkshead, out of a home-bred ewe. Providing it is still in good condition, he plans to show it at the Westmorland county show and Eskdale.
The reserve championship went to Leigh Whitaker for a two-shear tup bred by Johnny Bland, from Borrowdale.
