
A sheep breeding enthusiast from the Keswick area exhibited for the first time at this year’s Royal Highland Show — and came back to Cumbria with some top honours.
The show, held at Ingliston, Edinburgh, saw the supreme championship in the fiercely contested Hebridean sheep classes go to a ram shown by Larry Cowper, from Threlkeld.
The two-shear tup went on to be adjudged the best sheep of opposite sex to the overall champion from all 28 breed sections at what is Scotland’s leading agricultural event.
Larry said he was pleased to have won against some strong competition in the Hebridean section, which saw more than 20 sheep judged in most of the classes. His champion is called Newbridge Jet and was sired by a ram named Skipwith Viking out of a home-bred ewe.
It had been shown on two previous occasions, one being last year’s Westmorland county show, and won top honours at both.
Larry added: “I was quite delighted that the Hebridean breed was recognised when Jet was picked out as best opposite sex sheep to the interbreed champion. Usually those top awards go to commercial sheep, like a Beltex or Texel, not a native breed like the Hebridean.”
Other Cumbrian farmers who won top honours at the show included Thomas Brogden, of Helbeck, Brough.

Showing in the Swaledale sheep section for his parents Stan and Pat, Thomas was delighted to take the breed championship with a home-bred tup hogg.
It was sired by a ram called Roachburn Viceroy which Thomas bought two years ago at Kirkby Stephen mart for £2,500.
Thomas said the tup hogg was champion at this year’s Stainmore show and that it was pleasing to win at Ingliston against some good quality opposition. He has no firm plans for the sheep, but might keep him for use in his own flock.