The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2015 - Issue 38 | Page 38

Sheep

Young Shepherds wanted
for NSA North Award
»»The National Sheep
Association says it will, once
again, be looking for the
best young shepherd or
shepherdess in the North, at its

biennial northern event, NSA
North Sheep 2015.
The NSA North Sheep Young
Shepherd of the Year Award,
sponsored by Askham Bryan
and Newton Rigg Colleges, will
be held at NSA North Sheep
2015, this year is to be held
at Millstone Moor Farm, near
Cockermouth, on 3 June.
Closing date for entries is
Monday 1 May and there will be
a maximum of 20 entries. The
successful 20 will be chosen
on the strength of their written
entry. The 1st Prize winner will
not only receive £300 prize
money and the Ali Johnson
Perpetual Trophy, but will go
on to represent NSA Northern
Region at the NSA Sheep 2016
finals at Malvern in July 2016.
There are also cash prizes

for runners up. 2013 winner of
Young Shepherd of the Year
competition was Josh Ryder of
Central House Farm, Haverah
Park, Harrogate (pictured).
The aim of the competition
is a test of key shepherding
skills in five areas, and is open
to young people who will be
aged up to 26 years on 27 July
2016. All entrants must live in
the NSA Northern region [the
traditional county areas of
Northumberland, Co Durham,
Cumbria, Lancashire, Isle of
Man, North & East Yorkshire],
must have a British Wool
Marketing Board Blue Seal
Certificate for shearing and
complete an application form.
Organiser Julie Sedgewick
says: “We remain acutely aware
that the biggest long-term

challenge which continues to
face the industry is encouraging
young people to become
involved. The competition
is designed to help equip
tomorrow’s sheep farmers with
the skills they need and give
recognition to the skills they
have acquired.”
The event will include
shearing and ready steady cook
competitions, farm tours, a busy
seminar programme, a trade
show and farmers’ market.
Full competition rules and an
entry form can be downloaded
at www.northsheep.org.uk or
for further information contact
Heather Stoney-Grayshon
at heathernorthsheep@
btinternet.com or on
07599 823105.

YOUNG FARMERS
ACHIEVE 350P/KG
Bentham Auction’s Annual Young Farmers Singles
Night again proved a tremendous success this year.
»»This year the
competition was judged by
Mr William Woodward of
Bowood Lamb, Thirsk, when 30
Prime Hoggs & vendors were
presented by an enthusiastic
bunch of young farmers.
In the Short Wooled Prime
Hogg class, Richard Lancaster
(14) of Clitheroe was chosen
from a very strong line up as
the winner, with his Beltex x
hogg weighing in at 50kgs,
which he had trimmed to a
very high standard by himself.
Richard went on to claim the
top price of the night of £175 or
350p/kg, selling to Ali Shan for
Yorkshire Halal Meat Supplier
Ltd.

38 Feb/Mar 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

A very proud Ellie Forster (6)
of Stainforth claimed victory in
the Long Wooled section, with
her 51kg Mule hogg achieving
£101 selling to Arthur Slack.
In the Best Presented Class,
Ellie Jackson (5) of Bentham,
for the second year running,

claimed the top spot and
scooped the Les Thackray
Perpetual Trophy. Her Black
Beltex 48kg Hogg, which the
judge praised highly, went on
to sell for £165 to MN Alam,
Lancashire Direct Halal Meat
Ltd.