ONE of the championship winners at last year’s Glendale Show will host this year’s stock judging competition for the show organiser.
The Glendale Agricultural Society (GAS) contest will be held at Fred and Ian Murray’s East Wrangham Farm, just north of Wooler, on Sunday, July 3.
Ian Murray, who won the Texel championship at last year’s show, will provide commercial and pedigree sheep and cattle classes for the event.
The cattle classes will be judged by Jim Ford, cattle procurement manager for AK Stoddart – Scotland’s leading beef processor – and the sheep will be judged by Chris Armstrong, auctioneer for Hexham and Northern Marts.
Ian said: “The Glendale Agricultural Society is totally committed to ensuring that rural skills are maintained and that stock judging is recognised as one of these skills.
“This is an excellent way to promote the livestock in the Glendale area so we hope to see a good attendance from both the experts and the novices. I know that as always it will be a fun, light-hearted and informative afternoon.”
His farm has more than 100 head of cattle and a herd of pedigree Texel sheep. All of the stock to be judged on the day is home-bred.
The classes will include Texel shearling tups, a class of Texel gimmers and a class of Texel ewes and lambs. There will be a store cattle class of Charolais heifers and two cow and calf classes – Limousin cows with Limousin calves and other of Limousin cows and Charolais calves.
As well as the open classes there will be a leading lady class, young farmer class and best junior class.
GAS is keen to retain stock judging as a skill and especially to encourage young people to get involved.
The event starts at 1pm for 1.30pm. Tickets are £2 for adults and children are free.