At the Garstang Agricultural Show in Lancashire, the Wensleydale breed took champion honors among lowland sheep, showcasing their lustrous fleeces and corkscrew curls. The event, first held in 1813, saw a judge's shepherd's crook snap due to woodworm, but the day proceeded smoothly with gaffer tape repairs.
Judging the Breeds
The judge, dressed in tweed and a fedora, spent the week learning desirable traits and faults for upland breeds like Clun Forest, Derbyshire Gritstone, and Welsh Badger Face, as well as lowland breeds including Border Leicester, Coloured Ryeland, and Wensleydale.
Key criteria included mouth quality, physical condition, and fleece quality. The judge noted that some breeds require specific ear markings, such as the Herdwick's lack of large spots, while others may have black inside or outside the ears.
Champions and Reserves
In the upland breeds, a Welsh Torduu ewe bred by Andrew Clark was champion, with a Clun Forest tup as reserve. For lowland breeds, the Wensleydale ewe bred by Andrew Tattersall took champion, with a Border Leicester as reserve.
Wool's Decline
Despite the trophies, the judge asked a breeder why more people don't keep Wensleydales. The breeder explained, "It's because they are all about the wool." As fewer garments are made from wool, most sheep are now bred for meat, moving away from wool-focused breeds. Nevertheless, the Wensleydales enjoyed their day in the sun.
