IT was a triumphant start to the winter prime lamb show season for Beltex-bred lambs when a pair from the Hall family at Inglewood Edge claimed the Supreme Championship honours at the Borderway Agri Expo

Not only was there a large entry in the two Beltex-sired classes, but many of the top lambs in the non-breed specific classes were also by Beltex rams.

Taking the top ticket was the winning pair from the 11-strong heavyweight Beltex class which had previously won the Continental Championship for John Hall, shown by daughter Joanne and stockman Johnny Aiken. Sired by the Faughhill El Capitan ET ram bought at Lanark last year, they are out of three-quarter Beltex ewes and secured the Hall family their fourth Championship at the AgriExpo.

Judge, Stuart Wood, who runs the Woodies pedigree flock in Aberdeenshire, commented: “It was a tremendous show of lambs and the quality of Beltex lambs throughout was outstanding. The Champions were a proper pair with a real good loin, great gigot and width throughout.”

The Halls also landed the Reserve Supreme honours with a duo also featuring Beltex breeding on their dam’s side.

After a year away over 11,000 visitors and competitors flocked to the largest autumn livestock showcase hosted by Harrison & Hetherington at their Borderway Mart in Carlisle.

And Cumbrian breeders took their share of the prizes at the 2021 Borderway Agri Expo.

Harryman & Warriner’s Limousin x heifer ‘Miss Dynamite’ scooped the Supreme Championship in the Cattle section with Reserve going to D. Small’s and B. Wilkinson’s ‘Atomic Blonde’, a Limousin x heifer.

Judge James Crichton, said: “Miss Dynamite was the perfect weight and the perfect butcher’s animal. Totally in proportion, level right through to the top and with well-balanced legs.

“Today the cattle have been outstanding. In recent times there have not been many shows and such a huge effort has been put in by every exhibitor, and all the animals have handled very well.”

With 54 classes for commercial and pedigree cattle and sheep, five breed society shows; The Aberdeen Angus Winter National Show; The Beef Shorthorn National Calf Show; The Simmental Regional Calf Show; The Border British Blue Club Calf Show; and The Hereford National Calf Show and three young handlers’ classes, this year’s Borderway Agri Expo really was bigger and better than ever before.

Another Cumbrian win went to Mungrisdale young farmer, Grace Elliot, who stole the sheep classes championship.

Speaking afterwards, Richard Rankin, Chief Executive of the H&H Group said: “Our aim has always been to put on an event that represents the livestock industry as a whole and following last year’s disappointing cancellation, this year has proved that Borderway Agri Expo does just that. Bringing together all sectors of the industry, it has been a spectacular showcase celebrating everything that the agricultural sector is good at”.

Lloyds Bank Farming Ambassador and Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson, chaired a Young Farmer’s Special seminar, all about maximising opportunities for new entrants and young farmers. Speakers included Shepherdess, Emma Gray and husband Ewan Irvine, Tom Vickers of Northern Native Produce and Jonathan Hird, Chartered Surveyor for H&H Land & Estates.

Another new addition to this year’s programme was The David Allen Stockperson of the Year Award which saw 25 pairs of young farmers challenged across four areas of livestock farming: stock-judging, EBVs, carbon and stock value. First prize went to Chris and Sophie Mitchell from Walton YFC; second Jack Robb and Josh Geary from Woburn ; and third Taylor Charlton and Henry Crocker from Skelton.