Determination to beat weather pays off
Last updated 05:43, Friday, 22 August 2008
FOR the second week in a row 19-year-old Amanda Williams trounced the competition to win an interbreed sheep championship.
She took the trophy at Skelton Show on Saturday after winning the same competition at Dalston the week before with a Texel ewe from her grandfather’s farm near Bothel.
Amanda said: “I was more stressed because I had a title to defend. I’m really, really pleased, I didn’t think I’d get the Skelton title and it feels even better than the first.”
There was a poultry competition for the first time at the show but not all the hens were of the feathered variety.
Bride-to-be Louise Lilburn was joined by friends dressed as builders for her pre-wedding celebrations. The civil engineer from Northern Ireland will marry Carlisle man Richard Graham, one of the show judges, in two weeks.
A welcome respite from the rain drew thousands of people to the show, which was cancelled last year because of foot and mouth. The committee decided on Wednesday to go ahead without horses because the ground was so wet, but there was plenty of other entertainment.
The overall dairy champion was a homebred Holstein from Mark and Diane Wilson’s herd at Ormside Lodge. The champion of the field was a Simmental bull from Alan Tallentire, of Great Asby. The beast was also named best exhibit, a prize given for the first time.
Deputy show director John Slee said the show’s success was down to precision planning by the committee and some luck from the weather.
He added: “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster over the last week and stressful. But we were determined to go ahead after cancelling last year and that decision has been vindicated.”
His late father Ernie, who was a show stalwart, was honoured when a plaque was unveiled on a tree planted in his memory.
Susan Pollock from Ivegill won most points in the industrial tent after entering 24 categories, while six-year-old Alice Cardwell from Unthank won most points for the under eights. Her edible monster was named best exhibit.
Poultry classes were present for the first time and secretary Richard Dickinson said he was pleased with more than 20 entries.
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