Robleston Arnie, an easy winner at Great Yorkshire Show

The Charollais judge, Gregor Ingram from Aberdeen had no hesitation tapping out the senior stock tup Robleston Arnie as his champion at the Great Yorkshire Show. The four-shear ram was exhibited by Richard Bamforth, Denby Dale in Yorkshire and had been successfully used in his Lower Denby flock a few days prior to the show for AI and natural service.

“The ram is a fantastic example of everything both pedigree and commercial breeders are looking for in the Charollais breed; growth, fleshing, shape and added to that he was alert and in the end an easy winner,” commented Mr Ingram after the classes.

Arnie was bred by Gareth Jones in Wales and came to the Lower Denby flock via the NSA early ram sale and his previous owner, Robert Towers. He was born a triplet by Loanhead Washington out of a Robleston ewe by Arbryn Tonto.

Standing in the reserve overall spot was a senior ewe from father and son team, Charles and Stephen Marwood’s Foulrice flock, also from Yorkshire. Foulrice Classy was described as ‘a real good stock ewe, just the type I like’ by the judge. This two-shear ewe is by Foulrice Aristocrat and reared twins this year.

Lambs took the reserve tickets in both sections with the reserve male being a ram lamb from David and Johnathan Norman’s Kirkhouse flock. By Kirkhouse Optimus and out of a ewe imported from the Southern Irish flock of Declan Miley, this one had ring presence and a flashy outlook according to the judge.

Reserve female champion was the ewe lamb from Hannah Jackson and Helen Sloan’s Rigghead flock in Dumfriess. This one was is by Logie Durno Craftsman out of a Wernfawr ewe by Glyn Coch Vagabond.

South West breeders Michael and Melanie Alford took both the red tickets in the shearling classes with animals from their Foxhill flock. The shearling ewe and ram then paired up to take the award in the pairs class and were the first recipients of a newly presented trophy in memory of Yorkshire breeder, Mr David Dennis. Meanwhile, winning the group of three class was the trio from Jonathan Wales’s Thackwood flock in Cumbria.