Lilburn Estates Lifts Championship title at Glendale Show

Lilburn Estates Lifts Championship title at Glendale Show

The sun shone down on the annual Glendale Show which was an outstanding success

The 2016 Glendale Show was once again crowned a great success, with in the region of 12,000 visitors descending on Wooler to enjoy a taste of rural life as well as the abundance of attractions and exhibitions across the show field.

This, the 124^th annual Glendale Show, was themed the ‘Year of the Lady’, celebrating the magnificent role women play in rural and farming life.  In keeping with the theme, all entrants at the show were judged by an entire female line up of judges.

This year saw a record number of entries across the 105 classes for cattle and sheep, with the welcome addition of the rare and minority sheep breed classes.  In the sheep section, the judging of the Blue Faced Leicester classes were split into traditional and crossing types which were judged separately.  Lilburn Estates, hosts of the Glendale Showground, enjoyed a successful day picking up three championships across the sheep and cattle classes, including the Carrs Billington Livestock Points Competition.

Sponsored by Harrison and Hetherington, the Champion of Champions was judged by Mrs Marion Tilson, of Wedderlie, Gordon, and was awarded to Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership, with a Mule ewe lamb, shown by shepherd Arthur Ramage.

Overall Sheep Reserve Champion went to WD Allen of Stoup Hill, Humbleheugh, Alnwick, with a Hill type Cheviot Ewe.

 The Lilburn Estates Farming Partnership Perpetual Challenge Trophy was awarded to Mr Jonathon Craggs, Glower Oer Him, Sedgefield, County Durham, who won Overall Cattle Champion with Buggerluggs, a Limousin Cross Steer.  Reserve was Mr James Marks, Gillyflatts Farm, Bishopton, Stockton on Tees with a pure Limousin heifer.

In the equine section Demi Pontin with her hunter, Mirror Image, had a tremendous day.  The pair enjoyed a successful day scooping up fourth in the Open Working Hunter, first in the Small Ridden Hunter and winning the Overall Hunter Champion.  Demi then went on to take Overall Reserve Show Champion.

Chief Livestock Steward, Andrew Walton said:  “The show of livestock was wonderful and classes were very strong.  Our team of lady judges did a fantastic job and we were very pleased to see our host, Mr Davidson, and his team at Lilburn Estates have such a successful day.”

The Goat classes were highly contested with milking competitions taking place early morning.  A range of goat breeds competed across 26 classes, with C Newton taking the Champion title with Lyncol Bettina.

The display in the equine arenas was spectacular with working hunter, ridden hunter, mountain and moorland, lead rein and first ridden, coloured, ex-racehorse, arab, best combination and showjumping classes.

In keeping with the theme, Katy and Henrietta Cropper provided a fantastic sheep dog demonstration in the main ring.  Katy was the first female contestant to win the popular TV show ‘One Man and His Dog’ and her daughter, Henrietta, was the youngest ever contestant.  Their demonstration not only involved sheep, but geese and horses too.

A first for not only the Glendale Show, but for the whole of Northumberland, the Donkey Breed Society Miniature Supreme Championships was held at the Show.  This was accompanied by a variety of traditional donkey classes which also included the novelty class for the donkey wearing the best hat.

This year’s main ring attractions certainly pulled the crowds, with the ringside and grandstand full to capacity.  Following the equine classes in the morning, the afternoon’s proceedings kicked off with the Parade of the New Standard of the North Northumberland Royal British Legion, followed by the Jamie Squibb freestyle motor cross stunt display team.  Horses and livestock are always a key element of the main ring attractions, and this year there was an amazing display of falconry, the West Percy Foxhounds and culminating with the Grand Parade of Livestock.

Commenting on their successful day, Mr Davidson of Lilburn Estates said:  “Everyone has done a splendid job preparing stock for today.  I am delighted that Arthur won the Champion of Champions with his Mule ewe, it’s very rewarding to the team’s hard work paying off.”

A highlight of the show was Sheep Tales, a group of local lady crafters who were raising awareness of local products, suppliers, artists and makers through a variety of demonstrations.  As part of this, Anna Turnbull of Biteabout Art showcased her extraordinary wicker weaving by weaving a life size Clydesdale foal.

The show ran a Best Dressed Lady competition which was kindly sponsored by new local business, Stephanie-Louise Designs.  This was won by Jane Thompson with Eileen Thompson as runner up.

The winner of the ‘Rural Heroine Award’ was Margaret Brown from Wooler who, following nomination, was selected by a panel of judges.  This new award was sponsored by Glendale PR and Marketing and launched as part of this year’s theme.

The Fell Races attracted dozens of entries.  The winner of the men’s race was Kurt Heron, junior boy 10-12 years was Joe Dixon and junior boy 13-15years was Donald Dixon.  Winner of the lady’s race was Karen Robertson, junior girl 10-12 years was Anna Whielan and junior girl 13-15 years was Callie Henderson.

The sun shone down on Glendale Show, and the favourable weather and Cheviot Hills provided the perfect backdrop, which was brought to life by the buzz and live music, delivering the perfect family day out.  Commenting on his first show as Chairman, Ronald Barber said: 

“The show was an outstanding success and a truly glorious day.  The crowds flocked in throughout the day and we witnessed a record number of livestock entries once again.  The Horticultural and Industrial had a tremendous display of fruit, flowers, vegetables, baking, textiles and artwork and was one certainly one of the highlights of the day for so many.

“This was my first year as Chair of the Glendale Agricultural Society and I really would like to thank absolutely everyone who has given their support in terms of volunteering.  Also, of course, to the many sponsors and local businesses who took stands, without their support the annual Glendale Show would quite honestly not happen.”