Brothers’ hat-trick at young handlers show (From Craven Herald)

Brothers’ hat-trick at young handlers show

2:09pm Thursday 15th December 2011 in Countryfile

The Capstick brothers of Hellifield achieved a hat-trick of wins in the 11 years and under age group class at Gisburn Auction Marts’ young handlers sheep show.

Picking up the first prize rosette was ten-year-old Paddy Capstick with his black Suffolk cross Zwartbles lamb named Lady Baa Baa, which sold for £90.

Second prize was awarded to the youngest of the brothers, Thomas, five, this time with a white texel lamb which sold for £108.

Elder brother, 11-year-old Robert, picked up the third prize rosette with another black Suffolk cross Zwartbles named Misha B, which sold for £102.

Issy Hartley, of Roughlee, won the championship prize for the second year running, with a black Zwartbles cross Texel gimmer lamb.

Fourteen-year-old Issy had spent the last few weeks preparing her lamb to the highest possible standard for exhibition, which had earlier in the day won the first prize rosette in the highly contested 12 to 16-year-old age group class.

Later it sold at auction for the top price of the day, £155.

Reserve champion rosette and first prize winner in the 17 to 27-year-old age group class, went to 17-year-old Victoria Seed.

Judge was Texel sheep guru and previous winner of numerous national prime stock competitions Alex Brown, of Tockholes, who described the day as “a tremendous opportunity to encourage the farmers of the future, and demonstrate to them the importance of the live auction system”.