MULTI title-winning Wensleydale pedigree sheep breeder Ernie Sherwin clinched another supreme championship at the 124th annual show and sale for the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders’ Association at Skipton Auction Mart.

Mr Sherwin, of The Grange, Nosterfield, Bedale, again got his hands on a title he last won in 2013 with his first prize shearling ram, which also lifted the trophy for the best shearling ram bred by the exhibitor.

It had only previously been shown once, finishing third in this year’s shearling class at the Great Yorkshire. He returned home with Mr Sherwin.

The reserve championship fell to the first prize shearling ewe and female champion from another well-known North Yorkshire breeder and society stalwart Mark Elliott, of Providence Farm, Ferrensby. She sold for 200gns, top price in class, to C Stacey, of Buckfastleigh in Devon.

Top price in show of 280gns fell to the first prize ewe lamb and reserve female champion from Jim and Sandra Thompson, of Lower House Farm, Deytheur in Powys. She joined 2014 Skipton Wensleydale show champion Andrew Fisher, of Well House, Low Laithe, Harrogate.

For good measure, Mr Thompson also took second and third prizes in the same class and was responsible for the second prize and top price 210gns shearling ram. The buyers were John and Shelagh Prescott, of Longhorsley in Northumberland.

Nick Oliver, from Carperby near Leyburn, was responsible for the first prize ram lamb and reserve male champion, which sold for 210gns to Paul Woodall, of Welshpool,Powys.

However, top price in class of 230gns fell to the second prize winner from Andrew Fisher, which also sold to the Prescotts,

Jill Bobek, of Ripon, presented the first prize aged ram.

Principal selling averages were: ewe lambs £147, shearling ewes £157, ram lambs £121 and shearlings rams £144.

Challenge prize winners were: Fawell Perpetual Challenge Cup (champion sheep), John Percival Perpetual Challenge Cup (best shearling ram bred by the exhibitor), Smalley Perpetual Challenge Cup (best ram) and Burton Silver Teapot (best shearling or aged ram) - Ernie Sherwin; John Percival Trophy (best female) - Mark Elliott; Fawell Silver Coffee Pot (best ram lamb) and Nettleton Perpetual Silver Salver (best fleshed ram lamb) – Nick Oliver.

Show results were: aged ram - 1 Jill Bobek, Ripon, 2 P Woodall, Welshpool; shearling ram – 1 Ernie Sherwin, 2 Jim and Sandra Thompson, Deytheur, 3 JA&F Elliott, Ferrensby; ram lamb – Nick Oliver, Carperby, 2 Andrew Fisher, Low Laithe, 3 Jim Thompson; shearling ewe – 1 Mark Elliott, 2 JA&F Elliott, 3 JN&SM Prescott, Longhorsley; ewe lamb – 1, 2 and 3 – Jim and Sandra Thompson.