Old School flock hits top form with Cantona at Royal Lancashire

A well-supported entry of Kerry Hills turned out at this year’s Royal Lancashire Show, with big classes and plenty of new faces providing a promising sign ahead of the breed’s return for its National Show next year.

With the rain holding off despite a mostly cloudy and changeable day, judging duties fell to Ed Simmons, of the Kingswater flock, who found his Breed Champion in the Old School flock of Steven and Elin John, Carmarthenshire.

Making their first visit to the show, the pair enjoyed a dominant run in the Kerry Hill ring, taking both the Male and Female Championships on their way to the breed’s top honour.

Leading the male section was their aged ram, LAX Eric Cantona, which won its class before securing the Male and Breed Championships. The Old School team also topped the shearling ram class with Old School Frankie, while Old School Gruff Morris stood second in the ram lamb class.

Their success continued in the female classes, with Old School Erin winning the aged ewe class, Old School Frozen and Old School Flammin’ Sambuca standing first and second respectively in the shearling ewe class, and Old School Gweni taking top spot among the ewe lambs.

Standing Reserve Breed Champion was the first prize ram lamb, Fairfax Gamekeeper, from Louise Barritt’s Fairfax flock. The ram lamb headed a strong class before going on to take reserve honours for the West Yorkshire-based flock.

The Old School team also topped the Group of Three before further success followed in the inter-breed classes, judged by T. Davies. LAX Eric Cantona stood Reserve Inter-breed Champion behind the Cheviot champion from S. Mather, while the Kerry Hill trio went one better to secure the Inter-breed Group of Three title.

The strong turnout and inter-breed success provided a promising glimpse towards next year’s Royal Lancashire Show, which will play host to the Kerry Hill National Show in 2027.