Woodhouse ewe leads Kerry Hill double delight at Royal Highland

Despite persistent rain throughout the day, spirits remained high in the Kerry Hill ring at this year’s Royal Highland Show, where exhibitors gathered for just the third year of the breed’s classes at Ingliston.

Judging duties fell to Kate Esler, of the Kingswater flock, North Somerset. A past Chairman and current Vice President of the Kerry Hill Flock Book Society, she said ahead of the show she would be looking for “a Kerry Hill I’d be pleased to have in my flock back at home”, with structural correctness, balance and plenty of Kerry breed character.

Standing as Ms Esler’s champion, then, was Woodhouse Farm Fendi, exhibited by Ellie Owens, of the Woodhouse flock, Leominster. The home-bred shearling gimmer, by the 12,000gns breed record holder Woodhouse Farm El Fabiolo, first secured the Female Championship before being tapped out as Overall Champion.

Showing Kerry Hills at the Royal Highland for the first time, Ms Owens added another major accolade to the ewe’s growing show record, having also claimed the interbreed championship at Burwarton Show as a ewe lamb.

Ms Owens narrowly fell short of a flawless debut day at the show as Fendi made the final cut in the inter-breed, only to be pipped by exceptional Blackface and Cheviot ewes.

Standing Reserve Overall Champion was the Male Champion, an aged ram from Angie Burgess’ Top Spot flock, New Abbey, Dumfries and Galloway.

Ms Burgess enjoyed an outstanding day in the Kerry Hill ring, winning the aged ram, ram lamb, ewe lamb and Group of Three classes, while her ewe lamb also secured the Reserve Female Championship.

Reserve Male Champion went to Sophie McCarlie and the Hassockrigg flock with her aged ram.

Such strong Kerry Hill competition was eventually rewarded in the sheep inter-breed pairs classes, solidifying the quality and recognition of the breed in just its third year at the show.

Woodhouse Farm Fendi returned to the ring alongside Angie Burgess’ Reserve Champion ram to win the joint championship, capping an excellent outing for the breed at Scotland’s premier agricultural show.

CLASS RESULTS

Ram, one shear or over
1st AM Burgess
2nd Sophie McCarlie
3rd RJ Stott
4th Elaine Duncan
5th Elaine Duncan
6th AM Burgess

Ram Lamb
1st AM Burgess
2nd AM Burgess
3rd Rebecca Duncan
4th RJ Stott
5th Sophie McCarlie
6th West Coast Kerry Hills

Ewe
1st Eleanor Owens
2nd AM Burgess
3rd Sharon Kinlock
4th AM Burgess
5th Sophie McCarlie
6th Eleanor Owens

Ewe Lamb
1st AM Burgess
2nd Rebecca Duncan
3rd AM Burgess
4th Jack Graham
5th Sophie McCarlie
6th RJ Stott

Group of Three
1st AM Burgess
2nd R Duncan

🏆Male Champion – AM Burgess (Ram)
Reserve Male Champion – Sophie McCarlie
🏆Female Champion – Eleanor Owens (Ewe)
Reserve Female Champion – AM Burgess (Ewe Lamb)
🏆Overall Champion – Eleanor Owens (Ewe)
Reserve Champion – AM Burgess (Ram)