WALL farmer, John Reay, received several early Christmas presents at Hexham Mart on Tuesday - three first prizes, a second and the Robson & Cowan Trophy for the best overall champion pen of sheep.

As well as topping the hotly contested Christmas Show with his five well finished Beltex crosses, he also took the reserve champion prize with one of two pens of Texel crosses.

Respected judge, James Curle from Bowsden, Berwick-upon-Tweed immediately snapped up the champion and reserve pens at £100 and £97 respectively in the sale that followed whilst butchers Cranstons bought the other pen of Texel Crosses at £86 for which John took second prize.

"I can't stop smiling," said a delighted John the day after Tuesday's triumph. "I might never ever do that again so I'm really happy with it and I was particularly pleased to win the support of a local butcher."

All four pens of sheep John brought to the show were ticketed - his Charollais crosses also coming first in the Other Continentals class.

A total of 28 pens were put before Mr Curle and the overall champion trophy was presented by Ian Hedley and Catherine Johnson representing Mole Valley Country Stores.

John, a past chairman of Stamfordham Young Farmers and former front row prop forward with Tynedale and Border Park RFCs, is well known in Tynedale, not only for the quality of his stock.

For his sheep shearing skills were shown off in the award-winning documentary, Addicted to Sheep, which won a prestigious royal Television Society award earlier this year. John agreed he'd had a vintage year. "It's funny but people are still coming up and saying they have seen it on the telly. It's really good to have been involved in something so successful."

In the cattle classes, Redvers Bell of Woodhall Farm, Melkridge, took a red ticket in the native breed class with his Galloway. And young farmer Michael Hall, a YFC member from Barker House farm near Whitley Chapel took home the Hexham Courant cup for the best heifer with his Limousin. The overall champion trophy went out of the district however to Lockerbie farmers, Messrs Holmes, of Nutholm Farm for a British Blue steer which pipped Messrs Scott of Low Leam to the prize. Their Limousin heifer was female champion whilst their Limousin Steer won its class as did their British Blue steer.