LITTLE Harry Robinson has had a rough time of it of late, but on Tuesday he had three reasons to be cheerful.

Just six weeks after having a fairly big operation, the two-year-old headed back to Hexham Mart, his favourite place, and scooped the championship in the annual young handlers’ competition.

He was pleased with the title and sort of registered there was prize money to go with it too, but most of all he was chuffed with the big bar of chocolate he soon had the wrapper off.

Mum Anna Veitch said: “He was delighted with the chocolate – it meant so much more to him than the prize money.

“We literally went from Hexham Mart to the RVI (Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary) for a check-up, so it was nice he had this beforehand.”

His Beltex-cross lamb, which at 46 kilos was described as “outstanding” in the ring, was later knocked down for £150 to Jamie Curle.

There could be interesting times ahead on their farm, Bog Hall at Capheaton, Anna laughed. “Harry loved it this morning. He literally just wanted to be beside his dad the entire time and one of his favourite things is having a stick in his hand around sheep. But while Harry is more into his sheep and being shepherd, his dad Ian is very much a cattle man.”

There are more celebrations on the horizon for the folk at Bog Hall, because in a fortnight Anna and partner Ian Robinson will be getting married, in the church at Chollerton.

“Harry is page boy and he’s going to walk me down the aisle with my dad,” said Anna.

The Reserve Champion Young Handler title went to Libby Reed, of High Eshells, Hexhamshire, and a Texel lamb that came in at 43kg and £102, again purchased by Jamie Curle.