AS the sun shone down on crowds at this year’s Falstone Border Shepherds’ Show, Tynedale farmers turned to battle for the top prizes.

In the Blackface sheep category, which was judged by George Walton of Allensgreen, Bardon Mill, it was father and son team Willie and Stewie Wetherson, of Edges Green, Haltwhistle, whose shearling ram took the Blackface champion title.

“We’re one step ahead of last year, where we did well but missed out on the champion cup so that’s it now – we’ve done it,” said Willie.

“The winning tup was a £4,500 ram which we purchased from Sewingshields, which impressed the judge. He had a good eye, and knew what to look for.”

The Wethersons left the show with a clutch of trophies under their arm, with their sheep also placed first in the Blackface Ram Lamb and Blackface Ewe categories.

The champion Texel prize went to North Pennines farmer, Thomas Athey of High Lovelady Shield, Alston for his gimmer.

This made Thomas a two-time champion at Falstone, having scored the same top title back in 2017.

“We had a great day, and we also managed to get a first for our Texel ewe so we were pretty pleased with ourselves,” he said.

In the Swaledale Cross and Mule Sheep category, the champion title went to a Swaledale cross ewe lamb from Mark Anderson, of Riding Farm, Bellingham, whist RW & M Carruthers, Hillbrae, Penton took champion mule for their pair of lambs.

Selby Robson of Yatesfield, Otterburn took home the champion for his ewe, and reserve for his ram lamb in the Blackface Scotch section.