Teenager Freddie Triumphs at CCM Skipton Dorset Highlight
Aged just 15, up-and-coming Nidderdale Dorset sheep breeder Freddie Lea clinched his first-ever supreme championship with the first tup he had ever bred at the fourth annual show and sale of Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset sheep staged at CCM Skipton Auction Mart on behalf of the Northern Dorset Breeders Club (Saturday, August 2).
Freddie, of Dacre Top, Pateley Bridge, established his now 20-strong Braithwaite flock in 2022. He was showing for the first time at the Skipton breed highlight, and his shearling ram, Braithwaite Goodfellow G771, won its show class, then champion ram and overall supreme, judged by Sean Smith of the Greenbank Dorset flock in Derbyshire.
Goodfellow, born in September 2023, is out of a ewe acquired in-lamb from Jess and Maria Odgers of the Quarrydale flock (Roughlee, Pendle). By Bennachie Duns D5, the tup had already placed runner-up in class at the 2024 Great Yorkshire Show, where Freddie also stood reserve breed champion with a Braithwaite shearling ewe.
The Skipton title winner sold for 400gns, topping his section, to JA Agriculture, Draughton. Freddie is also involved in the Cleveland Bay Horse stud run by his parents, Rob and Catherine Lea, themselves Great Yorkshire Show champions.
Female Champion: Christina Johnson
Christina Johnson, from the Bamburgh flock on the Northumberland coast, won champion female with her first prize ewe lamb, Bamburgh H1143 – a September 2024 daughter of Ballytaggart Elite E2719 (acquired from Thomas Wright, Ballymena). The lamb, out of a home-bred ewe, sold for 300gns to Ian Spendlove, Belper.
Christina also took second in the same class with another Ballytaggart Elite gimmer lamb, which sold for 200gns. The Elite ram himself was offered for sale, topping the aged rams at 300gns to the Ward family, Carnforth.
Top Price: Sam Driver
The top price of 600gns went to the second prize ram lamb from Sam Driver (Sandy Lane flock, Chisworth, Glossop), 2023 and 2024 Skipton supreme champion. His Sandy Lane Humbug H9413, an October 2024 son of Ballymaconelly Fury F278, was bought by Alec Steff, Waggoners flock, Burnley.
Mr. Driver also won the shearling ewe class with his Sandy Lane G868 (September 2023), another Ballymaconelly Fury offspring, sold for 310gns to Steve and Craig Procter, Selside flock, Kendal.
More Results and Prices
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Stuart Alderson (Paddock Leach flock, Bolton) sold his second prize shearling ewe, Paddock Leach Gwen G647 (October 2023, by Poorton Detonator D452), for 310gns to the Procters.
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He also took first and second in the aged ewe class (September 2022 entries by home-bred tups), both selling for 260gns.
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Stuart again won the pen of females class with six ewe lambs at 200gns each.
Alec Steff won both first and second in the aged ram class. His winning February 2023 tup by Ballyhamage Cracker C837 sold for 300gns to Ian Spendlove.
Other Notables
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Charlotte Heaps (Dalby flock, Leicestershire) sold her third prize shearling ewe, a December 2023 daughter of Stobilee Ewe-belter E42, for 300gns.
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Sheila Gray (Burley flock, Burley-in-Wharfedale), the 2024 female champion, made 205gns with her third prize ewe lamb (November 2024, by Richhill Fraser F1764, 2023 May Fair champion male).