FIRST-TIME entrant Neil Marsden showed the champion at the 19th Eastgate sheep show.

Mr Marsden travelled from Halthwistle in Northumberland to take part in the weekend show and, after winning the Mule classes, he went on to show the overall champion with a mule gimmer lamb.

The reserve overall champion was the Swaledale ewe and breed champion, shown by R Hird of Mickleton.

The show attracted entries from all over the region and offered more than £2,000 in prize money.

For the first time, a Swaledale conformation class was held, attracting 24 entries, and was won by Weardale farmer Dick Dalton from Ireshopeburn.

The Blue-faced Leicester section was won by W Wearmouth, of Eastgate, with a gimmer hogg. The reserve was H S Hutchinson also of Eastgate. The Mule section was won by R Hutchinson & Sons of Bowes with a tup shearling and the any other breed title went to S and A Reed, Westgate.

Show organiser Paul Collinson said: "It has been an excellent show with the number of entries up on last year. The high standard of the Swaledales was particularly pleasing."

Trophies. - M Maddison Memorial Trophy, overall show champion: Neil Marsden. John Carrick Plant Hire Trophy for reserve: Richard Hird, Mickleton. T J Hall Silver Cup, champion Blue-faced Leicester: William Wearmouth, Eastgate; res: Herbert Hutchinson, Eastgate. J D Dunn Silver Cup, champion Mule: Neil Marsden, Haltwhistle; res: Cecil Hutchinson, Thirsk . George Arnold Jopling Trophy, champion Swaledale: Richard Hird, Mickleton; res: Robert Hutchinson, Bowes. T J Hall Trophy, any other breed: S & A Reed, Westgate.

Results, BFL. - Aged ram: 1 HS Hutchinson; 2 W Wearmouth. Tup shlg: 1 HS Hutchinson; 2 W Wearmouth. Tup hogg: 1 HS Hutchinson; 2&3 W Wearmouth. Tup lamb: 1 W Wearmouth; 2&3 HS Hutchinson. Local tup lamb: 1 W Wearmouth; 2&3 HS Hutchinson. Ewe showing milk: 1&2 W Wearmouth; 3 HS Hutchinson. Gimmer shlg showing milk: 1 HS Hutchinson; 2&3 W Wearmouth. Gimmer hogg: 1&3 W Wearmouth; 2 HS Hutchinson. Gimmer lamb: 1 W Wearmouth; 2&3 H S Hutchinson. Tup hogg & gimmer hogg: 1 HS Hutchinson; 2&3 W Wearmouth. Tup lamb & gimmer lamb: 1&3 W Wearmouth; 2 HS Hutchinson. Group of three: 1 HS Hutchinson; 2&3 W Wearmouth.

Mule sheep. - Ewe & twins: 1,2&3 C Hutchinson, Thirsk. Shlg & twins: 1,2&3 C Hutchinson. Hogg & single: 1&3 C Hutchinson; 2 J Winter, Appleby. Pair gimmer hoggs: 1 A&M Brown, Newton-le-Willows; 2 J Winter; 3 C Hutchinson. Gimmer lamb: 1,2&3 N Marsden, Haltwhistle. Pair gimmer lambs: 1,2&3 N Marsden. Swaledale ewe suckling pair Mule gimmer lambs: 1&2 N Marsden; 3 D Swallow, Haltwhistle.

Swaledale tups. - Aged: 1&2 I Collinson, Eastgate; 3 JR Dalton, Wearhead. Shlg: 1 R Hutchinson & Sons, Bowes; 2 JR Dalton; 3 GA Slack, Appleby. Hogg, large breeder: 1 G Harker; 2 R Dixon, Barningham; 3 I Collinson. Hogg, small breeder: 1 D Sayer, Hackthorpe; 2 D Hanson, Fylingdale; 3 CC&AE Martin, Stanhope. Hogg, not in hands of breeder: 1 P Collinson, Eastgate; 2 T Collinson, Eastgate; 3 JR Dalton. Hogg, not in other classes: 1 G Harker; 2&3 I Collinson. Pair tup hoggs: 1 G Harker; 2 I Collinson; 3 M Bell, Forest in Teesdale. Spring-born tup or gimmer lambs: 1 J R Dalton, Wearhead; 2 S Emmott, Blanchland; 3 GA Slack.

Local "D" District tups. - Aged or shlg: 1 JR Dalton; 2&3 I Collinson. Hogg: 1&2 I Collinson; 3 JR Dalton. Hogg, not won a prize: 1 M Bell; 2 GA Slack; 3 T Nattrass, Alston. Champion hogg: G Harker. Male champion: R Hutchinson.

Swaledale gimmers. - Ewe: 1 R Hird, Hunderthwaite; 2 CC&RG Martin, Stanhope; 3 GA Slack. Shlg: 1 I Allonby, Kirkby Stephen; 2 G Harker; 3 CC&RG Martin. Hogg, large breeder: 1 R Dixon; 2 I Collinson; 3 CC&RG Martin. Hogg, small breeder: 1&2 G Dargue, Appleby; 3 D Hanson. Ewe or shlg or hogg: 1 G Dargue; 2 I Collinson; 3 CC&RG Martin. Champion hogg: R Dixon. Local female champion: C Martin.

Local "D" classes. - Ewe or gimmer shearling: 1 & 2 CC & RG Martin; 3 J R Dalton. Gimmer hogg: 1 I Collinson; 2 M Skidmore, Rookhope; 3 J R Dalton. Tup hogg & gimmer hogg: 1 R Dixon; 2 I Collinson; 3 M Bell.

Group of three: 1 G Harker; 2 R Hutchinson & Sons; 3 I Collinson. Local group of three: 1 I Collinson; 2 CC & RG Martin; 3 J R Dalton. David Robinson Trophy, most local points: I Collinson.

AOB. - Lambs in wool: 1 T Walton, Low Willington; 2 A&M Brown; 3 J Sunter, Willington. Male or female in wool: 1 S&A Reed, Westgate; 2 J Sunter; 3 T Walton.

Handlers under 16: 1 MP Scowen, Wearhead; 2 A&M Brown; 3 R Collinson