A CHAMPION winning sheep farmer at the 149th Great Yorkshire Show has praised the agricultural event and stressed its importance to the farming industry.

Stuart Goldie, of Ferryman's House Farm, at Maunby, near Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, says the annual show provides a very welcome boost for farmers.

Mr Goldie, who farms in partnership with his wife Julia, won the TS & EJ Goldie Trophy for the British Bleu de Maine champion sheep at the show with a shearling ram.

advertisement The duo also scooped the reserve female champion title in the British Bleu de Maine sheep category yesterday (tues 10) with a shearling ewe.

Mr Goldie said: "We have had a fantastic day. We are always optimistic that we will have a good time but you can never be too confident as the standard is so high.

"The standard has been excellent and there is not a bad sheep in the show. The recent bad weather has made it difficult and it's being a pain but you have to manage.

"Shows like this are important as they provide a shop window for people looking to buy pedigree stock. A lot of effort goes into it but it's well worth it."

His comments come as this year's Great Yorkshire Show celebrated a record breaking 1,738 entrants in its sheep classes this year.

The sentiments were echoed by John Dixon, 45, of Halfpenny House Farm, near Leyburn, in North Yorkshire, who won the female Swaledale sheep category..

He farms in partnership with his brother Robert Dixon and stressed the importance of the show. He added: "They need to keep the show going to promote farming in this country.

"These shows are important to us in the farming industry and it gives the general public an idea of what happens in farming today."

Farmer Elaine Keith, of Weydale Farm, at Riggs Head, near Scarbrough, in North Yorkshire, won first place in the ewe lamb section of the British Berrichon Du Cher category.

With the same breed she also won second place in the ram lamb category, was third in the aged lamb section and fourth in the ewe lamb section.

She said:"It's a hard competition with more people from around the country coming to show here rather than at the Royal Show as it's so good here."

The family which has recently opened a farm shop which sells Abedeen Angus and lamb which is grown on the farm.

Andrew Bailey, of Ivanhoe, near Leyburn, in North Yorkshire, enjoyed a good day of results with his blue texel sheep with which he won both reserve female and reserve male champion sheep.

He feels the show is crucial in helping to develop the young farmers who will take over the running of the industry in the future.

MrBailey, whose children Joanne and James helped show the sheep, said:"Shows like this are very important for the younger generation and it has to carry on as they are the future of the farming industry.

"There is always a good standard of animal here and we just take it as it comes as it's the taking part that matters."

Teeswater breeders Doris Chandler and her daughter Evelyn Nicholson, of Chapel House Farm, at Dallowgill, near Ripon, won a rosebowl with their champion sheep.

The pair were awarded the Yorkshire Agricultural Society rosebowl for a Teeswater ram and also scooped reserve champion with a gimmer lamb.

Mrs Chandler said: "We are absolutely delighted and it's the first time we have won the championship at the Great Yorkshire Show where we have shown for several years.

"The standard of entry this year has been the best for the last two or three years and we have shown here for several years."

Sheep committee member Charles Clark added: "I believe this show is better than the Royal Show and the standard of sheep entry has been very high.

"It's a very good advertisement for the breeders who are looking to sell their animals on and there is high number of animals here today."