YOUNG Sam Hunt hasn't time to get up to mischief, he has a herd of cows to look after.

And the 13-year-old plays cricket on Saturday afternoons, football on Sundays and even rugby, too, in winter.

Along with homework, it doesn't leave him much spare time but Sam, of Sowerby Park Farm, Thirsk, doesn't mind, especially as he is making a name for himself at agricultural shows with his Dexter cattle.

At the Great Yorkshire show last week, Sam won the championship Dexter class with his cow, Jewel Crossley; reserve championship with his bull Seamer Supreme Ricard (after the Middlesbrough footballer), and reserve junior award with his beef heifer.

Not bad for someone of his age and from a herd he has built up only in the past three years.

He became interested in showing after accompanying his father, Graham, from the age of eight to help him show his pedigree Texel Sheep.

"He rather liked the Dexter cattle and said he would like to rear some himself," said Mr Hunt.

"I put up the money to buy three and we struck a deal that, whatever he eventually sold them for, he would give me half until the outlay was cleared.

"So he got stuck in and has already paid me back, so now he puts half of what he makes into a fund for a university education."

Nowadays, Sam has a herd of 40 and makes all his own decisions about the cattle, including what to buy and when to sell.

"I love going to shows and it feels great to win a prize," said Sam, who hopes to continue his hobby and build up his name as a breeder. "I don't really know just yet what kind of career I want.

Sam is seen, left, on the farm with his champion cow, Jewel Crossley. - Nigel Whitfield/D&S