FARMERS from Cumbria took top honours as Tan Hill Swaledale sheep show celebrated its golden anniversary - at the third attempt.

The 50th show, on Thursday of last week, attracted 41 exhibitors to 35 classes, slightly down on pre-foot-and-mouth levels. The 50th event should have been held in 2001 but was cancelled then - and again last year - because of foot-and-mouth restrictions.

Supreme champion was a shearling ram shown by John Richardson, of Ghyll House, Dufton.

It was Mr Richardson's first visit to Tan Hill since 1996, and the show when he completed a hat-trick by taking the overall championship for the third consecutive year.

This year's champion was bought at Kirkby Stephen mart and is co-owned by Mr Richardson and Bobby Blades and John Harrison, of Sleddale Hall.

Reserve champion was a home-bred gimmer hogg shown by Ivor Allonby, of Rockcliffe, Kirkby Stephen, showing at Tan Hill for the first time. "I knew it was a good sheep and you have got to have something good to come to Tan Hill," said Mr Allonby, who also took the champion small breeder's prize.

The gimmer, which is unbeaten, won as a lamb and at Stainmore show three weeks ago. It will compete at the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate in July.

The 50th show included an exhibition of photographs tracing its history, which proved popular with exhibitors and visitors. Music was provided by Lofthouse and Middlesmoor Silver Band.

Raymond Calvert, secretary, said: "It has been a good day and people seem genuinely pleased to see the show back again. We have had some very high quality entries here and seen some strong competition."

Results:

Aged ram: 1 Mossdale Farms, Hawes; 2 J Bland, Crowden House; 3 Messrs Cockbain, Rakefoot. Shearling tup, large breeders: 1 W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House; 2 WM Hutchinson & Sons, Red Gate; 3 P Hallam, Arnfield. Tup hogg, large breeders: 1 R Marwood & Son, Long Green; 2 J W Porter & Sons, Low Oxnop; 3 T & R J Tiplady, Scarr House. Aged tup or shearling tup from stock of not more than 100 ewes: 1 Alderson & Parkinson, Station House. Tup hogg from stock of not more than 100 ewes: 1 & 3 Dent Bros, Naby; 2 D & R Harker, Overthwaite. Aged tup or shearling tup & tup hogg: 1 R Marwood & Son; 2 P Hallam; 3 G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarths. Tup, any age, from stock of not more than 100 ewes: 1 R Marwood & Son; 2 D A Robinson, Hesleden; 3 R Harker & Son. Pair tup hoggs: 1 R Marwood & Son; 2 J & S Tennant, Low Bucker House; 3 J W Porter & Sons. Three tup hoggs: 1 R Marwood & Son; 2 J W Porter & Sons; 3 G Harker & Son, Punchard. Tup, any age, shown in no other class: 1 R Marwood & Son; 2 T Metcalfe & Son, Usha Gap. Tup shearling shown in no other class: 1 R Marwood & Son. Pair tup hoggs shown in no other class: 1 R S Harker; 2 T A & J A Dixon, Yoad Pot; 3 R Metcalfe, Calvert's House. Tup hogg shown in no other class: 1 R S Harker; 2 J Bland, Crowden House; 3 J W Porter & Sons. Pair, male & female: 1 W Richardson & Son; 2 J W Porter & Sons; 3 W M Hutchinson & Sons. Male or female shown & not won: 1 T Metcalfe & Son; 2 K M & K J Curwen, Marshaw Farm; 3 D A Robinson. Tup hogg shown & not won: 1 Cockbain; 2 T Metcalfe & Son; 3 R S Harker. Tup hogg: 1 R Marwood & Son; 2 J W Porter & Sons; 3 R S Harker. Tup shearling: 1 W Richardson & Son; 2 W M Hutchinson & Sons; 3 P Hallam.

Ewe from stock of not more than 100: 1 P E & K Sowerby, Mossdale. Gimmer shearling from stock of not more than 100 ewes: 1 I Allonby; 2 P E & K Sowerby; 3 A & M Calvert, Hoggarths. Gimmer hogg from stock of not more than 100 ewes: 1 I Allonby; 2 J Nicholson, Bollan Terrace; 3 Mrs C M Porter, Summer Lodge. Ewe, large breeder: 1 W Richardson & Son; 2 J W Porter & Sons; 3 T A & J A Dixon. Gimmer shearling, large breeder: 1 G Calvert & Sons; 2 J W Porter & Sons; 3 Mossdale Farms. Gimmer hogg, large breeder: 1 C J & A J Owen, Ravenseat; 2 W Allison & Sons; 3 G L Hutton, Setmabanning. Two showing milk: 1 J W Porter & Sons; 2 & 3 Mossdale Farms. Pair gimmer hoggs: 1 W Allison & Sons; 2 C J & A J Owen; 3 R S Harker. Gimmer hogg shown in no other class: 1 N Harrison & Son; 2 W M Hutchinson & Sons; 3 W Allison & Sons. Gimmer hogg & tup hogg, small breeders: 1 A J & L M Huddleston, Overhouses. Best coated: 1 Alderson & Parkinson; 2 N Harrison & Son; 3 Cockbain. Tup hogg & gimmer hogg bred by exhibitor: 1 R S Harker; 2 G Clavert & Sons; 3 A J & L M Huddleston. Ewe, gimmer shearling & gimmer hogg: 1 W M Hutchinson & Sons; 2 J J & D Huddleston & Sons. Gimmer hogg: 1 I Allonby; 2 C J & A J Owen; 3 W Allison & Sons. Ewe or gimmer shearling: 1 W Richardson & Sons; 2 G Calvert & Sons; 3 J W Porter & Sons. Sheep bred by exhibitor: 1 R Marwood & Son; 2 P Hallam; 3 W Richardson & Son.