North East Live
Saturday 3rd October was the third North East Live show at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart. Livestock bred in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales were present to compete in this highly contended opener to the winter show season. Both cattle and sheep were well represented with 90 cattle and 122 sheep forward for the judges to deliberate over.
Steph Dick travelled down from Stirlingshire to judge the pedigree calf section. Eighteen calves born in 2026 were judged with overall champion being eventually awarded to Josh Knaggs and family of Darlington with Jorica Barley.
This Limousin heifer was born on 17th January and is sired by Glenrock Stillgame. Standing reserve was the 26th January born British Blue Clifftown Wasn’t Me from Dylan Townend of Malton. This bull calf is sired by Dodou. In the 2 native classes the Beef Shorthorn reigned supreme with the heifer class being awarded to Juaul Farms with Juaul Nonpariel Ygritte and the bull class to J Warren & V Hainsworth with Norworth Ya Belter.
The baby beef calf section is always a well-supported section even at this early time of Autumn. The judging was in the capable hands of James May, Worcestershire. The first 3 classes were all awarded to Dave Leedham with homebred calves then the fourth red rosette presented to the Edwards Bros of Corwen with Buzz Ball.
The Corwen show team took the championship tap, this 351kg Limousin cross heifer is by Goldies Sensible and was bred by T&C Wynne, Alwen. Following into reserve from the same class was another Malton breeder, this time Dean Allen with his roan red British Blue sired Material Girl. Sired by Almeley Tom Brady she stood on the scales at 374kg.
With two championships in the cattle ring already clinched by Limousin sired animals all attention soon turned to the commercial cattle. Jimmy Mullholand was in the centre of the judging ring. A farmer and butcher from Great Orton, Carlisle is no stranger to the leading show judging roles and after a competitive ten classes he chose another Limousin sired animal to come out on top. The overall champion being the aforementioned Dave Leedham of Leicestershire with his homebred Sassys Sweet Treat.
The Leedham’s are great supporters of North East Live having attended all three thus far, excitement both here and back in the Midlands as Megan, Harlo and Wilfred kept a close eye on the Facebook updates whilst supporting from home. Standing at 570kg this dark red heifer is by their own stock bull and out of an ex show heifer. No stranger to the show circuit she has taken numerous championship titles over the summer since being reserve heifer calf champion at the English Winter Fair 2025.
It was a day for the ladies as Hot Stepper from Scottish raiders A & E Vance danced into reserve overall championship after being reserve heifer champion.
This black 628kg Limousin cross was also homebred and is by Maraiscote Regis.
In the steer classes the championship stayed local with Richard Anderson of Leyburn taking champion with Reggie.
He came through to the championship after winning the steer sired by any other continental breed. He is a homebred Charolais cross by Arnside Foreman. Weighing in at 724kg he stood ahead of C & G Davies with Dougie. Dougie is a 789kg Bailea Umber sired Limousin cross. He completes the lineup of homebred animals.
The sheep classes were comfortably the most competitive we have seen at this event, more numbers and quality insanely high throughout. The first two classes are for the North of England Mule breed, the judging duties were in the capable hands of the auctioneering legend Mr Raymond Lund, Sedburgh. A super day unfolded for the team of M Richardson, Dufton and J Robinson, Carnforth as they claimed both the pairs and the singles first prizes.
The perfect pair were bred by the Reed Family, Lands Farm and the successful single lamb they had purchased came from Messrs Fairburn, Marriforth.
On to the butcher’s lambs and the judge’s baton was passed over to Antony Glaves of Scarborough. The Glaves family are famed for their high-quality butcher’s shop and tremendous pedigree sheep breeding, faced with some daunting classes Antony carried out his work efficiently and expertly.
The champion and indeed reserve went to the formidable show team from the Hall Family of Inglewood Edge Farm, Penrith. Wonderful pairs of sheep as always from this tremendous farming family and it was a real pleasure to see three generations of them in attendance.
The top pair came from the weight classes of untrimmed butcher’s lambs, from the class of a combined weight no more than 79kg the Beltex crosses were a near perfect match, had tremendous cover over their loin and an abundance of muscle in the gigot.
The Hall’s reserve champion pairing were two beautiful trimmed Suffolk crosses which had earlier won the native championship, this pair were turned out to perfection which is certainly ‘the norm’ for the Inglewood Edge sheep.
The Hall’s by no means had things all their own way, the continental lamb championship was earlier taken by local showman Harry Askwith, the reserve in that section went to up and coming youngster Luke-Bell Percy, Masham. First prize rosettes were also won on the day by Martin & Val Brown, Leyburn with a pair of untrimmed lambs which wound up reserve in the butcher’s classes to the eventual winners. More red ticket winners included wins for Steven Kirby, Northallerton and two first time exhibitors Erica Avis of Goole and A Thompson, Colne.
No doubt that the Hall’s of Inglewood are still very much the ones to beat as they deservedly retained their North East title but make no mistake the gap is tightening and the high quality from far and wide was evident for all to see.
Thanks to all our sponsors and trade exhibitors, the incredible prize fund is attracting the very best of British livestock and it would not be possible without their continued support.
The show date for next year is set for 2nd October 2027.
