Borderway Agri Expo

Friday 28th October 2022

Beltex breeding was to the fore at the Borderway Agri Expo on Friday, 28 October, where both the Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champion pairs were sired by Beltex rams.

The event at Harrison and Hetherington’s Carlisle centre is the first on the winter show circuit and saw a fantastic line-up of prime lambs with Beltex-sired entries heading up the continental classes.

Taking the top spot was the heavy Beltex pair from Robert Garth and Sarah Priestley, securing a first overall win at the event for the duo who surpassed their previous best of reserve overall. This pure-bred pair of ewe lambs which tipped the scales at 45kg are by the Todhall Freddy ram bought at Kelso last year to work in the Keasden pedigree flock, and will continue the circuit at AgriFest South West, the English Winter Fair, LiveScot and the Welsh Winter Fair.

“They are super lambs and I took to them straight away in the class,” said the judge, Allan Wight, of Midlock. “They’re a well balanced and very matching pair brought out and shown to perfection.”

Taking the Reserve Supreme title was the winning pair of lambs bred from a hill ewe, Beltex cross Scottish Blackfaces from Alastair and Alan Maclarty, from the Firm of Shawhead Farm. Notably, this 44kg duo are also by a Todhall ram, this time one bought at Lanark, and the relatively unheard of cross is one the Maclartys are firm believers in.

Continuing the Beltex-sired theme was the Reserve pair in the bred from hill ewe section, a pair of 43.5kg Beltex cross South Country Cheviot lambs from the Cavers Family, Sorbie Farm.

Other Beltex highlights included Robert and Sarah also winning the lightweight Beltex class; the Hall Family, Inglewood Edge, winning both the untrimmed pair class and single lamb class; and April Skelton, also from Inglewood Edge, winning the butcher’s choice and Young Farmers classes. Grace Elliot added to her Young Handlers win here last year by leading the junior class and standing Reserve with her Beltex-sired lamb.