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Stephen Hipps is winner of Wool on the Hoof at GYS
11 Aug '08
2 min read
A Ryeland shearling ewe from one of the first flocks of this breed to be established in Yorkshire, won the prestigious Wool on the Hoof competition at the Great Yorkshire Show.
This is one of the summer show season's most hotly contested Wool on the Hoof competitions which is judged purely on the quality of the sheep's fleece.
As the home county of the UK's wool industry, the Great Yorkshire Show attracts a big turnout of sheep competing for the Wool on the Hoof title and this year's accolade went to Stephen Hipps who runs a flock of Ryeland ewes at Thornton near Harrogate.
The flock was established in 1981 by Margaret Hipps who sadly died last year but her husband Stephen was determined to show their sheep in her memory.
“Margaret was dedicated to her Ryeland sheep and had won many awards over the years but this was one competition that had always eluded her. She would have been elated to have won it,” said Stephen.
Wool on the Hoof judge Malcolm Hudson from Shipley, west Yorkshire poured praise on the winner.” There were some very high quality sheep with good fleeces but the Ryeland was excellent in texture and colour. An outstanding fleece on a very good sheep,” said Mr Hudson.
A senior Wensleydale ram from the renowned Yorkshire flock run by the Elliott family from Knaresborough stood reserve for the Wool on the Hoof title.
And another leading sheep exhibitor beat allcomers to carry off the champion fleece title. Andrew Fisher from Pateley Bridge runs flocks of Teeswaters, Bluefaced Leicesters and Mashams and it was one of his Masham fleeces that won the top fleece award.
“I am absolutely delighted. This is one of the hardest fleece championships to win,” said Andrew.
This is one of the summer show season's most hotly contested Wool on the Hoof competitions which is judged purely on the quality of the sheep's fleece.
As the home county of the UK's wool industry, the Great Yorkshire Show attracts a big turnout of sheep competing for the Wool on the Hoof title and this year's accolade went to Stephen Hipps who runs a flock of Ryeland ewes at Thornton near Harrogate.
The flock was established in 1981 by Margaret Hipps who sadly died last year but her husband Stephen was determined to show their sheep in her memory.
“Margaret was dedicated to her Ryeland sheep and had won many awards over the years but this was one competition that had always eluded her. She would have been elated to have won it,” said Stephen.
Wool on the Hoof judge Malcolm Hudson from Shipley, west Yorkshire poured praise on the winner.” There were some very high quality sheep with good fleeces but the Ryeland was excellent in texture and colour. An outstanding fleece on a very good sheep,” said Mr Hudson.
A senior Wensleydale ram from the renowned Yorkshire flock run by the Elliott family from Knaresborough stood reserve for the Wool on the Hoof title.
And another leading sheep exhibitor beat allcomers to carry off the champion fleece title. Andrew Fisher from Pateley Bridge runs flocks of Teeswaters, Bluefaced Leicesters and Mashams and it was one of his Masham fleeces that won the top fleece award.
“I am absolutely delighted. This is one of the hardest fleece championships to win,” said Andrew.
British Wool Marketing Board
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