Scarborough vet's Herdwick sheep land her a double victory at Rare & Native Stock Breeders' Auction
A Scarborough vet and Herdwick sheep breeder has struck it big at Skipton, taking both champion and reserve champion honours at the annual Rare & Native Stock Breeders’ Auctions
The auction was based at CCM Skipton and shines a spotlight on minority and traditional sheep breeds.
Dr Bird, who works for Swanzdale Vets and runs her flock at Hutton Buscel, west of Scarborough, won both the hill and heath show classes, claiming top honours with April 2025-born shearlings.
Her champion was her first-prize Herdwick male, sired by a tup bred in Cumbria by Andrew Branthwaite and out of a ewe with Gavin Bland breeding. Mr Bland also farms in Cumbria.
The overall reserve champion was the red rosette-winning female, sired by a HSBA-registered tup from Mr Bland and out of a home-bred ewe.
Standing overall reserve was the red rosette-winning female, this by a HSBA-registered tup also from Mr Bland, out of a home-bred ewe.
It was the leading lady that headed Hayley’s consignment at 235gns, along with other females at 210gns and 200gns. The champion male also reached 200gns.
The successful showing and sale capped a particularly strong day for Dr Bird and her flock, with her two top prize winners demonstrating the quality of her Herdwick breeding.
The show judge was Helen Wray, a well-known and dedicated champion of rare breeds. She farms rare and native breeds of both sheep and cattle at Gam Farm Rare Breeds in Grassington.
Helen is also a former chairman of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s Dales Support Group, a regional branch of the UK national charity, supporting conservation and hosting workshops, educational events and open days.