Top UK shearers at Devon County Shows summer shearing & dog trials event

Competitors from across the country took part in Devon County Shows Ewe and Lamb Shearing and Dog Trials Event held at Sidbury, near Sidmouth on Sunday (August 14).

Amongst the honours was Stuart Persey from Cullompton who took the Ernie Smith Memorial Award presented to the highest placed Devon shearer aged under 21.

But Devon shearers were pushed off the top spots despite making it into the finals by some exceptional shearing by Steve Rowberry from Hereford, who took the National Sheep Associations South West Regional Young Farmers Championship, the Animax Senior Championship and the Henry Lattaney Open Championship.  In the Open Final alone Steve managed to shear 20 sheep in just under 18 minutes which was awesome to watch.

Gavin Stevens, Chairman of Devon County Shows Shearing Committee, described the level of competition as high and said the event was well supported.

It was a terrific day! There was a strong field of competitors, excellent quality sheep and a good crowd who were thrilled to see the skill and speed with which shearers handle the animals and blades.

Gavin thanked all those involved in organising and running the event and paid tribute to the sponsors for supporting the competition.

There was a terrific turn out with great support from the shearing industry both in Devon and further afield. The level of competition was high and everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Special thanks must go to Sir John and Lady Cave and Alan Derryman for allowing us to hold the event at Home Farm.  The standard of sheep presented for the competition was excellent and again, credit is due to Alan for preparing in the region of 900 ewes and ewe lambs for shearing.

Action wasnt confined to shearing as some of the countrys top shepherds brought their dogs to compete in sheep dog trials. Victor Pitts of the Exmoor Dog Trials Club who organised the trials, added: A good day was had by all. The sheep were a test for all of us but we came through! I was particularly pleased to win the competition for a brace [a pair of dogs working together].

The event sponsors were:

Animax

Mr Albert Cook

Mrs Henry Lattaney

Mole Valley Farmers Ltd

National Sheep Association (NSA) SW

Gavin Stevens & Co

West Ridge Veterinary Practice

Results:

The Albert Cook Under 21 Championship

1^st – Henry Nankivell, Cornwall

2^nd Stuart Persey, Devon

3^rd Chris Rowberry, Hereford

4^th Billy Nankivell, Cornwall

5^th Scott Cartwright, Somerset

The NSA South West Young Farmers Championship

1^st – Steve Rowberry, Hereford

2^nd Dean Nelmes, Dorset

3^rd Stuart Persey, Devon

4^th Ross Crang, Devon

5^th Alec Brand, Somerset

6^th Sam Bullingham, Devon

The Gavin Stevens & Co Junior Championship

1^st – Nick Harding, North Devon

2^nd Stuart Persey, Devon

3^rd Robert Lee, Somerset

4^th Chris Rowberry, Hereford

5^th Henry Nankivell, Cornwall

6^th Scott Cartwright, Somerset

The Mole Valley Farmers Intermediate Championship

1^st – Dean Nelmes, Dorset

2^nd Sam Bullingham, Devon

3^rd Nick Harding, Devon

4^th Ashley Selway, Devon

5^th Alec Brand, Somerset

6^th Robert Lee, Somerset

The Animax Senior Championship

1^st – Steve Rowberry, Hereford

2^nd Ross Crang, Devon

3^rd Ed Gingle, East Sussex

4^th Chris Steer, Devon

5^th Ed Goodfellow, Dorset

6^th Adam Virgo, Australia

The Henry Lattaney Open Championship

1^st – Steve Rowberry, Hereford

2^nd Ant Frew, New Zealand

3^rd Adam Berry, Cumbria

4^th Neil Woollacott, Devon

5^th Gavin Stevens, Devon

6^th Ross Crang, Devon