North East visitors flock to family-friendly Bellingham Show

The sun shone as visitors enjoyed hundreds of competitive livestock classes for horses, sheep, dogs, baking, home crafts and many more.

Sheep showing (Image: James Little Photography)

There were also events including Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling with competitors from Iceland and France, a vintage vehicle parade, and a tractor relay with young farmers taking on the old farmers.

Heavy horse entertainment (Image: James Little Photography)

Big Pete Monster Trucks were on hand to thrill crowds, the world’s only real monster truck, at 16ft tall and 12ft wide, weighing 7.5 tonnes. Jumping 15ft in the air is an impressive sight as it crushed everything in its path. 

Monster truck Big Pete at the show (Image: James Little Photography)

In the morning, showgoers were treated to the equestrian classes before handing over to an afternoon of entertainment from heavy horses, a sheepdog trail demonstration, a tractor relay, an inter-hunt challenge, and supreme champion and crowd pleaser, Big Pete. 

Organisers say thousands of visitors across the North East flocked to the show (Image: James Little Photography)

Competitions in all areas were fiercely contested with fabulous entries within all sections. Show secretary, Sarah Jayne Davidson, said: "It's been absolutely brilliant. We have had an amazing crowd. Everyone is walking around with smiles on their faces.

Tyne Valley Ices served queues of customers (Image: James Little Photography)

"We are so pleased that people come and support us, from people who bring their animals, the people who sponsor us, to the people that spend their hard-earned money to come here.

Homemade crafts were sold (Image: James Little Photography)

“Feedback has been fabulous, it makes the hard work all worthwhile and gives a boost to the volunteers who work so hard all year to bring Bellingham Show together."

Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling competitors (Image: James Little Photography)

This year, organisers introduced a new quiet marquee. Ms Davidson added: "We appreciate attending a show can be an overwhelming experience with lots of people and noise. We wanted to create an area where people could go and take some time out. The marquee included a blackout space, sensory equipment, ear defenders and bean bags for some chill-out time."

Dogs also had their time to shine at Bellingham (Image: James Little Photography)

Industrial Class Trophies

Bellingham Rose Bowl – Margaret Bird
Hugh Thompson Cup – Margaret Bird
Mary Nixon Memorial Trophy – Isobel Wallace
Myers Cup – Mrs A Mullarkey
Eileen Walton Trophy – Margaret Bird
WI Cup – Katrine Anderson
Bellingham Show Cup (Floral) – Jill Swaile
Hexham Courant Trophy (Photography) Myra Jackson
Val & Jonty Hutchinson Trophy – Myra Jackson & Terri Harper
Bellingham Auction Mart Cup (Sticks) – Eddy Forster
Ken Proudlock Memorial Cup (Sticks) – Ian Smith
Jenny & Kate Tankard (Children's classes) – Meg Paterson
Tarset Millenium Shield – Meg Paterson
Joan Forster Shield – Poppy (Wark Primary School)
Joyce Davidson Challenge Cup – Ava Charman
Greenside Shield – Sue Robinson

A variety of musicians performed for audiences at the show (Image: James Little Photography)

Sheep Champions

Blackface Sheep, Scotch Type Champion – S MacKay
Blackface Sheep, Hexham Type Champion – Stuart Robson
Blueface Leicester Champion – Messrs Hunter (Reserve RD Archer & Son)
Mules Champion RD Archer & Son (Reserve RD Archer & Son)
Texel Champion -Messrs Hunter (Reserve Hannah Robinson)
Shetland Coloured Champion P & A Cowan (Reserve Mary Parry)
Shetland White Champion Sue Tyson (Reserve P & A Cowan)
Overall Shetland Reserve – P & A Cowan
Overall Shetland Champion – Sue Tyson

Overall on the field reserve champion  - S Mackay
Overall on the field champion – Messrs Hunter
Champion Group of 3 – Messrs Ridley

Dogs

The Bellingham Horn – Harry Savage, North Tyne
Trophy for the best Children's Pet – Ruairi Armstrong
Tankard for the best Jack Russell Terrier – Owen Liddle
Tankard for the best Lakeland / Patterdale – David Callop
Tankard for the best crossbreed terrier – David Callop

Overall Terrier – Margaret Armstrong (Reserve Owen Liddle)

Horses

Ridden Supreme Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso & Milly Philipson 

Reserve Supreme Dykes Blue Moon & Charlotte Turner

Working Hunter Supreme Martha Todd Tullacommon Sandie

Reserve James Findlay Jedlea Jinks