NSA North Sheep 2019 was judged one of the best yet with more than 5,000 people attending the event in North Yorkshire.

The Frankland family hosted the day at New Hall Farm, near Rathmell, Settle, and Thomas Carrick, NSA North Sheep chairman, was "over the moon" with its success and thanked the family for their hard work and commitment to the event.

He said: "The stock especially are a credit to the hard work of the entire family. This is a family farm, and family farms such as this are very much at the core of the sheep industry. This was a very good day out and the highlight, for me, was the Farm Tour.

"There was a huge amount of social support from local people in the area. The seminars gave fantastic business advice and as anticipated, people were really there to look, listen and learn, and this has never been so evident through the seminars. Across the day, the sheep were consistent, well looked after and of the very highest quality – the cross-terminal sires, especially, produce really high-end butcher’s lambs.

More than 3,000 of the visitors went on the farm tours. Richard Frankland said: "We really enjoyed hosting this event and were overwhelmed with the response and feedback from everyone. North Sheep would certainly have not been possible without the support from local friends and neighbours. On behalf of the entire family, I would like to thank them all very much indeed."

Visitors saw some of the highest calibre sheep and cattle in the region and learnt about the practical aspects of the farm, including the breeding and feeding regimes.

The day also focused on key issues including sheep exports, share farming, sheep health and welfare, and the future for Environmental Land Management Schemes.

The seminars were packed and it was apparent from the seminar on Environmental Land Management Schemes that farmers are looking for simpler national based schemes with an outcome-based approach. The speakers were keen to highlight that 'productivity and environmental improvements need to go hand in hand' and said that there are opportunities for farmers - but they need to be grasped.

Shearing is a vital skill and, in a competition, sponsored by British Wool, there was a strongly fought battle between the county YFC's. Lancashire won with Cumbria second and Yorkshire third.

The ‘Next Generation Shepherd’ competition provided 15 young shepherds and shepherdesses with the chance to show their skills across five different areas.

The winner was Matthew Fearon from Keswick. Michael Hogg, from Washington, was second and Thomas Watson from County Durham, was third. A challenging competition the judges said "the calibre of entrants was exceptional and demonstrated that the industry has some very capable young shepherds."

Thomas Watson, who had earlier urged people to support the event. said: "When I first met the Frankland family, their aim was to make this the best North Sheep ever, and seeing its size and the number of people that attended is very much a statement of the importance of this event to the industry.

"It was great to see so many farmers getting off their own farms to enjoy a day out, listen to the “crack” and see this fantastic farm. NSA North Sheep is a feel-good event and a happy, social occasion for the farming industry."

Other results included. - Best Breeder stand: 1 Wannops Farm Limited; 2 Thornburrow and Sons; 3 NC Marston. Breed Society stand: 1 Blackface Sheep Breeders Association; 2 Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association; 3 Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association. Indoor stand: 1 Gisburn Auction Mart; 2 l’Anson Bros; 3 Hawes Auction Mart. Outdoor stand: 1 Townson Tractors Ltd; 2 Taylor ATV; 3 Ellipse Fabrications.