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The Derbyshire Gritstone Sheepbreeders Society |
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The Derbyshire Gritstone Sheepbreeders Society |
The DGSS Breed Show has been held annually on August Bank Holiday Monday at Hope Show in the Peak District, Derbyshire for many years.
To celebrate the centenary of the Derbyshire Gritstone Sheepbreeders Society in 2006, Hope Show in conjunction with DGSS held the “Champion of Champions” competition open to the Supreme Champion Derbyshire Gritstone sheep from all the shows held in 2006 prior to the breed show. These included The Royal, the Royal Lancashire, the Great Yorkshire, and the Royal Welsh as well as Gritstone breeders local shows including Bakewell, Bury, Chipping, Great Harwood, Halifax , Honley , Mottram, Poynton, Todmorden and Trawden. The Championship was judged jointly by a team of judges including Mr John Whitworh DGSS Chairman, Mr John Bowler, current flockmaster of “Torgate” one of the founder flocks and Mrs Gill Napper.
The centenary show was supported by the late Duke of Devonshire who provided engraved tankards and prize money for the champion and reserve champions of champions in recognition of the part his ancestor the 8 th Duke of Devonshire had in taking the Presidency at the inauguration of the DGSS.
Centenary Rosettes were presented to the champion ram bred by John Terry and the reserve champion shearling ram bred by David Eggleton who received £150 and £ 75 respectively kindly donated by the Duke and Mr Stephen Charles
The ‘Champion of Champions' also received a commemorative ‘Percy Wheelton Trophy in remembrance of Percy, a lifelong member of the Society. This was kindly presented by Mr Steven Charles, Grandson of Percy Wheelton .
The Champion of Champions competition continues to this day at Hope Show. The winner of the Derbyshire Gritstone Champion of Champions 2010 was J & S Scrivin with a shearling ewe. The reserve champion Derbyshire Gritstone Champion of Champions 2010 was J & S Scrivin with a 4 shear ram.
Hope Show which is held annually on its own showground near Castleton in the Peak District's Hope Valley , is a traditional agricultural show with cattle, sheep, horses, gundogs and most recently alpacas all having their own classes.
Hope Show is always held on August Bank Holiday Monday and therefore this year's show is Monday 29th August 2011. More information about Hope Show can be found on the show website www.hopeshow.org.uk