ASKHAM Bryan College has held its annual stockmanship competition for its agriculture and equine students.

It is designed to introduce first year Level 3 Agriculture students to the principles of preparing an animal for show.

There are classes for dairy, beef animals and sheep, and equine classes.

The dairy classes involved heifers bred from the college’s own cows at Westfield Farm, and the beef were from a group of 27 Charollais-cross steers purchased at Longtown auction mart.

The sheep were from the college’s own Texel/Beltex cross gimmer hoggs.

The students are in charge of diet, exercise and grooming and, in the case of those showing the livestock, they also have to train their animal to walk on a halter.

Students were assessed on their presentation, knowledge and handling of the animal, as well as personal presentation.

Liz Philip, college principal, said: “The calibre and quality of the students increases year on year.

“They show an enormous amount of commitment and effort in their preparations to deliver such very high standards of stockmanship.”

The overall title of Stocksperson of the Year went to the sheep class winner, Stephen Short, 17, from Halifax.

Results

Dairy. – 1 Rosie Howarth, 17, Pickering; 2 Daisy Hibberd, 17, Sheffield; 3 Josh Szczoczarz, 16, Warter.

Beef. – 1 Christopher Walker, 16, Northallerton; 2 Alexandra Myers, 17, Pickering; 3 Sam Coote, 18, County Durham.

Sheep. – 1 Stephen Short, 17, Halifax; 2 Evie Metcalfe, 16, Market Weighton; 3 George Pugh, 16, Pontefract.

Equine. – Champion: Stephanie Denney, 16, Malton. Reserve: Rhiannon Woods, 17, Selby.

Heavyweight hunter: 1 Stephanie Denney, 16, Malton; 2 Anya Williams- Moore, 17, Sheffield; 3 Tyler Smith, 18, Wakefield.

Lightweight hunter: 1 Rhiannon Woods, 17, Selby; 2 Darcy Carter, 16, Leeds; 3 Nicole Morritt, 17, Doncaster. Riding club horse: 1 Amy Marshall, 22, Nottingham; 2 Gabrielle Fallon, 17, Leeds; 3 Sarah Jones, 17, Whitby.

Heavyweight cob: 1 Hope Seale, 18, Wakefield; 2 Abbie Winstanley, 16, Richmond; 3 Kelly-Marie Roberts, 18, Bradford. Lightweight cob and pony: 1 Danielle McIntyre, 17, Harrogate; 2 Shauna Fox, 18, Knottingley; 3 Nina Whitely, 17, Doncaster.