A FARMER is celebrating after he won a new memorial trophy for having the supreme animal on show at Eggleston Show.

Simon Haley, Marland Lodge, Eggleston, won the first ever John and Ethel Bainbridge Memorial Trophy with his Highland Cattle at the 138th Eggleston Show this weekend.

The trophy was introduced this year for the best animal drawn from the cattle, sheep and horse classes.

Mr Haley also clinched the High Dales Meat Company Trophy and the Chatsworth Windows Cup as his cows were named the champion Highland Cattle.

He said: “We were up at 4.30am to get the cows ready for the show and it makes all of the hard work worthwhile when you win like this.

“We’ve only been showing for six years but this is a local show for us and we like to come and support it.”

Trainee teenage auctioneer, Jimmy Fawcett, 16, of Barnard Castle, won the title for the show’s best beef cattle classes.

Mr Fawcett’s 16-month-old Belgian blue cross took the EAS Silver Challenge Cup.

He said: “It was a fairly difficult competition and it came as a bit of a surprise when we won. It’s been a very successful day.”

Teenager Henry Jewitt, 18, of Gracie’s Farm, Romaldkirk, won the EAS Prepetual Trophy for having the champion Beltex sheep with his tup lamb.

He said: “We were hoping to do well but you never know how hard the competition is until you get to the show.

“We come to Eggleston on a regular basis and it’s about the sixth time that I have won the Beltex championship.”

Show secretary Roy Oxby said: “The show has gone really well and it’s been a success.

“This is the second year that the show has been based back at Eggleston and we’ve attracted more than 4,000 visitors.”