A SHEEP breed society is returning to its roots when it stages its national show in Northumberland.

The English National North Country Cheviot show will, for the first time, be held at Glendale Show in Wooler on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Each year Glendale Show attracts hundreds of entries across its Commercial, Continental and Native breed sheep classes, alongside a huge showcase of other livestock including cattle, goats, equine and donkey classes.

The six North Country Hill Type Cheviot sheep classes, sponsored by Rix Petroleum, have attracted entries from as far away as Somerset. They will be judged by Hugh Wilson, from Moffat while the North Country Park Type Cheviots, will be judged by Melfyn Williams of Anglesey.

Dallas Allen, of Humbleheugh and Stupehill near Alnwick, NCC pedigree breeder and a council member for the North of England North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, said: “Historically, Glendale Show has had the best display of North Country Cheviots in England and this is their homecoming.

"As a society, we really are thrilled that Glendale Agricultural Society have embraced this competition from the outset, and I would like to thank the Society our two main sponsors Harrison and Hetherington and Scott JCB, and our all of our other supporters who are making this day possible.”

Andrew Walton, show director, said: “It is a huge honour for the Glendale Agricultural Society to be invited to host such a prestigious competition and it will, undoubtedly, be one of the highlights in the livestock section this year.

"Being a North Country Cheviot Sheep Competition, it could not be held in more fitting a place, here at the foot of Cheviot, in Wooler, a town referred to as the Gateway to the Cheviot Hills."

The culmination of the show is the judging of the Champion of Champions sponsored by Harrison and Hetherington, with the Sheep Interbreed Champion, Goat Champion, Donkey Champion, Overall Cattle Champion and Overall Hunter Champion, all competing against each other.

The Carrs Billington Livestock Points Competition rewards the exhibitor who collects the most points in the classes.

The show, which attracts more than 15,000 visitors, also boasts one of the largest horticultural and industrial displays in the North of England and hundreds of trade stands, craft and food marquees.

Throughout the day, there is entertainment in the main ring, a companion dog show, fell race, live music and family fairground.

Full details and tickets can be found at www.glendaleshow.com or from the show office on 01668283868.