With nine branches and 983 fully paid-up members, NEMSA is now thought to be the largest sheep breed association in the country. Its core breeding heartlands for association members cover an area stretching from Derbyshire up to the Scottish border and all counties within.

The meeting was also told that the breed, too,remains as strong as ever, with the main high profile members-only ewe lamb sales held at auction marts across the north of England throughout September and October each year achieving total sales of some 246,000 head in 2017, the highest for some time.

The annual meeting unanimously re-elected Randal Raine, of Renwick, near Penrith, as president for his third year in office, while his nephew James Raine, of nearby Kirkoswald, after completing his two-year term as chairman, handed over the reins to the vice-chairman, North Yorkshire’s Kevin Wilson, of Hewness House Farm, Blubberhouses, between Skipton and Harrogate, who was also elected unanimously.

The outgoing chairman thanked all concerned for their support and wished his successor every possible success. “Efforts to further promote the North of England Mule have been commendable. Lamb sales figures were up last year and trade was better than we might have expected. We must continue to collectively market and promote the breed wherever possible – and showcase just what our commercial ewe is capable of,” stressed Mr Raine.

Mr Wilson, who is also a director of Craven Cattle Marts, said he was looking forward to building on the success of both the association and the Mule breed in general, and he agreed with his predecessor that marketing and promotion should be high on his list of priorities. “It is vitally important we get more young people involved. Social media is a powerful tool, particularly among younger generations,  and we must seek to maximise its full potential,” he said.

Other officers elected included Cumbrian sheep farmer Chris Harrison, of Alston,as new-vice chairman, with Mule breeder Jeff Burrow, of Kendal, re-elected treasurer.

Officials also paid tribute to the ongoing support and generosity of NEMSA’s two main long-term sponsors, Shearwell Data and Animax, which has been supporting the association for more than 30 years. Animax’s GB sales manager Jim Adair and North of England representative Tom Rayner handed over a cheque for £2,500.

The meeting, held at North Ribblesdale Rugby Club, (Monday, February 12) welcomed another member of the Raine family, the president’s cousin David Raine, of Old Parks, Kirkoswald, as guest speaker. The upland sheep farmer and NFU Cumbria County chairman is a true champion and informed spokesperson on behalf of the UK sheep sector.

NEMSA was established in 1980 to promote the many attributes of the Mule sheep to both breeders and purchasers alike.The North of England Mule, a cross-bred sheep sired by the Bluefaced Leicester ram,with either a Swaledale or Northumberland type Blackface dam, is renowned for her hardiness, thriftiness, longevity and prolificacy.

NEMSA secretary Marion Hope is on 01387 371777, email nemsa@btinternet.com