Mr Fisher was doubly delighted with his first-ever championship success at Skipton, as he also works at the mart as a stockman and show steward.

He has only been keeping Wensleydales for three years and secured the overall title with his first prize shearling ewe and female champion, by the Welsh-bred Maesafon Leonard Lloyd, out of a Maesafon Burton-sired dam.

The well-bred ewe has won every show class she has been entered for this year, including becoming first prize shearling gimmer at the Great Yorkshire Show and champion at Ripley Show. She sold for 380gns to W Rogerson, of Singleton, near Preston.

Show judge Chris Stacey, a Wensleydale breeder from Buckfastleigh in South Devon, described his champion as “exhibiting really good feminine qualities.”

He also said the victor was more of working sheep than his chosen reserve supreme, the first prize aged ram and overall male champion from breed stalwarts and former Skipton champions John and Shelagh Prescott, of West End Far, Longhorsley, near Morpeth in Northumberland.

Home-bred by their own West End Hedgehope, out of a dam sired by Hunton Franklin, bred by the Pedleys, the reserve champion made 340gns on joining D Elsworth in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The Prescotts were also responsible for all three prize winners in the shearling ram show class. Their red rosette winner, by RM Beachcomber, out of an Endrigs Galaxy-sired dam, made 390gns, top price in show, on joining Wallburn Hall Farms in Richmond.

Scottish breeder John McHardy, who runs the Endrigs pedigree flock at Kilmany in Cupar, near Fife, was also among the trophies when presenting the first prize ewe lamb and reserve female champion, home-bred by Endrigs Star Trek, out of a Princethorpe Harry’s Bar-sired dam. She sold for 190gns to the show judge.

He was also responsible for the first prize ram lamb and reserve male champion, another product of Princethorpe Harry’s Bar, out of an Endrigs Eclipse-sired dam. The buyer at 250gns was M Bennett, of Penrith.

Averages: Ewe lambs £157.50, shearling ewes £208.69, ram lambs £100.63, shearling rams £208.43.

Challenge prizes were awarded as follows: The Fawell Perpetual Challenge Cup for the champion sheep and the John Percival Trophy for the best female of any age – Andrew Fisher. The Burton Silver Teapot, re-presented by P Ashby, for the best shearling or aged ram, The John Percival Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best shearling ram bred by the exhibitor, and The Smalley Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best ram of any age - John and Shelagh Prescott. The Fawell Silver Coffee Pot, re-presented by P Ashby, for the best ram lamb, and The Nettleton Perpetual Silver Salver for the best fleshed ram lamb – John McHardy.

Show results: Aged ram – 1 John and Shelagh Prescott, Longhorsley. Shearling ram – 1, 2 & 3 John and Shelagh Prescott. Ram lamb – 1 John McHardy, Kilmany, 2 Nick Oliver, Carperby, 3, Yvonne Mudd, Knaresborough. Ewe lamb – 1&3 John McHardy, 2 Nick Oliver. Shearling ewe – 1&2 Andrew Fisher, Low Laithe, 3 Eddie Sherwin, Nosterfield.

The Wensleydale show and sale formed part of CCM Skipton’s annual Rare & Native Stock Breeders Auctions of rare, minority and traditional breeds of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.