Pat Machray OBE judges a strong Suffolk entry as breeders showcase the strength and future of the breed

Date: 15th July 2026

Judge: Pat Machray OBE, Middlemuir Flock

Suffolk Classes at the Great Yorkshire Show 2026

Judging for the Suffolk classes at the Great Yorkshire Show took place at 9.00am on Wednesday 15 July 2026, in near-perfect conditions for showing livestock before the heat of the day arrived.

Taking control of the ring was past President of the Society and current President of the Royal Highland Show, Pat Machray OBE, who was appointed judge for the Suffolk classes in 2026. Pat, from the Middlemuir flock in Aberdeenshire, has a highly experienced eye for stock and adds the Great Yorkshire Show to an impressive list of shows where he has officiated.

Breeders from across the North of England and beyond turned out in force, ensuring the Suffolk sheep presence at the Great Yorkshire Show was strongly felt. The packed ringside witnessed a superb display of quality stock, demonstrating that the Suffolk breed continues to go from strength to strength.

Overall Champion: JJ Tooze’s Spittal Flock

The Overall Champion came from one of the breed’s long-time show teams and great supporters of the Society’s shows and sales Mrs JJ Tooze, Spittal flock.

Her shearling ewe, DYX:25:00114, stood first in its class before being tapped out by Pat Machray as Female Champion, and then went on to claim the title of Great Yorkshire Show Suffolk Overall Champion 2026.

Sired by Birness Bees Knees by natural service and from a home-bred ewe, DYX:22:00024, this outstanding female has a back pedigree packed with strong flock names from across the breed.

The combination of strong genetics and careful breeding has produced an exceptional ewe that will undoubtedly prove a valuable asset to the future of the Spittal Flock.

Reserve Overall Champion: Limestone God Mode

The Reserve Overall Championship was awarded to the shearling ram from RK Denby, Carnforth flock.

The family exhibited a purchased stock ram, Limestone God Mode KPC:25:02930, which they own in partnership with the Blackroots flock of Charles Denby and the Studholme flock of C&S Armstrong.

Purchased for 5,200gns at the Suffolk Spectacular Northern Counties Branch Sale at H&H Borderway Mart in 2025, where he was also Champion of the Show, the shearling ram has already made a significant impact.

Standing first in the shearling ram class, he progressed to become Male Champion before being selected by the judge as Reserve Overall Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show 2026.

Reserve Male Champion: Cannonhallbrown Flock

The Reserve Male Championship went to the relatively new members, Cannonhallbrown flock, who made an impressive first appearance at the Great Yorkshire Show. Cannonhallbrown has invested heavily in genetics from flocks across the territory, following the philosophy of starting with the best and building from that. The results of this investment will be closely watched in the years ahead.

Their trimmed ram lamb, PNZ:26:01737, caught the judge’s eye and secured the class win.

Purchased privately for £12,000 from Paddy Grant’s Craigdoo flock at Balmoral Show in 2026, the lamb is sired by Limestone Juggernaut and out of a home-bred ewe.

Reserve Female Champion: Richard Batty’s Tidalview Flock

The Reserve Female Championship was awarded to Richard Batty’s Tidalview flock, with his shearling ewe impressing the judge after finishing second in class behind the eventual Overall Champion.

Another relatively new entrant to the breed, Tidalview demonstrated that their investment in quality breeding stock can compete successfully on the biggest stage.

The ewe, A58:25:01174, was purchased for 3,000gns at the Suffolk Spectacular in 2025 from the Carnforth flock, where she stood second prize gimmer in the show.

Sired by Sportsmans Star Man and out of the home-bred female A58:20:00806, she proves that the Denbys and their customers know what they are about.

Pairs and Group of Three Success: Topgun Flock

Ali Jackson’s team produced an outstanding performance in the group competitions, securing both the Pairs Championship and the Group of Three Championship with a stylish team of sheep that consistently caught the eye of judge. His sheep went on to win Sheep Interbreed Group of Three.

The Scottish breeder enjoyed a highly successful trip south, with the Topgun flock also claiming second place in the Shearling Ram class, second in the Ram Lamb class, second in the Trimmed Ram Lamb class, third in the Shearling Ewe class and fifth in the Ewe Lamb class.

Overall, it was an excellent Great Yorkshire Show for the Topgun flock and a fitting endorsement of the quality and consistency of its breeding programme.

Great Yorkshire Show 2026 – Full Suffolk Results

Shearling Ram

1st – RK Denby – Carnforth (Male Champion & Breed Reserve Champion)
2nd – A Jackson – Topgun
3rd – P Lupton – Kexbeck
4th – J Findlay – Westerdale
5th – K Crossley – Cobclough
6th – S Read – Read

Ram Lamb (Trimmed)

1st – P Brown – Cannonhallbrown (Male Reserve Champion)
2nd – A Jackson – Topgun
3rd – A Mitchell – Grassknop
4th – K Crossley – Cobclough
5th – K Brannen – Moorsley
6th – RK Denby – Carnforth

Ram Lamb (Untrimmed)

1st – K Brannen – Moorsley
2nd – K Brannen – Moorsley
3rd – J Lawn – Manywells
4th – J Findlay – Westerdale

Ewe – Two Shear or Over (Having Reared a Lamb in the Current Year)

1st – K Crossley – Cobclough
2nd – A Mitchell – Grassknop
3rd – S Read – Read
4th – Cannon Hall Farm – Cannonhallbrown
5th – J Findlay – Westerdale
6th – E Kelly – Poakabeck

Shearling Ewe

1st – JJ Tooze – Spittal (Female Champion & Breed Champion)
2nd – R Batty – Tidalview (Female Reserve Champion)
3rd – A Jackson – Topgun
4th – A Mitchell – Grassknop
5th – P Lupton – Kexbeck
6th – RK Denby – Carnforth

Ewe Lamb (Trimmed)

1st – D Reid – Conchar
2nd – A Mitchell – Grassknop
3rd – RK Denby – Carnforth
4th – P Lupton – Kexbeck
5th – A Jackson – Topgun
6th – A Mitchell – Grassknop

Ewe Lamb (Untrimmed)

1st – P Lupton – Kexbeck
2nd – RK Denby – Carnforth
3rd – J Lawn – Manywells
4th – P Brannen – Moorsley
5th – S Read – Read
6th – P Brannen – Moorsley

Pairs

1st – A Jackson – Topgun
2nd – P Lupton – Kexbeck
3rd – RK Denby – Carnforth
4th – J Findlay – Westerdale
5th – K Crossley – Cobclough
6th – A Mitchell – Grassknop

Group of Three

1st – A Jackson – Topgun
2nd – P Lupton – Kexbeck
3rd – K Crossley – Cobclough
4th – S Read – Read
5th – RK Denby – Carnforth
6th – K Bachelor – Stoneyraikes

Championship Honours

Breed Champion – JJ Tooze – Spittal – Shearling Ewe

Breed Reserve Champion – RK Denby – Carnforth – Shearling Ram

Male Champion – RK Denby – Carnforth – Shearling Ram

Male Reserve Champion – P Brown – Cannonhallbrown – Trimmed Ram Lamb

Female Champion – J Tooze – Spittal – Shearling Ewe

Female Reserve Champion – R Batty – Tidalview – Shearling Ewe