The annual Masham Sheep Fair will return this weekend.
The two-day event, which began over 30 years ago, commemorates the market town’s long history of sheep farming.
Founded by Susan Cunliffe-Lister, it was intended to be a one-off event to raise money for farmers in Africa but has become one of the biggest events in the Harrogate district.
Pic credit: Guy Carpenter
The fair began raising money for Yorkshire-based charities and has since amassed nearly £160,000.
Until the First World War, up to 70,000 sheep would be bought and sold in Masham every year.
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Visitors can expect a wide range of activities. From school exhibitions, flower festivals and wool competitions, to sheep shows, brewery tours and sheepdog displays, the weekend promises fun for all the family.
It is free to attend and will be held around the Market Place, with activities beginning at 10am tomorrow and on Sunday.
A full breakdown of the weekend can be found here.
Masham Sheep Fair to return this weekendThe annual Masham Sheep Fair will return to the town on Saturday and Sunday.
The fair commemorates Masham’s rich history of sheep farming and is one of the biggest events in the Harrogate district.
Susan Cunliffe-Lister and other volunteers started the sheep fair 30 years ago, initially as a one-off event to raise money for farmers in Africa.
It raised £7,950 and became an annual event, now raising £159,000 for Yorkshire charities.
She wanted to bring back an old tradition. Until the First World War, sheep farmers from across the Dales used to come to Masham each year to buy and sell as many as 80,000 sheep over the course of a few days.
Nowadays sheep farmers from across the UK come to Masham to compete. There are other events like sheepdog trials, tours of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries, morris dancing, fleece stalls and even sheep racing to keep the crowds entertained.
Read more:
The schedule for the fair is below:
Saturday:
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10.00 – Town Hall & School exhibitions open
10.00 – Harvest display & refreshments in Methodist Chapel 10.45 – Judging of Sheep Show commences 10.45 – Flower Festival opens in St. Mary’s Church 11.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall 12.00 – Trips around Theakston’s & Black Sheep Breweries start 12.00 – Sheep racing in field beyond churchyard 12.30 – Sheepdog demonstrations in field beyond churchyard 13.00 – Judging of Supreme Champion in Sheep Show 13.45 – Bishop Blaize procession from Maple Creek to the Square 14.00 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall 14.30 – Sheep racing over the sticks 15.00 – Sheepdog demonstration in field beyond churchyard 15.00 – Handbell ringing in Church 15.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall |
Sunday:
10.00 – Town Hall & School exhibitions open
10.30 – Morning Service in Methodist Chapel
10.45 – Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service at St. Mary’s Church
10.45 – Judging of Sheep Show commences
11.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
12.00 – Flower Festival opens in St. Mary’s Church
12.00 – Trips around Theakston’s & Black Sheep Breweries start
12.00 – Sheep racing in field beyond churchyard
12.00 – Refreshments start at Methodist Church
12.30 – Sheepdog demonstrations in field beyond churchyard
13.00 – Judging of Supreme Champion in Sheep Show
13.45 – Bishop Blaize procession from Maple Creek to the Square
14.00 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
14.30 – Sheep racing over the sticks
15.00 – Sheepdog demonstration in field beyond churchyard
15.00 – Handbell ringing in Church
15.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
18.30 – Songs of Praise service in Methodist Chapel
In this article, which is part of a series on the 15 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2021, we look at the return of the show in a year in which many smaller agricultural events in the district fell victim to covid again.
The Great Yorkshire Show in July signalled a brief return to some sort of normality after covid decimated another year of outdoor events.
The show was cancelled last year and the venue’s Yorkshire Event Centre was converted into a covid vaccination site in the early months of the year.
For a while, it seemed possible that Yorkshire’s flagship farming event might have to be cancelled for a second year running. But the Yorkshire Agricultural Society took the decision to hold it over four days so visitors could spread out — and the risk paid off.
Prince Charles at the show
The Stray Ferret attended all four sun-kissed days to watch award-winning goats, sample delicious local food and drink, and we were front row for a surprise royal visit when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended.
The couple arrived at lunchtime on day three and were greeted by hundreds of visitors at the gate.
Prince Charles spent time inspecting sheep, while the Duchess of Cornwall visited the children’s discovery zone.
Both also took time out to speak with the many visitors and exhibitors, including Phil Airey from Harrogate gardening charity Horticap.
The Stray Ferret’s videos of the royal couple attending the event and leaving the Stray via helicopter went viral and received over 200,000 views on our Facebook page. You can view them on our YouTube page here and here.
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- Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show to remain four-day event
- Emotional Harrogate reunion for Puss the cat and her Scottish owners
This year’s show also got a happy (and emotional) ending a week after it ended.
Farmer David Mitchell and his wife Annette drove 200 miles from East Ayrshire to be reunited with the intrepid Puss the Cat, who they feared was lost forever after she bolted from his trailer after sneaking in and hitching a ride to Harrogate.
Many shows cancelled
But although the Great Yorkshire Show went ahead, and will remain a four-day event in 2022, other agricultural shows weren’t as fortunate.
Nidderdale Show, which usually attracts about 15,000 people to Pateley Bridge in September, was cancelled.
So was Ripley Show, Birstwith Show and Tockwith Show, with organisers citing concerns over health, logistics and the extension of social distancing restrictions.
Masham Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally called off its summer event, citing “too many uncertainties to proceed”.
But the unique Masham Sheep Fair went ahead in September.
Masham Sheep Fair
There is no other event like it in the district. As well as sheep judging, it offered sheepdog trials, tours of the Theakston and Black Sheep breweries, Morris dancing, fleece stalls and even sheep racing to keep the crowds entertained.
Organiser Susan Cunliffe-Lister told the Stray Ferret she was determined to hold the fair this year despite uncertainty over covid.
Weeton Show also decided to proceed and was rewarded with a sell-out crowd and glorious sun.
Agricultural shows are a major part of the district’s summer life and many people will be hoping they return en masse in 2022.
Crowds flock to Masham for return of sheep fairThe Masham Sheep Fair commentator is setting the scene over a PA as visitors arrive at the Market Place this morning.
The centre of Masham has been taken over for the weekend by crowds observing different breeds of sheep in pens and and farmers wearing white jackets.
He says:
“Let the Eau De Sheep waft around the town and into your nostrils.”
Susan Cunliffe-Lister set up the first Masham Sheep Fair in 1986, which was initially to raise money for farmers in Africa.
She wanted to bring back an old tradition. Until the First World War, she said sheep farmers from across the Dales used to come to Masham each year to buy and sell as many as 80,000 sheep over the course of a few days.
Mina Wilson (left), Susan Cunliffe-Lister (centre), Susan Briggs (right)
Nowadays sheep farmers from across the UK come to Masham to compete. There are other events like sheepdog trials, tours of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries, morris dancing, fleece stalls even sheep racing to keep the crowds entertained.
The event raises thousands of pounds for charity each year, with this year’s pot donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Ms Cunliffe-Lister told the Stray Ferret she was determined to hold the fair this year despite uncertainty over covid.
“We were always going to try. Everybody is pleased to see each other.”
Nat Lofthouse
Lancashire farmer Kevin Gaskell is here showing his Jacob sheep, which have distinctive horns.
His best tup is called Lofthouse, which has four crossing horns that look vaguely demonic.
But with all the right markings, Kevin thinks he has the potential to be a prize winner.
Kevin Gaskell and Lofthouse the sheep.
Kevin has been coming to Masham to show sheep for six years. He’s picked up two championships, which would become three later in the morning when Lofthouse fulfills his potential and scoops the top prize.
The sheep is named after the legendary Bolton Wanderers footballer. He said:
“Nat Lofthouse is a bit of a hero”.
Masham farmer Pamela Lupton is here showing Suffolk sheep. When asked what makes a good Suffolk she said:
“It depends on the judge!”
Pamela Lupton and her Suffolk sheep.
One of her Suffolks won the top prize at The Great Yorkshire Show this summer but she said she’s most proud of her home town fair.
“This is my local and I love it here.”
Sheep-racing
At 12pm the first sheep race starts, where lines of spectators jostle to get a good view down both sides of a makeshift racetrack. A farmer waves a bucket of food which is chased by four hungry sheep towards the finishing line, which is a trough.
The sheep are given names like David Atten-baaa and Blee-ta Thunberg.
The sheep race towards the finishing line.
“It’s like the Tour de Yorkshire!” says one spectator.
For a pound, you can have a punt on the winner, with all money raised going to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
One woman waves her ticket in the air and hopes it’s a winner.
Excitement builds for Masham Sheep Fair this weekend“It makes it more exciting, if it wasn’t exciting enough.”
Masham Sheep Fair will take place this weekend and promises to be a celebration of all things sheep farming.
The fair, which commemorates Masham’s rich history of sheep farming, is one of the biggest annual events in the Harrogate district and provides a major boost for tourism in the Dales’ town.
Susan Cunliffe-Lister and other volunteers started the sheep fair 30 years ago, initially as a one-off event to raise money for farmers in Africa. It raised £7,950 and became an annual event, now raising £159,000 for Yorkshire charities.
Attractions include sheep racing, sheepdog demonstrations, craft and fleece stalls, Morris dancers, tours of Masham’s Theakston and Black Sheep breweries and a children’s fair.
There is also a large sheep show in which various breeds are judged and supreme champions decided.
Read more:
- Masham brewery brings back tours after 18 months
- Masham’s Black Sheep Brewery signs renewable energy deal
The schedule for the sheep fair is below.
Saturday
10.00 – Town Hall & School exhibitions open
10.00 – Harvest display & refreshments in Methodist Chapel
10.45 – Judging of Sheep Show commences
10.45 – Flower Festival opens in St. Mary’s Church
11.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
12.00 – Trips around Theakston’s & Black Sheep Breweries start
12.00 – Sheep racing in field beyond churchyard
12.30 – Sheepdog demonstrations in field beyond churchyard
13.00 – Judging of Supreme Champion in Sheep Show
13.45 – Bishop Blaize procession from Maple Creek to the Square
14.00 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
14.30 – Sheep racing over the sticks
15.00 – Sheepdog demonstration in field beyond churchyard
15.00 – Handbell ringing in Church
15.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
Sunday
10.00 – Town Hall & School exhibitions open
10.30 – Morning Service in Methodist Chapel
10.45 – Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service at St. Mary’s Church
10.45 – Judging of Sheep Show commences
11.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
12.00 – Flower Festival opens in St. Mary’s Church
12.00 – Trips around Theakston’s & Black Sheep Breweries start
12.00 – Sheep racing in field beyond churchyard
12.00 – Refreshments start at Methodist Church
12.30 – Sheepdog demonstrations in field beyond churchyard
13.00 – Judging of Supreme Champion in Sheep Show
13.45 – Bishop Blaize procession from Maple Creek to the Square
14.00 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
14.30 – Sheep racing over the sticks
15.00 – Sheepdog demonstration in field beyond churchyard
15.00 – Handbell ringing in Church
15.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
18.30 – Songs of Praise service in Methodist Chapel
Masham Sheep Fair is to go-ahead on September 25 and 26 as planned, the organisers announced last night.
The fair, which commemorates Masham’s rich history of sheep farming, is one of the biggest annual events in the Harrogate district.
It provides a major boost for tourism in the Dales town so the decision to proceed, after last year’s event was cancelled due to covid, will be welcomed by many.
Susan Cunliffe-Lister and other volunteers started the sheep fair 30 years ago, initially as a one-off event to raise money for farmers in Africa. It raised £7,950 and became an annual event, raising £159,000 for Yorkshire charities.
We are pleased to confirm that Masham Sheep Fair WILL take place on 25th and 26th September. Full details on https://t.co/XAIl8VVvI5 Click on image for main features pic.twitter.com/3JoJ0Dy4m2
— Susan Briggs (@Dales_Tourism) September 6, 2021
Attractions include sheep racing, sheepdog demonstrations, craft and fleece stalls, Morris dancers, tours of Masham’s Theakston and Black Sheep breweries and a children’s fair.
There is also a large sheep show in which various breeds are judged and supreme champions decided.
Many traditional Harrogate district summer events were cancelled for a second year running this year due to covid, including Masham Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally, Ripley Show and Nidderdale Show at Pateley Bridge, which was due to take place less than a week before the sheep fair.
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