Young farmer inspired by family - 'I love the excitement of showing'

Building

The family run 240 Swaledale ewes and 100 Mule ewes, with one-third going to Swaledale tups and the rest to a Bluefaced Leicester. Gimmer lambs are sold to North West Auctions and the farm has fell rights on Kentmere Common.

Now, though, Alice is concentrating on her flock of Derbyshire Gritstones, reluctantly bought by George but adored by his daughter after seeing them at Kilnsey Show. They are one of the oldest breeds in Britain, but their hardiness and quiet nature suits Alice and the area.

George says: “A few days after [the show] she said to me ‘I’d like some sheep – Derbyshire Gritstones’. I asked why, but she’d fallen in love with them, so I gave in.”

She now runs 22 Gritstones, focusing on growing numbers and making a name for herself at shows.

Alice says: “In 2017 I bought a second-prize shearling and that sheep has done well for me. It was the first proper breeding sheep I bought.

“This year I’ve put some Gritstones to Texel tups and put some Leicester ewes to a Gritstone tup.”

Fine-tuning her showring skills is also one of Alice’s priorities and after a shaky start in 2018, she returned last year to win a number of awards at Lowick and Kentmere shows. Alice says: “I can show in native and rare breed classes.

Westmorland Show has been one of the biggest for me because it’s the only Gritstone class around here and a lot of big breeders show there.

“I first showed in 2018 and I didn’t do that well, but I was still happy and thought I would go back.

“Then in 2019, I did quite well – I got plenty of second placings and they were in quite big classes.

“I’ve won a few champion titles as well, which I’m really pleased about.” At Countryside Live, Alice was also overwhelmed to have won the Champion Young Handler Award, which qualifies her for the Young Shepherd of the Year Award in the rare breed category.

George, who is evidently pleased of his daughter’s determination, says: “What I admire about her is she’s really put the time in.” The family also appreciates the social aspect of attending shows, given that it is miles to reach anywhere from Brow Top.

“I love the excitement of showing, especially the shows which last a couple of days,” says Alice.

“I never go expecting anything and I’m proud of my sheep, but I like getting to know breeders and gaining tips. It’s such a social event.”

Social media has been a huge help in promoting Alice’s flock, and she also puts up posters about the Gritstones at events, especially as ‘people are attracted to their look’.

But more than anything, for Alice it has been about building confidence and through Instagram, Twitter and her presence at shows, she feels she is now raising her profile as a breeder

Reputation

“Someone said to me at a sale recently ‘I hear you’ve got some really good tup lambs’,” she says.

“I’ve started to become more known in the [Gritstone] society and I got most of my home-bred sheep and gimmer lambs registered this year.”

She is hoping to take on the three-year agriculture course at Newton Rigg, with a view to gaining experience in a different sector, perhaps on a dairy farm, she says. And there is talk of camping or accommodation as the area is renowned for walking.

“We’re in such a good area,” says Alice. “I will always love my sheep, but I also like the dairy side and I want to learn.

“I don’t remember the cows when they were here. I really would like to take this farm on when I’m older, but with the way farming is going I’d probably have to have another job too.”

George and Sarah are happy to see Alice forge her own path, and if she wants to take on Brow Top then it is there for her. Growing her Gritstone flock, venturing to college and making a name for herself is Alice’s next chapter, and with the continual support of her family, she looks set for success.

But like any father/daughter relationship, they have their moments.

“We do get on really well, but there are odd times when I’ll say, ‘let’s do it this way,” says Alice, as George admits that he ‘has to stop and think because it comes so naturally, but you have to take a step back’.

The family are beyond close after watching and supporting George through his illness, but if there was a word to sum up how they feel about Alice and her achievements so far, they both, of course, settle on ‘proud’.