Yorkshire Valais Blacknose takes the event’s top honour in Carlisle as landmark anniversary celebrates new Championship successes and record-breaking trade.
H&H Borderway Mart in Carlisle provided the stage for a memorable 10th anniversary Blacknose Beauties National Show & Sale, held on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd August 2026.
The Valais Blacknose Society’s flagship event brought breeders, visitors and buyers together from across the UK and overseas, with international visitors attending in person and audiences around the world following the event online. Attracting more than 300 entries, the landmark event celebrated a decade of Blacknose Beauties while continuing to create new milestones for the breed.
Taking the event’s highest accolade was aged tup Yorkshire Langver, from the Yorkshire Valais Blacknose flock, who was crowned Overall Supreme Champion and Male Champion. The result marked a first Championship success for Scott and family, adding a new flock name to the roll of Supreme Champions in the event’s anniversary year.
Ram lamb Cumberland Nico, from Adam and Alisha Kirkbride of Cumberland Valais Blacknose Sheep, secured Reserve Overall Supreme Champion and Reserve Male Champion, continuing the flock’s previous success in the Blacknose Beauties Championship line-up.
The female Championship brought two new flocks into the top placings. Shearling ewe Ronevorg Mystic Meg, exhibited by Jenny Campbell of Valais Blacknose Sheep Suffolk, was named Overall Female Champion. At the same time, fellow shearling ewe Nithsdale Myree, from Cat Losty of Nithsdale Valais Blacknose, took the Reserve Female Champion title.
Grading and showing once again formed a major part of the two-day event, with visiting Swiss graders Romeo Eggel, Baptist Eggel, Phillip Millius and Richard Zeiter joining the celebrations. Their involvement continued the close relationship with Switzerland that helps maintain the event’s alignment with the traditional Swiss breed standard.
Friday evening brought exhibitors, visitors and friends of the Society together for a special anniversary social gathering, with fundraising in support of Make-A-Wish UK. A charity auction was followed by the draw for the event’s headline raffle prize, a CFMOTO CFORCE 450 Lambing Special Quad, supported by Highland Leisure Sport. The winning ticket belonged to Georgia Atkinson of Valais Blacknose Sheep New Hutton.
Following Saturday’s Championships, attention turned to the Blacknose Beauties National Sale, where another piece of breed history was made. Shearling tup Highland Michelangelo, consigned by Raymond Irvine and Jenni McAllister of Valais Blacknose Sheep Scotland, topped the sale at an outstanding 25,000gns, setting a new male breed record.
The Highland flock also secured the second-highest price of the sale, with shearling tup Highland Mackenzie selling for 7,000gns. Leading the female trade was ewe lamb Puddle Lane Ninky Nonk, consigned by Phil and Hayley Garrod of Valais Blacknose Sheep Herefordshire, at 6,000gns.
Other leading prices included 5,000gns for shearling tup Prendwick Mont Blanc and 4,500gns for aged ewe Prendwick Lady Macbeth, both consigned by Jamie Wood of Valais Blacknose Sheep Northumberland.
Closing the event, VBS Chairman Raymond Irvine said:
“Celebrating ten years of Blacknose Beauties is a very special milestone for the Society, and I think this year’s event showed just how far both the show and the breed have come.
“The standard of sheep presented across the two days was exceptional, with new flock names appearing at the top of the Championship line-up, strong trade in the National Sale and interest in the event reaching well beyond the UK.
“What has made Blacknose Beauties what it is today, though, is the support behind it. Our breeders, Swiss friends, volunteers, sponsors, H&H and everyone who has supported the event over the past decade have all played their part. It was wonderful to see so many people come together in Carlisle to celebrate that journey, and I think we can be very proud of what has been achieved in the first ten years.”
The Valais Blacknose Society would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of Blacknose Beauties 2026, including exhibitors, visiting Swiss graders, Young Handlers, volunteers, the H&H team, trade exhibitors, sponsors and everyone who travelled to Carlisle or followed the event from further afield.
Special thanks go to our Principal Sponsors, Caisley Eartag Ltd and SCCL, and to Tomintoul Distillery, sponsor of the Supreme Champion Cup and class prizes, together with all other sponsors whose support helped make Blacknose Beauties 2026 possible.
Media Contact
📧 shows@valaisblacknosesociety.co.uk
🌐 www.valaisblacknosesociety.co.uk
High-resolution images and additional background available on request
Supreme & Male Champion: Yorkshire Langver – Scott Taylor, Yorkshire Valais Blacknose
Sale Topper: Highland Michelangelo, 25,000gns – Raymond Irvine & Jenni McAllister, Valais Blacknose Sheep Scotland
