The ewe with everything wins cup that means everything
Away from the massive crowds of the Bailey’s Cow, a handful of people mulling about the sheep section were creating such a stir it appeared something truly special had occurred, and indeed it had.
Standing for family photos Daniel Faulkner was proudly holding a trophy commissioned in honour of Virginia Show veteran, the late Hugh Faulkner.
“It’s my grandfather’s memorial cup and I’ve never won it before,” explained Daniel of the celebrations.
Hugh passed away approximately 28 years ago, so Daniel is too young to have known him. However, that didn’t diminish the joy of winning the award for the part time farmer.
“No Faulkner won it before, so it’s great to get it,” explained Daniel.
This wasn’t Daniel’s first time to enter.
“I’ve been a couple of years trying to get it but it just didn’t happen.
“I thought I had a hogget to win it during Covid [when restrictions forced the show to cancel], and then she went too old - it was lucky to get another one as good as her again.”
His sheep, a Suffolk Cross Texel claimed the Suffolk Cross breeding ewe class, before scooping the Overall Champion Sheep of the show.
Asked what lifting the trophy meant to him, Daniel’s emotions got the better of him. No words could have conveyed it better.
Robert’s, Hugh’s son took over: “It means an awful lot. He was great man for commercial sheep, and a great suffolk man as well.
“That’s it. It’s great to win it!”
“She’s a great ewe,” Robert adds of the ewe. “There was great quality here today.”
Asked what attributes make this particular animal a winner, Robert turns the ewe expertly to highlight the different parts:
“Length, height, bone, head, ear,” he says, the ewe impassive to his handling. “She has quality any way you want it.
“She has everything!”