Penrith Progeny Show over recent years has established a reputation as the place to be seen showing Bluefaced Leicesters and their progeny the Mule. It attracts exhibitors and spectators from all over the UK and this year there was a tremendous buzz up the Leicester and Mule lines. Judges in the Bluefaced Leicester ring were Mrs A Bastian, Dumfries and Mr R Hayton, Appleby.

The Bluefaced Leicester Champion was an aged tup from Michael James's Duhonw flock owned in partnership with Pete Webster's Mereoak flock who were both showing here for the first time. This tup was bought from Old Hemley at Hawes in 2008 and is sired by Midlock Y1 out of a ewe by Old Hemley R10. This massive tup stood all week on the BFL stand at the Royal Welsh before traveling up the motorway to win this championship and then go on to win the Sheep interbreed as well. Last year fourteen sons were sold by him averaging £2400 to a top of £6500. Reserve in the Leicester section was Cassington Shona a three crop ewe from M & C Drummond's Cassington flock, Ayrshire. Always the bridesmaid never the bride, she was reserve champion at Penrith last year as well as achieving the same at this year's Royal Highland. She is sired by a £3100 Teviot "Elite" tup and out of Shona N44 by Knockairdie Rob Roy.

In the Leicester progeny section J & D Stenton's St. Ravenscar flock from Pickering, took the championship with three outstanding tup lambs with there sire Oak House A5 who is owned in partnership with J Stott, Laund, Preston. Reserve progeny group were three shearling gimmers from M & C Drummond, Cassington. These sharp gimmers were sired by a home breed tup, Cassington Z1 who also sired this year's Royal Highland Show Champion.

As always at Penrith there was an outstanding show of Mules both in numbers and in quality. Judges J Pedley, Ellerbeck and G Gass, Scotstown awarded the individual Mule champion to C T Willoughby, Woodend Farm, Leyburn with a ewe lamb sired by Hundith B4 "X Factor". The Champion is to be sold at Hawes this Autumn. On top of this success C T Willoughby also won the Pairs Champion, they were sired by another tup bred by Jack Lawson, Hundith B16. Taking the reserve individual Mule Champion was R & F Wilson, Carrholme, Carlisle with a gimmer shearling sired by a Barley sire. She was bought at Bentham last year for £410 from M/s Allan & Watson, Middleton Hall.

Winning the Mule Progeny Championship was Michael James. He continued his dream day winning with three Welsh Mule ewe lambs sired by Old Hemley A5 the Leicester Champion from earlier in the day owned in partnership with Pete Webster. Reserve Mule group were three Swaledale type ewe lambs from J C & E Pedley, Yorehouse, Lunds. The Reserve group were sired by Duhonw B2, he was bought at Hawes from Michael James for £6500 and was sired by Old Hemley A5 sire of the Champion Mule group.