Masham Annual Sheep Fair

Well, it looked to be another successful weekend at The Sheep Fair in Masham, always held on the last weekend in September and such fun for everyone. An annual weekend event to raise money for local charities including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and sponsored by local businesses and run by very able volunteers. The sun was shining, the market place was a buzz with chatter and the little fairground to the side of the market place continued all day. There was a very serious side with the judging of sheep, so many different breeds, I had no idea there were so many, so interesting to see them being judged but also to listen to what the judges were looking for, very informative.

At intervales throughout both days there was a Sheep Show, just a total must watch, but also, again very informative, about sheep and their origins and the history of wool. To try and describe would not be helpful you just need to see it for yourselves. The guy who does the show comes from Devon and travels the country with his sheep, some magnificent beasts, to help him with his show. The sheep definitely steel the show though and, of course, seem completely oblivious to how funny it all is.

Also the sheep racing, which was hilarious with sheep jostling for position to get to the finish and to the feed first and what was even funnier they ran back to start, when they weren’t racing, even faster than when going to the finish line! Definitely happy sheep.

We had a very fascinating half hour watching, and listening to, ‘a man and his dog’. If you wanted to learn how to bring up your dog from a tiny puppy to a stable, happy, mature dog then he was the guy to listen to but as he showed off the skills of his dog, Meg, round up half a dozen runner ducks, who were happy to oblige sometimes and sometimes not you realised what patience he had but also how much the dog enjoyed pleasing his ‘master’! The ducks felt they had done it all before and were completely non plussed by it all.

In the Town Hall, for a complete change, you could find some beautiful craft work, how many hours do people spend creating such wonderful things? There was the Bishop Blaize Procession, Fleece Stalls, Wool Competition, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition and Tours of Theakstons & Black Sheep Breweries. The café’s were open, the church was open, the fish and chip shop was open, the sweet shops with ice cream and all the other places which could be open were open, a wonderful showcase for Masham.

We have beautiful Country Hideaways holiday cottages in Masham, have a look on our website for details and to book online or do call me, Nadine, or my daughter Joanne, on 01969 663559 for friendly help and advice and to book over the telephone.

Looking forward to seeing you next September if not before!