Northern Area Field Day

Jun 15, 2025  •  General

Hundreds of young farmers from Cumbria, East Riding, County Durham, Isle of Man, Northumberland, Lancashire and Yorkshire converged on Low Beckside Farm, Mungrisdale by kind permission of the Ernest Cook Trust on Saturday 14th June for the Northern Area Field Day hosted by Cumbria YFC.

Despite the thunder, lightening and torrential rain in the morning, the young farmers judged stock, competed in tug of war and cross country and showed off their skills in photography, drawing, sewing, baking, walling, sheep shearing and stock judging to great success. 

There were some great individual results with the Cumbria A team of Kent Estuary YFC’s James Walmsley and George Geldard and Sedbergh YFC’s Jack Alderson putting in a great team effort, placing 1st and Furness YFC’s Jack Fisher, Luke and Alex placed 3rd for Cumbria B in the Fence Erecting Competition. Cumbria also triumphed in the Walling competition with John Handley and Zak Baines of Grayrigg YFC taking 1st place for the Cumbria B team, Lewis Hodgson and Will Black of Crook YFC taking 2nd place for Cumbria A and Eden Valley YFC’s Elliott Wills and Robert Smith placed 4th for Cumbria C.

The farm skills competitions proved popular with Lowick YFC’s Luke Hodgson putting his auctioneering skills to good use placing 2nd for Cumbria A. Abigail Graham of Walton YFC was placed 2nd for Cumbria B in the Farm Planning with Hector Meanwell from Eden Valley YFC placed 3rd for Cumbria A. Also putting in great effort in the Farm Machinery Skills was the Cumbria A Grayrigg YFC team of John and Aidan Handley, Matthew King and Harry Harper who were placed 2nd. The Cumbria C team of Hector Meanwell, Edward Wear, Jack Sowerby and Thomas Barker of Eden Valley YFC added to the point score taking 4th place.  James Walmsley of Kent Estuary YFC also took a well-deserved 1st place for Cumbria A in the Mini Digger Challenge. Alex Bland of Caldbeck YFC was placed 3rd for Cumbria B in the Machine Sheep Shearing and Pennine YFC’s Hector Meanwell took a well-deserved 1st place for Cumbria C in the Hand Shearing. Zoe Glendinning from Caldbeck YFC placed 2nd in the Hand Shearing for Cumbria B.  

The Bolster and Bar Competitions were a great crowd pleaser, given the pouring rain and very cold water that competitors had to contend with! Lewis Lister of Brampton YFC took 2nd place for Cumbria B in the Men’s competition. Jess Black of Crook YFC took a 2nd for Cumbria C and Lily Richardson took 4th place for Cumbria A in the Ladies. All three competitors proving that Cumbria young farmers are a hardy breed!

Stockjudging also proved popular on the day with Cumbria C’s Leah from Pennine YFC taking 4th place in the Junior Beef. Thea Maidwell from Walton YFC was placed 3rd for Cumbria B in the Inter Beef and Joanne Ridley of Caldbeck YFC was placed 1st for Cumbria B in the Senior Beef. Grace from Skelton YFC was placed 4th in the Junior Lambs for Cumbria B. Skelton YFC’s Amy Wilson was placed 2nd for Cumbria A for Inter Lambs. In the Senior Lambs competition, Cumbria A’s Kate Thompson of Sedbergh YFC was placed 2nd and Brampton YFC’s Adam Gargett for Cumbria C was placed 4th. Freddie of Greysouthen YFC was placed 1st in Junior Breeding Sheep for Cumbria B and Jess Wharton of Longtown YFC also took 1st place in the Inter Breeding Sheep for Cumbria B. In the Mystery Stockjudging, Cumbria C’s James of Pennine YFC was placed 4th in the Junior and Cumbria B’s Rosie Pratt of Drigg YFC placed 3rd in the Inter competition.  In the Senior competition, Cumbria A’s Will Black from Crook YFC and Cumbria B’s Laura Fowler from Egremont took 2nd and 4th place respectively. 

Cumbrian Dialect was a successful competition for the home teams, with Zak Baines of Grayrigg YFC taking 1st for Cumbria A, Drigg YFC’s Stephen taking 3rd for Cumbria B and Ben Cooper of Lowick YFC taking 4th place for Cumbria C. Another popular local competition was gurning, with Abbie from Greysouthen YFC taking 2nd place for Cumbria B. 

 Against exceptionally stiff competition, the Grayrigg YFC’s Cumbria A team was placed 3rd in the Men’s Tug of War and the Skelton and Penrith YFC team for Cumbria B was also placed 3rd for the Ladies competition.  Sheaf Tossing showcased more young farmer strength and skill with Oliver Millican of Eden Valley YFC placed 3rd for Cumbria A and Grayrigg YFC’s Thomas Wilson placed 4th for Cumbria C. Another fiercely fought competition was the Cross Country, with Jack Strickland of Crook YFC taking 1st for Cumbria C, Zak Baines of Grayrigg YFC placed 2nd for Cumbria A and Jonnie Hetherington of Raughton Head YFC placed 3rd for Cumbria B in the Men’s competition. Sadie from Skelton YFC shared in Cumbria’s success taking 1st in the Ladies race with Rachel Armstrong from Greysouthen YFC securing 2nd place for Cumbria B.

Some of the more fun competitions included One Man and His Dog, which saw Cumbria C’s Iestyn and Alice from Crook YFC take 3rd place. Poppy Livesey from Crook YFC took 2nd place for the Limbo over 18s for Cumbria A with Laura Fowler from Egremont YFC taking 3rd place for Cumbria B. Raughton Head YFC’s Olivia was also placed 2nd in the Limbo Under 18 for Cumbria B. The Karaoke was a popular draw, with Lowick YFC’s Cumbria C team placed 1st and Crook YFC placed 2nd for Cumbria B. Cumbria A’s Eden Valley team placed 4th in the Boat Race. Junior Superstars was another popular competition, with The Cumbria C team from Grayrigg YFC very happy to be placed 1st. 

YFC live, showcasing a diverse range of skills and talents saw Cumbria C’s John Handley and Lucy Gibson of Grayrigg YFC placed 1st, Cumbria B’s Robbie Tuer and Josie Mitchinson from Raughton Head YFC placed 2nd and Eden Valley YFC’s Jade Pearson and Joseph Jackson placed 4th for Cumbria A. Cumbria C’s Matthew Williamson and Torie of Eden Valley YFC placed 2nd, with Cumbria A’s Molly and Brogan Jackson of Furness YFC placing 4th in the Generation Game. Face Painting saw Cumbria C’s Lexxi and Holly of Sedbergh YFC placed 1st and Grayrigg YFC for Cumbria A and Skelton YFC for Cumbria B placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Ugly Sisters competition. The Farmyard Fancy Dress Obstacle Course, proved a great success with the help of Cumbria Fire and Rescue overseeing the water slide. The Cumbria B, Greysouthen YFC team took an impressive 1st place, with Crook YFC’s Cumbria C placed 3rd and Grayrigg YFC placed 4th for Cumbria A. 

The Cumbrian young farmers showed their creativity to great success with Lucy Peile from Skelton YFC placed 1st for Cumbria B in the Cube Exhibit. Martha Galbraith of Grayrigg YFC was placed 2nd for Cumbria A and Georgia Hunter of Sedbergh YFC was placed 3rd for Cumbria C. In the Something New out of Something Old competition Cumbria B’s Lucy from Drigg YFC took a well-deserved 1st place and Pennine YFC’s Matthew placed 4th for Cumbria A. The squares submitted for the Tapestry competition will be donated to charity, Cumbria did particularly well in this competition, with Kent Estuary YFC’s Alice Walmsley for Cumbria A, Zara from Sedbergh YFC for Cumbria C and Cumbria B’s Amy Little of Wigton YFC placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.  

Katie from Kent Estuary YFC for Cumbria A was placed 1st in the Painted Stones competition with Jonathan of Kirklinton YFC placed 4th for Cumbria B. Grayrigg YFC’s Martha Galbraith placed 1st for Cumbria A in the Fells and Farm Drawing and Margaret Bell from Carlisle YFC for Cumbria B placed 3rd. The Open Farm and Fells Photography saw Amy Wood from Crook YFC take 1st place for Cumbria. The Cumbria Juniors secured a hat trick of results in the My YFC Club Photography competition, with Cumbria A’s Emily of Eden Valley YFC placed 1st, Cumbria C’s Tyler from Pennine YFC placed 3rd and Sarah of Longtown YFC placed 4th for Cumbria B. Finally, the Handwritten William Wordsworth competition saw Cumbria A’s Maddy of Sedbergh YFC placed 2nd for Cumbria A and Ruby from Grayrigg YFC for Cumbria C and Emily from Raughton Head for Cumbria B were placed 3rd and 4th respectively. 

Cumbria’s metal workers and woodworkers achieved great success in their respective competitions, with Jack from Raughton Head placed 1st for Cumbria B in the Junior Woodwork with his Toy Box. Elisha from Grayrigg YFC was placed 2nd for Cumbria A and Tate from Sedbergh YFC was placed 3rd for Cumbria C. Senior Woodwork saw John Handley from Grayrigg YFC take 1st place for Cumbria A with his impressive clock. Matthew Bates from Caldbeck YFC took 3rd place for Cumbria B. Jake Fosker from Wigton YFC showed great skill with his woven metal log basket, securing another 1st for Cumbria B, whilst Lowick YFC’s Ted placed 4th for Cumbria C. Raughton Head YFC’s Joe Rowland’s Open Weather Vane showed great skill, securing another 1st for Cumbria B and Matthew Williamson from Eden Valley YFC secured 4th place for Cumbria A. 

The Cumbria young farmers also put on a good show in the Baking competitions, with Cumbria YFC taking the top 3 positions in the Three Items for a Hay Time Picnic! Isabel Wilson of Lowick YFC secured 1st for Cumbria A, whilst Zara of Sedbergh YFC for Cumbria C and Jess Elliman of Penrith YFC for Cumbria B, placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. Penrith YFC’s Ellie Fisher took 1st for Cumbria B with her rum butter and Furness YFC’s Molly placed 4th for Cumbria A. Kent Estuary YFC’s Ellie Nicholson for Cumbria A took 2nd place with her Jar of Chutney and Emma Elliott of Eden Valley YFC took 4th place for Cumbria C. 

Caramel Shortbread topped up the Cumbria score with the top 3 placings going to Kent Estuary YFC’s Katie, taking a 1st for Cumbria A, Harvey of Sedbergh YFC taking 2nd place for Cumbria C and Millie from Kirklinton YFC placed 3rd for Cumbria B. Submissions for local delicacy Grasmere Gingerbread were particularly good, with Cumbria A’s Kelsey Cordukes from Crook YFC placed 1st for Cumbria A and Emily from Grayrigg YFC placed 3rd for Cumbria C. The Mars Bar and Wrapper, combining baking skills with creativity saw Cumbria A’s Emily Baines, also of Crook placed 3rd and Cumbria C’s Jade Pearson of Eden Valley placed 4th for Cumbria C. 

The Barclays Bank Salver for Stock Judging was won by Cumbria B and the East Riding Shield for non NFYFC and non-Stock Judging competitions was won by Cumbria A. The Earl of Derby Overall Northern Area Field Day Trophy was won by Cumbria A.

Northern Area Field Day Committee Chair and Cumbria YFC County Vice Chair, Abigail Graham commented “We were proud to host this year's Northern Area Field Day on behalf of Cumbria YFC, held at Low Beckside Farm by kind permission of The Ernest Cook Trust.  It was a fantastic day, with members from across the seven most northerly counties competing in a diverse range of competitions—from Stockjudging to Tug of War, and Gurning to Face Painting. The energy and enthusiasm from members was incredible, making for a brilliant atmosphere.  A huge congratulations to everyone who took part! The standard of competition was incredibly high, and it was fantastic to see members giving it their all while having fun along the way.  We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, judges, and stewards for their time and support, as well as the committee and members across Cumbria who worked tirelessly behind the scenes—painting, pressure washing, setting up obstacle courses, and making sure everything was ready for the big day.  

…..and, of course, we were thrilled to see Cumbria take 1st, 2nd and 4th place on the day!”

Thank you to all the Field Day sponsors who helped make the day such a success, including headline sponsors, AW Jenkinson and the Leo Group and also DA Harrison and Son/ Atlas Concrete Ltd, Metcalfe Farms, Myerscough College and David Allen, CAAV, Cassons Recovery, Geldard Farm Eggs, Harrison and Hetherington, Hethersgill ATV Services, Holmen Iggesund, Lake District National Park, LANSS, Lely (Longtown), LOCALiQ UK, Napthens, NFU Mutual, NWF Agriculture, Penrith and District Farmers’ Mart. Thank you also to Baymix Concrete for sponsoring clothing for the Field Day and to Stan Allan, Armstrong Watson, Cornthwaite Group, Cumbria Fire and Rescue for their help with the Obstacle Course, Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association, Highway Shearing, Danny Hodgson, Hopes Auction, LCD Stitch and Print, Lloyds Tractors, Metcalfe Plant Hire, TW Relphs and Sons Ltd, Westmorland County Agricultural Society and Wilson’s of Undercragg, for providing materials, equipment, machinery and printing. Grants and sponsorship were gratefully received from the Herdy Fund (via the Cumbria Community Foundation) and the Hyperfast GB Sponsorship Programme. Finally, a very big thank you to the Ernest Cook Trust for allowing us to hold our Northern Area Field Day at Low Beckside Farm and for working with us to make the day such a great success. 

Members and teams qualifying in the NFYFC competitions will now continue onto the national finals with the fence erecting, farm machinery skills, auctioneering, sheep shearing and the cube exhibit taking place during the summer.