IT should have been one of the happiest days of the year for sheep farmer Mick Verity at the 109th Nidderdale Show on Monday.

Instead, his celebrations turned into deep disappointment in the full glare of publicity after an administrative mix-up deprived his Texel gimmer shearling of the supreme championship in the sheep section.

Mr Verity had taken the 18-month-old home bred animal to Pateley Bridge from his farm at Kirkby Overblow, near Harrogate, for its first show outing this year.

He had been named as the winner of the J C Yorke Cup for the supreme champion of champions, and before events took a different turn he said: "I haven't been showing much this year because of family problems.

"This is a welcome change to some rotten luck we have had. It is a nice note to end the season on.

"I have recently been to the sheep sales and they looked promising, making good prices."

Even as he was being interviewed and photographed by the press, however, Mr Verity was approached by an official of the sheep section who told him that the cup was being taken from him because of a miscalculation in the final reckoning involving a difference of 20 points.

Mr Verity looked stunned and said: "I can't believe it. I've been beaten by a stewards' inquiry."

He added: "They should have made sure."

Mr Verity took reserve position and the supreme champion was finally named as a Charollais gimmer shearling entered in the open classes by Pat Arrand, of Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe.

The animal, which took the reserve championship at Stokesley Show, was bought last year by Mrs Arrand and her husband, Charles, as part of a restocking programme after they were badly hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis. At present they have only nine ewes.

Show chairman Trevor Stoney said later of Mr Verity's case: "I didn't know anything about this until after it had happened.

"Someone made a mess of counting the scores up. It should never have happened and it is very unfortunate that it did. Mr Verity has been showing at this show for many years.

"It was human error and we are very sorry if anyone has been upset. Someone will be reprimanded when they are found."

A new graph system for scoring is believed to have been used for the first time this year.

* Show results: page 12