A LAMB given as a wedding present started a farming couple on the road to success.

For the Charollais gimmer lamb given to Stephen and Nicola Hodgson led to them forming their own pure flock. After winning the Yorkshire area Charollais Society cup in 2000, they have now won the society's Yorkshire area flock competition.

"We were stunned, we had not expected it at all," said Mr Hodgson of Northfield Farm, Patrick Brompton, pictured left with Nicola.

It was about ten years ago that a neighbouring farmer gave them the lamb to be fostered by a ewe which had lost her lambs.

The Hodgsons had not been married for long, and were told to take the lamb as a wedding present.

"We had kept commercial sheep which included a few Charollais crosses but the lamb was a kick start really to begin our own pure flock," said Mr Hodgson, who is herdsman for Martin Webster's 130 cow Holstein herd at Northfield.

Mr Webster lets Mr and Mrs Hodgson keep their sheep there and they also have other pieces of land for grazing.

"We started off with six Charollais and built up the flock gradually but kept the numbers down to about 25," said Mr Hodgson. They bought five at the dispersal sale held by Jack and Bill Ripley, and the brothers have also given them support and advice on breeding and showing.

Apart from one each from breeders Charles Marwood and Kenton Foster, they have bred the rest themselves. This year they aim to improve still further through AI.

"We only keep the best lambs," said Mr Hodgson, "We select the best from each crop and keep some for ourselves. We only sell the very best tup lambs for breeding and the rest go for fat."

The couple look for length, fleshing quality and correctness in their lambs.

Lambing is in December and January. The lambs are weaned and turned out to grass at about ten weeks.

Some go for the Easter lamb market with others either sold in September or as shearlings the following year.

The couple - who have a seven year-old son, Sam - have shown a little over the years, but in 2000 they attended 11 shows and were awarded the Yorkshire area Charollais Sheep Society novice cup.

Foot-and-mouth put a halt to such activity but this year they took first prize at the Leyburn Charollais Sheep Society show and went on to win the society's Yorkshire flock competition.

Eleven entries were visited by the judge, but no-one had any idea who was the winner until it was announced at the dinner held at the Dalesway Lodge, Scotch Corner.

"We were totally shocked and surprised," said Mrs Hodgson who also works for SCA Nutrition at Thirsk.

The full results from the British Charollais Sheep Society Yorkshire area flock competition were. -

Champion flock: Stephen & Nicola Hodgson, Northfield Farm, Patrick Brompton.

Large flock: 1 S & J Hunter, New Town Farm, Hunmanby, Filey; 2 Charles & Valerie Marwood, York.

Small flock: 1 S & N Hodgson; 2 Kenton Foster, Leyburn; 3 Martin Preston, Bingley.

Ewe lambs: 1 David Wheatley, Doncaster; 2 Tom Wilkinson, Picton, Yarm.

Stock rams: 1 S & J Hunter with YVY 9003 Carthorpe Carlyle; 2 Pat and Charles Arrand, Thirsk; 3 Tom Wilkinson, Picton.