A CHAMPION sheep farmer is celebrating after helping England win the World Young Shepherd Challenge.

Richard Carter, aged 22, from Upleadon, near Ledbury, beat 15 nations to take England to victory with team-mate Sam Bullingham from Devon.

It was an accumulation of their points scored during a two-day contest in France that won them the top spot on the podium. Richard came fifth in the over-21 section while Sam came first.

The young farmer, who works on the family’s sheep farm, took a couple of British Wool Marketing Board shearing courses then honed his skills during two working trips to New Zealand where he learnt to shear 300 sheep a day.

He also has his own shearing contracting business.

The contest, hosted by Brioude Bonnefont Agricultural College, tested Richard’s sheep shearing skills – although he was only required to shear three sheep – his ability to trim feet, condition score ewes, assess lamb weights and sort and restrain sheep to world quality standards as well as a quad bike trial.

His path to the championships began in June this year at the National Sheep Association’s (NSA) Marches regional competition which he won.

He and Sam were then selected to compete in the world challenge held over the end of September and beginning of October.

England took top prize in both the team and senior individual sections of the competition, which saw 31 young hopefuls put through their shepherding paces.

“The Young Shepherds World Challenge has been a great experience. I think meeting the other competitors from around the world is the biggest thing I’ll take away from it. It’s not really an opportunity you get in any other situation; one minute you’ll be talking to a Hungarian about his grazing plan, the next you’ll be comparing notes with an American,” he said.

All four UK teams finished in the top seven. Northern Ireland took second place, Wales fourth place and Scotland came seventh.