Ewe’d never believe it 
– missing sheep cup is returned after 87 years

A COVETED piece of farming silverware has been returned to its rightful owner after almost 90 years in the wilderness.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Nov 2014, 17:56 BST
Mark Ewbank with his Swaledale sheep cup at Nidderdale Show. The trophy has been returned to organisers after 87 year-long absence.Mark Ewbank with his Swaledale sheep cup at Nidderdale Show. The trophy has been returned to organisers after 87 year-long absence.
Mark Ewbank with his Swaledale sheep cup at Nidderdale Show. The trophy has been returned to organisers after 87 year-long absence.

When the Swaledale Sheep Cup failed to be return to Nidderdale show after being presented back in 1927, organisers quickly gave up hope of ever getting it back.

But the mystery of the missing trophy was partly-solved when a couple in York made the remarkable find.

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What was once a shining award in agricultural excellence, given to the champion group of four, was discovered in a neglected state on a skip. The pair swiftly returned the solid silver trophy to stewards at this year’s show.

And after a polish, it was handed to this year’s aptly-named Swaledale Sheep Cup to winner Mark Ewbank. Committee members have vowed to keep a closer eye on its whereabouts this time around.

Show director Trevor Stoney said: ”We really would like to thank them for taking the trouble to return the cup to us, presumably it had been forgotten about and maybe ended up in the skip during a house clearance.

“We are trying to find out more about who it was last presented to in 1927.”

Mr Ewbank said: “It’s amazing, I’ll certainly be making sure it comes back to the committee next year.”