Greyface Dartmoor champion at Shropshire County Show

Ulysses with SteveWow what a great day we had yesterday at Shropshire County Show.  Steve took the sheep the day before and we had a full team of 5 Ryelands and 5 Greyface Dartmoors.  It is always exciting/tense before you go into the judging ring and today was no exception. 

The judging for both breeds was at the same time so I showed the Ryelands, the judge was David Duggan, who made a very good job.  Untouchable the ryeland ram certainly lived up to his name, but the rest of the team were very good and showed off well and we managed to win a 1st, 2nd 3rd and 2xfifths.

The Greyfaces were being judged by a judge from Devon - Mrs Janet Rogers, who had attracted a really good entry.  In the first class Ram any age, our handsome Ulysses won this and he also was Male Champion and Breed Champion.  William ram lamb was third as was Agatha, breeding ewe 5th and unfortunately our ewe lamb did not make the cut for rosettes.  We also won 2nd in the group of three.

Ulysses then challenged for Champion Rare Breed Sheep in Show and he won this!!! What a star and Steve was overcome and had a few tears in his eyes.

Next time out is at Royal Three Counties Show 17/19 June for the Greyface team.

sheep showing courses - preparation

Dolwen Noble Inter Breed Sheep Champion Moreton Show 2013This time of year we are getting excited about attending the first show of the season with the sheep.  The Royal Welsh Smallholders

Royal Welsh Show

www.rwas.co.uk

will be our first one closely followed by Shropshire County Show. 

Shropshire County Show & West Mid Showground | Shropshire ...

www.shropshirecountyshow.com/…agricultural-show/.....

There is always something to learn about the art of getting a sheep ready for the show ring and we do courses from how to choose your sheep for showing, preparation and ring etiquette, etc.  These are really useful and at least as a novice you have learnt some of the tips that the wordly wise stockmen do.

If interested please do contact me to arrange a date.  See under Learning Courses for details.

THREE COUNTIES SHOW HERE WE COME

The start of sheep showing season is upon us.  We started off at the Smallholders Show at Builth Wells where Noble won 3rd in his class and Caroline and my Oakberrow Pizzazz won 3rd in a strong shearling class.  The beautiful Antonia - Greyfaced Dartmoor - won a creditable 2nd at her very first show!

The next week we attended Shropshire County Show http://shropshirecountyshow.com/  and had a great day winning Male and Breed champion with Dolwen Noble, 1st and Reserve Female Champion with our ewe lamb whose sire is the fabulous Juggis Laser.  The Dartmoors also did well with Apollo winning third, Antonia 4th and baby Lara 4th.

We then set off down to the Royal Bath and West Show http://bathandwest.com/  .  Russell Howell was the judge and we are up against the legendary Richard Wear.  I did manage to beat Richard in the Ewe lamb class so our little girl won her class and gained a 2nd Reserve Female Champion.  Noble and Pizzazz both were 2nd in their class and the shearling ewe 3rd.  We were also 2nd in the group of 3 and 2nd in the pairs.  Also Russell nominated Noble as Reserve Male Champion, so all in all a great day.

Today we have been sorting which of the sheep are going to Three Counties Show - 15/17 June - so come along and see.  New for the show this year - Ladies Day on Friday and Kids go Free on Saturday.  www.threecounties.co.uk.

Dolwen Noble