CHAMPION RYELAND FLOCK 2016

Girls in the autumn sunThe Herefordshire and Marches Regional Ryeland group hold an annual Flock competition for members of this group.

Steve and I were really pleased last year when we won this prestigious award and even more delighted to win again - Overall Champion Flock, Best flock of ewes, Best Stock Ram and Best Retained Ram lamb.

The Judge for 2016 was Jonathan Long who has recently moved to this area from Kent.  Jonathan is Chairman of the Southdown Sheep Society and also owns Blue Texels and Beltex breeds.  He was most impressed with the quality, eveness, type of the Oakberrow flock.

What a great end to the year with our newest addition to our coloured flock Woody ( Derwent Woodlark) winning champion male coloured ryeland lamb and Reserve Champion overall at the recent National Lamb Championships held at Malvern end of September.  Woody and Lucy also won champion coloured pair of ryelands under the judge Richard Dorrell.

Rams with ewes and all going well, so bookings already coming in for lambing courses - please keep an eye on the web for dates.  Contact either on info@oakberrow.co.uk or dsg.oakberrow@gmail.com.

Wot a day on Sunday with Sh Ch Oakberrow Wotzinaname - Foster

Foster posing - the starMy handsome Foster competed at Welsh Kennel Club Championship Show which was held at Builth Wells on Sunday.  The breed judge on the day was Carole Coode and she awarded Foster Best Veteran in Breed.  His little girl Moray was 3rd in her classes which qualified her for Crufts.

Foster then competed for Champion Veteran Gundog and he was awarded 4th in group by Jeff Luscott who said he was a stunning dog, great muscle and moves really well.

Also Foster has been a busy boy just recently siring a litter of FOURTEEN!!! and another litter due early September.  If you are interested in owning a Foster puppy, get in touch and I will forward your details, or you may wish to use him at stud, in which case contact me.

OAKBERROW VINNIE COLOURED RYELAND RAM FOR SALE

Oakberrow VinnieSee photo of our handsome Vinnie who is for sale at the Ryeland Flock Book Show and Sale to be held at Ludlow Market on Saturday 27 August 2016.

Vinnie has the same sire as our National Ryeland Champion - Dolwen Noble and is mum is one of our best breeding ewes Ashford/Ruslin lines.  Her son from this year has been doing well in the showring this year.

Vinnie has lovely temperament and in June together with George visited Milestone Special School and met the pupils.  It brought tears to my ewes when an extremely disabled child in wheelchair held is halter and Vinnie put his head onto the child's knee - the look on their face was something to behold.  See Royal Three Counties Web for photos.

He is a long boy with good legs and excellent confirmation, also a stockgetter, proven sire (he was used as a lamb). 

His sire Dolwen Noble was a multiple championship prizewinner in the show ring and also Inter Breed Champion at Moreton in Marsh show.  As you can see Noble's offspring follow their fathers good looks and confirmation.

If you would like more information, please get in touch with either Steve or Doreen

NATIONAL RYELAND SHEEP SHOW 2016 CHAMPION

National Ryeland Champion 2016The Ryeland Flock Book Society stage their National Show in conjunction with Tenbury Show, which was held yesterday 6 August 2016.  The entries were record breaking with 96 ryelands entered and there were 130 coloured ryelands entered, so a great task for the judges.

I am delighted to say that Oakberrow Ryelands won the Champion Ryeland with a home-bred shearling ewe.  Steve showed her and I was ringside watching the championships and I have to say a great cheer and then some tears when Judge David Lewis of the famous Arbeth Ryelands awarded her Champion.

We also won Best Woolled Sheep in Show under judge Mike Yeandle with our shearling ram who was 6th in his class in the National Show and first in the Ryeland Wool on the Hoof.

Our baby ram lamb Winston was 5th, our breeding ewe was 3rd, we were 5th in the group of three. 

Thanks to everyone for their congratulations and support and also to my beloved ryelands for making it a day to remember.

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.