Shows

Being a relatively new flock we decided showing would be a good way to establish ourselves and a good opportunity to test our animals against other flocks. As a bit of a test run we had a go at entering the Romney Breeders Society Flock Competition in 2006. We won Best Small Flock which was just the encouragement we needed so we decided to enter the 2007 Heathfield and Kent Shows. The vast majority of work involved in showing is the selection and preparation of the animals. Everyone has a different method of doing things, how and what they select and when they start getting them in shape. We are continually keeping 'half an eye' on any potential show animals. What ever the overall standard of the flock every animal is different. Some sheep will have that extra something that will make them stand out. Over the course of the year these are whittled down to the final few which are then prepared for showing. The preparations begins about a month before the show with tidying up the wool and ensuring that everything is clean and in working order. Around this point they are split off from the main flock ensuring less stress for both animals and handler. A few spares will be taken out too just in case there is a last minute problem. In 2007 we were helped and advised by our friend Mike Munford. What he doesn't know about getting a sheep ready for showing isn't worth knowing. He was a great help to us. Our first show, the Heathfield, taught us a great deal. We took this new found knowledge onto the Kent Show with very pleasing results. We were chuffed to bits with out first year of showing pitting our wits against our peers. But the true test would be to continue this in 2008.

Heathfield Show - Champion Romney - The Herbert Catt Memorial Trophy Kent Show - Reserve Champion - The Ashford Jubilee Perpetual Challenge Cup for Best Romney Ram Winner - The Alfred Day Challenge Cup for the Best Novice Reserve - The Redland Aggregate Perpetual Challenge Bowl for the exhibitor with the most points Winner - The David Roberts Memorial Trophy for the best group of three Class Wins - Ram, two shear or upwards shorn Pair of shorn yearling ewes Group of three

Results - 2008 Heathfield and Kent Shows

Heathfield Show - Champion Romney - The Herbert Catt Memorial Trophy - Reserve Champion British Long Wool AOB - Class Wins: British Long Wool - Shearling Ram Ram Lamb Ewe Lamb Kent Show - Breed Champion - The Osmond Horne Perpetual Challenge trophy for Best Romney - Champion - The Ashford Jubilee Perpetual Challenge Cup for Best Romney Ram - Reserve - The Redland Aggregate Perpetual Challenge Bowl for the exhibitor with the most points - Class Wins - Ram, two shear or upwards shorn Ram, two shear or upwards in wool Ram lamb Pair of ewe lambs