CENTRAL REGION
Regional Contact Member – James Cartwright
Firstly, I would like to thank Kay Carpenter and the Central region committee for their hard work in the past few years, continuing the success of the Central region and for helping members to benefit from years of experience in the art of keeping sheep. I step into my tenure as RCM with a deep sense of honour and a small feeling of disbelief, having only kept sheep for a relatively short time of 12 years. My family and I have enjoyed the alert nature of the Jacob and the support from the Society membership along the way. I really believe this breed has it all, from simple lawnmowers on a smallholding, through high quality meat production, extensive opportunities through woollen products, to the in depth and sometimes bewildering opportunity of breeding high quality showing/breeding stock.
Open Day
In May we had the opportunity to visit the Hayepark Flock in Shopshire by the kind invitation of Michelle Chivers and her family. Michelle took great delight in describing the journey that she has been on, as her family takes some early but very successful steps into building a strong pedigree Jacob flock. It was wonderful to see the whole family engaged and passionate about learning the ins and outs of the breed and not to be afraid of just having a go which, I am sure we have all felt before striding into the show ring with the best stock that we have managed to produce in any given year.
The day continued with a trimming demonstration by the eminent Richard Chapman where he showed us the art of preparing a shearling for the show ring to show the individual off to their best. Even better than that, Michelle allowed some of us to “have a go” and to hone our trimming skills and to put into practice the skills that we had just learnt. Michelle’s vet then gave a very in-depth presentation and question and answer session to the group which was absolutely top class. It never ceases to amaze me that there is so much to learn but isn’t that some of the appeal. A hog roast lunch was enjoyed by all, cooked by Michelle’s family, followed by the obligatory set of delicious cakes and puddings. A successful raffle added to the days proceeds, enabling us to return £525 to the Society after the days costs had been allowed for. For the few of us that still had some energy left, we were then treated to a walk amongst the bluebells in Mortimers Forest and fabulous long reaching views to the neighbouring counties.
Showing time
May saw the start of the showing season with the first of the region’s county shows, first off was Shropshire and shortly followed by Staffordshire. In Shropshire, judge, Owain Jenkins, chose for his breed champion, a strong lamb from Salopearl Jacobs and his reserve champion went to another stunning shearling ewe from Millvale Jacobs. Staffordshire saw judge, John Dixon, decide this time on his champion from Millvale Jacobs and reserve champion went to Salopearl Jacobs. A new set of perpetual awards in the region for “best novice” at Staffordshire County show, Hanbury show and the Royal Cheshire show were awarded to the best novice in these respective shows with experience in showing of under three years. Staffordshire’s award went to Grace Leslie of Mole End Jacobs, but looking at the number of rosettes that Grace had managed to accumulate during the show, I think the term novice may not be fitting for her skills and the quality of the sheep that she had turned out. At the Royal Cheshire show, Gillian Lewis with her sheep from the Hillvalley flock took the perpetual award for best novice in this prestigious show. Finally, at the Hanbury show, Michelle Chivers took the well deserved win of the perpetual trophy for best novice with her sheep from the Hayepark flock, presented by Hayley Higginson, who we have to thank for these magnificent awards to recognise new entrants achievements in the show ring.
Tom Lewis’ ewe lamb was champion at Shropshire County Show with Bob and Paula Bramley’s shearling reserve. Owain Jenkins judged.
One of the main events in the showing calendar within the Central region was undoubtedly the Royal Three Counties Show where the huge classes of Jacob sheep gracing the show ring and viewed from the adjacent Jacob breed stand really were a spectacle to behold. Congratulations to all the members showing this year, you all deserve a ribbon in my eyes for doing such a sterling job of showing off our breed to the highest degree. Paula and Bob Bramley from Millvale Jacobs continued with their championship success in Malvern, taking breed champion, which is becoming a bit of a theme for 2025 and utterly deserved.
Bob and Paula Bramley’s Royal Cheshire County Show champion ewe
Not to be outdone outside of the show ring and thanks to Kay and Sean Carpenter, Jean Simmons, Charlotte and Gill Heaven, Michelle Chivers and others, our Jacob sheep breed stand was placed first by the show, with the rosette being gratefully accepted by myself and Lesley Pope (although we both could take very little credit for this achievement), well done team.
Richard Chapman with his second prize ewe at Staffordshire County Show
Date for the diary
This year’s Central region flock competition will be held on the 26/27/28 of September with judges, Gareth and Simon Jones, travelling the region inspecting and scoring the flocks for the converted array of trophies that are up for grabs. Further details will be posted shortly, and I would encourage as many of the membership as possible to “have a go”, there really is very little to lose and the opportunity to have conversations with two very experienced judges, on farm, is an opportunity not to be missed.
Welcome to new members
I would also like to welcome the new members to the Central region, and I hope to meet you soon: Ruth Beaton – Matlock, Simon and Charlotte Chell – Stafford, Gemma Glossop – Ashover, and Nicolas and Abigail Sole – Gloucestershire.
Jobs for the month ahead
Our own Goldstone flock have bounced back well after weaning, despite the dry weather conditions and the challenge in keeping enough grass ahead of the ewes to recover. They have done us proud, again. So, the thoughts of tupping 2025 start to come to mind and this year, for the first time, we are going to try CIDRs to synchronise and hopefully bring lambing forward a little, so that we don’t have the smallest lambs in the ring come show time 2026.
James Cartwright’s group of three at Staffordshire County Show
Gillian Lewis who won the best novice award presented by Hayley Higginson at the Royal Cheshire County Show