Author Archive: Admin

Winter 2025

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SCOTTISH REGION – Regional Contact Member – Melanie Harper

As I write this, I’m sure all your ewes are marked and your rams are ready for a rest, autumn is definitely here. I followed my same old routine with regards to rams going out, ewes drenched with minerals then mineral bucket into the field and let nature take its course. My dates and my daughter Stephanie’s are a bit later than normal but still January lambing.

The Scottish Show and Sale proved to be a success. We were under strange circumstances due to Bluetongue restrictions. The first sale took place on the Thursday at Lockerbie then the second one followed on the Friday at Carlisle. Prices over the two days were up and down, some of the top prices went to Ian Forsyth’s Old Town flock including 2200gns for his aged ram then 800gns for his reserve champion ewe lamb. Hope flock reached 1700gns for their champion ram lamb, and Adam Christie’s Adamski ram lamb which had been the Royal Highland Show champion sold for 2000gns. Prices from Carlisle included George Fell’s champion shearling ewe which made 650gns then his ewe lamb sold for 800gns. The Colhoun family sold two ewe lambs, one at 700gns and the second at 600gns. Thanks to Scott Dalrymple, our judge, and our inspectors over the two days, Robert Locker and Wyn Harries, along with Jean Simmons, our adjudicator, and our sponsors Crystalyx, Aytin Shears and Minexel Nutrition. Thanks also to our Scottish members who kindly sponsored the classes to provide better prize money. Thanks also to Mairi Connor for her invaluable help with trophies, and Harrison and Hetherington and to everyone who supported the Scottish Sale. We will continue to keep pushing this sale forward. I will meet up with Scott and Robert to discuss the sale and look at any improvements we can make. At this time I don’t have a date for the 2026 Sale but will get details on as soon as I know.

The Flock competition has taken place. I don’t have any results back but watch this space. Many thanks to Jean and Robert Price, a mammoth task travelling from one end of Scotland to the other and all in the name of judging Jacobs. The weekend blessed them with lovely weather. Thanks to all the flocks who supported this event.

We haven’t managed to secure a date for a judge’s seminar but as soon as we have a date from our Field Officer and decide on a venue, we will get details circulated.

We would appreciate your thoughts on the Journal. Do you enjoy the Journal or would you prefer a year book. A lot of breed societies have opted for this, and it’s something that some Scottish members have said they feel is a more modern way forward, happy to hear your thoughts.

We will get a date for our 2026 AGM. If you can attend, it’s a great way to meet other members and voice your questions and thoughts. I will get the details out as soon as we agree a date and venue.

Many thanks to the Scottish Committee WhatsApp group, always on hand for help. Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2026. I can’t wait to see the first lambing pictures and as always could that show champion be born in your lambing shed.

Winter 2025

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NORTHERN REGION – Regional Contact Member – Emma Chester

I hope this finds you well. As I write this, the Northern Region looks back on many things; including, especially, a very successful showing year The last show of the year was Masham Sheep Fair where there was an exceptional turn out of Jacob sheep – the highlight being a line-up of 20 entries in the gimmer lamb class. Barbara Webster of Fife, had her work cut out judging all exhibitors entries. Details in the show results at the back of the Journal. Thank you to everyone who exhibited – It was an tremendous turn out of Jacobs and massive thanks to Barbara for judging.

Various Agricultural shows have seen members become new exhibitors taking to the show ring which is excellent to see with Jacob classes being supported even more.

Looking back on the season we also held our first Jacob Sheep Society stand at the Great Yorkshire Show which was a great success and thank you to all whole helper make it so.

We have just had our Northern Region flock competition and assessment and Kay Carpenter and Jean Simmons travelled all over the north, from Lancashire and Cumbria to Northumberland and Yorkshire judging, assessing and giving advice to eight flocks in total. These consisted of two and four horned flocks, and everyone was grateful for their support and guidance. Currently we don’t know the results yet as they will be announced at our Northern AGM meeting which is coming up. Thank you again to Kay and Jean for taking their time to visit.

Lastly, we are holding our trimming demonstration day and Northern Region AGM meeting on Sunday 19th October. This is looking to be a very popular event with Scott Dalrymple providing the trimming demonstration. This is being followed by a judges seminar by Scott himself then our Flock Competition results will be presented by Kay and Jean. We are also launching our Young Handlers Points competition for 2026 (please keep your eyes peeled for more information), and finally our Northern AGM meeting and AOB. The day is kindly being hosted by the Maudsley family in Cumbria who have Escrigg flock.

As stated above, we are launching our Young Handlers Points Competition for 2026. This is where JSS Young Handler members can collect points over the showing season to go into the competition at the end of the show season. Please look out for more information to follow.

As ever, if anyone has any ideas for the region or would to host an open day or any other event (with our help of course) please let me know. We also have set up a WhatsApp group for the northern region (for info and updates, etc), if you wish to join, please let us know and I’ll forward the link to do so.

Winter 2025

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IRELAND REGION – Regional Contact Member – Matthew Kehoe

The late summer agricultural shows have finally drawn to a close with fierce yet wholesome competition peaking towards the end of the season and finally dissipating suddenly with our last show after which we all let the rams out to the ewes, take in the meal troughs and allow life to return to a slower and more natural rhythm as we settle into autumn and the beginning of a new year in the sheep breeder’s calendar.

By the time you’ve received your winter Journal we will all with some luck be looking forward to a bountiful lambing season on the back of a good scanning result.

Our two official show and sales in the Ireland region took place over the summer with a full report on each detailed elsewhere in the Journal. My thanks as always to our judges, inspectors, adjudicators, photographers, auctioneers and my hard working regional committee for offering up their time and efforts year on year to make these two sales a success.

The Hughes & Macamore Autumn Collection Online Sale, an unofficial private sale outside the auspices of the Jacob Sheep Society, saw a new record price for a pedigree Jacob sheep in the Republic of Ireland with lot 15 closing at €1610 for Macamore Daisy, a shearling ewe by Hope Warrior and out of Macamore Black Beauty now away to the Colhoun family’s Kingarrow flock. The sale featured 16 lots of pedigree Jacob sheep from both the Hughes & Macamore flocks with a select group of rams, ram lambs, shearling ewes and ewe lambs in what was a first for the Jacob breed to be sold in an online timed auction format on MartEye.

The National Ploughing Championships held in Screggan, Co. Offaly seen the usual suspects band together to build, stock and man the Jacob Sheep Society stand in the National Sheep Breeders Association polytunnel. As always the Jacobs on display, kindly provided by the Harney family (Green Star flock), were very popular with the general public. Our new stand built by David Poston survived its inaugural voyage south of the border taking David a mere four and a half hours to deliver it from Dungiven to Screggan on a Sunday afternoon. My thanks to all of the breeders that made an effort to man the stand, look after the sheep and drop in for a chat over the course of the three day event – none more so than Martin Harney who gave three full days on the job!

As I write this passage we look forward to our Ireland region annual general meeting at the Bailie Hotel in Cavan and by the time you receive your Journals we will have hopefully held a productive AGM and later found the bar in time for the real discussions to take place.

Two dates worth adding to the diary before Christmas are the Rare & Minority Breed Sale to be held in Cahir Mart on Saturday 29th of November and the Northern Ireland InLamb & Ewe Lamb Sale to be held at Beattie’s Pedigree Centre on Friday 12th of December.

For those travelling the distance to Omagh for the sale, a group of us will be staying at the Silver Birches Hotel on Friday night – we hope you can join us. A reminder that all sheep at the Northern Ireland sale are eligible for export to mainland UK with only those from a scrapie monitored holding or possessing the ARR/ARR genotype eligible for export to the Republic of Ireland.

In what feels like a very swift passing of time my first term as the Ireland regional contact member is coming to an end in April. I intend to stand again for another three year term commencing in April 2026 if you’ll have me and I hope I can count on all of your support in protecting and preserving our wonderful breed.

Winter 2025

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CENTRAL REGION – Regional Contact Member – James Cartwright

Thank you to all vendors and purchasers for making the Worcester Show and Sale such a successful event this year. For the first time, we sold a shearling ewe at the event, achieving a price that we were really pleased with. I would encourage everyone to look in on the show and sale next year at Worcester on Saturday 25th July with classes being judged by Robert Locker.

The October open day was very kindly hosted by Grace Leslie and her parents, Helen and Steven Leslie, in the small Derbyshire village of Muggington. Over 50 members attended the event with Grace starting the day off with a farm tour, covering aspects of flock management

through both her Jacob flock and the family’s flock of commercial sheep across the holding, beautifully managed by the Leslie family. Of particular interest to the membership was the family’s success in establishing herbal leys across the farm, which despite the dry weather in the summer, looked in incredibly good fettle and provoked much discussion around drought tolerance after the summer that we have experienced in the region. Robert Locker kindly drove down from north of the border to depart some of his knowledge around growing and finishing lambs, treating us to many facts, figures and things to consider throughout the year concerning growing of quality lambs. Robert also gave a fantastic run-down of points to consider when breeding Jacobs for a high quality pedigree status, giving an insider’s viewpoint to traits over the years that have impacted the breed and how to consider improving points within our flocks. Robert then gave an assessment of some Jacob cross breed lambs, kindly brought to the day by Richard Chapman, who has been cross breeding Jacobs for many years. The pen of Charrolais x Jacob lambs were a firm favourite carcass wise, adding depth of muscle and length in the back to the Jacob, but capitalised on the Jacobs maternal traits to raise strong lambs. It was noted that it is best practice to pen this cross breed quite tightly, as they can be “quite highly strung”, but fantastic performers. A group of four Dorset Down x Jacob lambs were certainly calmer in nature and again very strong contenders for breeders considering crossing breeds to improve lamb performance for the fat lamb market. Richard Chapman commented that it had taken a number of years to get the traders in the local markets used to the black lambs, but that he now generates pleasing returns through the autumn months with his successful cross bred fat lambs.

In late September judges, Gareth and Simon Jones, very kindly toured the region assessing the flock competition, with 13 flocks forward ranging in size from 9 breeding ewes, all the way up to 89 breeding ewes. They completed a huge task over 3 days keeping to an ambitious schedule through the weekend. Gareth attended the open day to present his awards for the various classes as follows:

1st 2nd 3rd
Best large flock Pard House flock Spottywood flock Lickhill flock
Best small flock Millvale flock Firtree flock Goldstone flock
Best 4-horned flock Blackbrook flock – –
Best 2-horned flock Millvale flock – –
Best ram Millvale flock Lickhill flock Firtree flock
Best homebred shearling ewe Millvale flock Fortress flock Firtree flock
Best ram lamb Lickhill flock Hillacre flock Hillvalley flock
Best pen ewe lambs Millvale flock Firtree flock Spottywood flock
Best homebred ewe Lickhill flock Millvale flock Blackbrook flock
Best 4-horned male Blackbrook flock – –
Best overall flock Millvale flock – –

The Young handlers annual awards were organised by Hayley Higginson who once again pulled together the entries from Jacob classes from our young handlers across the region. With time in the ring and places gained being tallied up, the competition was brilliant this year. The places within the various age classes were as follows.

Aged 8 and under: 1st Willow Bramley, 2nd Noah Greenow, 3rd Iona Stanley. Aged 9-14: 1st Josh Chivers, 2nd Bertie Stanley, 3rd Georgie Lane, 4th Charlotte Tatlow, 5th Sophie Greenow, 6th Isaac Greenow.

Aged 15-18: 1st Olivia Chivers, 2nd Amber Garratt, 3rd Oliver Garratt, 4th Isobel Cartwright, 5th Charlotte Cartwright, 6th Harriet Goucher.

Special congratulations went to Olivia Chivers for her overall championship achievement. The afternoon was closed with thanks to the Leslie family for facilitating a great day, with the usual ending of a raffle to complement the array of desserts kindly made and purchased by the committee members. Albeit saving the best to last, the Central region AGM was held at 15:00. thank you to all the members that stayed to join in the discussions from a successful year past and hopefully an even better one to follow.

I would also like to welcome some new members to the Central region, and I hope to meet you soon. From Cheshire Mr Christopher Barlow and Miss Claire Milligan, Mr Daniel Bracegirdle. Mr Daniel Smyth and Mr Cameron Owen. From Worcestershire Miss Claire and Sally Bryan. From Shropshire Mr Will Bowen. Gina and; James McCurrach. From Herefordshire Mrs Suzanne Protheroe.

Having successfully used CIDR’s for the first time this year, the prospect of lambing seems to have come around far too quickly. Noting that we are a month ahead of our usual lambing time, with lambs expected to arrive from January, it is time to consider scanning. It has to be one of my favourite times of year with our lambing percentage usually falling between 190-200%, I would tolerate a little lower, if the guarantee of beautifully marked ewe lambs was a dead certainty but, to be honest, whatever arrives, if the lambs are healthy and their mums love them, what is not to like?

 

Winter 2025

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SOUTH WEST REGION – Regional Contact Member – Richard Fenwick

Well, where is the year going? Lambing 2025 now seems a distant memory and our tupping and selling season is behind us as we start our preparations for winter 2025 and lambing 2026. Looking back over 2025, the south west members have had a tremendous show season. Within the region, we have 14 shows that hold Jacob classes which is a real bonus for us. Each show has been well attended by our members, and it’s been great to see such a high standard of Jacob sheep exhibited at each show. It has been a real pleasure to have some local judges to judge at our shows as well as few from away, all of whom have commented on the tremendous turn out and quality we’ve had on show. Championships have been spread out though our breeders. Since our last Journal, we’ve had a number of shows; Totnes Show saw Chris Fisher not only take championship with his aged ewe, but also reserve champion with his aged ram. From there it was on to Woolsery Show where we saw Steph Jasper take the championship with her aged ram, and Charlotte Slee taking reserve with her ewe lamb. Both these shows were blessed with lovely weather but it was a shame it wasn’t the same at the next show at Launceston. However the rain didn’t dampen the spirits and the championship went to Steph Jasper with her shearling ewe and reserve to Kayleigh Rennie with her aged ewe. Next up was North Devon show where Kayleigh Rennie took the championship with her aged ewe and Jessica Matravers, reserve with her ram.

Luckily the sun shone again at Honiton show where Josh Quant took the championship with his shearling ewe and Riley Marsh took the reserve with his ram lamb. Devon seemed to be a popular place as the next one was mid Devon show where we saw Jessica Matravers well within the rosettes taking the championship and reserve.

 

Back to Cornish sunshine after that, and the return of Camelford show saw Steph Jasper take the championship with her shearling ewe and Bethany Osborne taking reserve with her ram lamb. Okehampton Show saw a wonderful array of Jacobs, and congratulations went to Josh Quant on his championship, and also being part of the final selection in the interbreed with his shearling ewe, and Richard Fenwick taking reserve with his ram lamb. Kingsbridge show was second to last of the shows for the south west with Josh Quant taking the championship with his shearling ewe, and Chris Fisher taking reserve with his aged ewe. Our final show of the year was Dorset County Show, where Kayleigh Rennie’s aged ewe took the championship and Riley Marsh’s ram lamb took the reserve. A big success here too was Richard Fenwick winning the group of three class and going on to take reserve interbreed group in the Hill and Heath section.

It has been so encouraging to see the dedication of our breeders in the South West, turning out sheep to a very high standard in all weathers, and hearing the wonderful comments our judges have had to say about the sheep we have here in the south west.

A South West Diary

This edition’s diary takes us to South Devon to meet Josh Quant and his highly regarded Redlands Flock. Josh writes: “I started the Redlands flock in 2012 with the purchase of 8 in-lamb ewes. From there the flock has grown to 28, all homebred ewes. The flock is lambed indoors in January. I’ve bred the sheep to be as big and strong as possible in order to meet the prime lamb trade whilst still maintaining the breed characteristics. Any stock rams used have been used with the intention of introducing these specific qualities into the flock whether that be body condition, horns or markings. The lambs are creep fed from day one with the majority of the ram lambs finished and sent to Exeter prime market at around 45kg with a couple of the best kept back each year to be sold for breeding. The ewe lambs are either kept in the flock as replacements or sold as breeding ewe lambs. The teaser ram usually goes in 2 weeks before the rams however this year due to the heat and dry weather the teaser was put in for 4 weeks to give the ewes more time to start cycling before the ram goes in which I think it definitely helped this year. From the very start I have been very strict with culling out any sheep that have caused problems whether that be foot, lambing or worm problems or any other issues in order to create a sheep that is as hardy and as maintenance free as possible. It’s certainly paid off as we now have very little lameness or worm problems throughout the entire year.

I’ve shown them for a number of years and been lucky enough to pick up plenty of prizes with them at the local summer shows. This year our shearling ewe picked up breed champion at Honiton, Kingsbridge and Okehampton and was pulled forward in the final line-up for the interbreed at Okehampton which was certainly an added surprise. Going forward i hope to carry on improving the breed and taking it from strength to strength.”

On a personal note, my own flock has clearly benefitted from using Redlands Haribo for the last couple of years and I have replaced him this year with Redlands Jagger. I also borrowed Josh’s ideas about using a teaser ram and headed off to the vet with a halter trained shearling ram who was not needed for breeding. What followed wasn’t really anticipated!

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OBSERVATIONS OF JACOB SHEEP – EAR SET & TEMPERAMENT

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By LESLEY PARTRIDGE

 

When we investigate the basis of tameness, ears can be good indicators of emotions. It can be seen that an animal’s ear set shows it’s flight or fight instinct. Wild animals which have dominant pricked ears, signify heightened awareness, and their straight pointed ears give full access to the ear canal allowing them to hear without any restrictions. These types are more sensitive and have evolved for a quick get away from the danger of predators.

Animals with a lower ear set show man’s selection over hundreds of years by choosing to keep animals which are easier to manage. Animals with white areas on the body have distinctly calmer temperaments when compared to those having solid colour, and piebald colour is found in many domesticated species of horses, sheep, cattle, dogs, cats, and birds. The selection for a calmer temperament causes the Adrenal Gland in animals to produce less Adrenalin.

Scientists know that the two sides of the brain collaborate to perform a variety of tasks and that the two hemispheres communicate through the corpus callosum. The left side controls the muscles on the right side of the body, while the right hemisphere controls those on the left. Left brain thinkers are ruled by logic and pay attention to detail, whereas right brained are described as being more emotional. Both sides process information differently and control different patterns of behaviour, known as lateralization.

Lateralization in sheep’s brains carry out different functions simultaneously such as grazing but keeping an eye out for predators. The right side of the brain develops earlier and is specialised for expressing intense emotion, while the left is influenced by its surrounding environment. Observing the way they behave, we know that Jacob sheep are sociable animals, intelligent, easily trained, exceptionally adaptable and enjoy the interaction and company of humans.

Scottish Autumn 2025

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SCOTTISH REGION

Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper

As I write this, I think the Scottish Region has probably experienced one of the hottest days ever, and it was our National Show at Dalkeith where exhibitors and stock felt the 29°c. Summer has been fairly kind to us all, dry days at the shows and a bit rain through the week. I can’t believe we are weeks away from the rams heading out again, probably by the time you read this they will be out.

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Ewen MacMillan’s ewe lamb, champion at Fife Show with the judge, Adam Christie

As our AGM weekend had to be cancelled, we decided that it would be nice to still head north and have our Scottish AGM. Ian Forsyth kindly invited us to his farm where we saw Ian’s Oldtown Flock along with the cattle that he runs with his father. We held a productive meeting, and had a beautiful spread of food and drink to keep us going after a very early start. Adam Christie along with his parents invited us to their farm the following day where we saw the Adamski Flock (RHS Champion 2025 among them) and we also saw Dad Gary’s cattle which was an impressive sight with 20+ sets of twins along with a fantastic camera set up for calving time. Angela filled our bellies for the journey home with more northern fair. Many thanks for a fantastic weekend.

Fife show kicked off the show year for most and Adam Christie headed south to judge. Lucy MacMillan’s ewe lamb caught the judge’s eye and took the championship with Robert Locker’s ewe reserve.

The Royal Highland came a few weeks later and there is a full report in this Journal from Howard Walsh. There was a good turnout of sheep, maybe a few less than in previous years but some good quality four horned Jacobs were put in from of the judge, Siwan Harris from Wales. Well done to Adam Christie taking champion with his ram lamb, Robert Locker was reserve with his ewe. I have fed back to the show praising them for much improved entry into the show ground on the Wednesday and a more relaxed exit on the Sunday (sweeties were handed out to the exhibitors waiting to load). We all appreciate it’s not an easy task but things are certainly better, pen walk ways were wider and there was no shortage of straw. Thanks to Dunmor and all those who contributed to our after show gathering. Mary always makes sure everyone has enough to eat and drink. We have been discussing a change for next year with regards to the gathering, and shall update you nearer the time.

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At Haddington Show Connor & Dalrymple’s shearling ram was champion and their ewe lamb reserve

The National Show was held at Dalkeith and as I said at the start a terribly hot day. We had planned to showcase the breed in the main ring but animal welfare came before that and the decision to cancel was a welcome one. Many thanks to Ady Hamilton who came over from Ireland to judge, Robert Locker ewe finally had her big moment as she took the National Champion spot for 2025 with a Dunmor shearling ram taking reserve. Thanks to Barbara Webster for continuing to gift a glass trophy to the champion. Thanks to our sponsors Melanie Harper and Stephanie Crozier who gifted prize money for champion and reserve.

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At the Scottish National Show at Dalkeith Robert Locker’s ewe was champion. The judge was Ady Hamilton

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At Fettercairn Show where Ian Forsyth judged, Barbara Webster’s ram was champion and Linda McKendrick’s ewe lamb reserve.

The Scottish Show and Sale has been a bit of an unusual one because Bluetongue and its restrictions caused a rethink. H&H Auctions took the decision to have a sale in Scotland at Lockerbie then the following day another sale at Carlisle, and we made the decision to only pay prize money out to the champion and reserve at both sales. Lockerbie sale would have the trophies and sponsors gifts would be divided between both sales. We are uncertain how it will go but unusual times call for unusual measures.

The Flock Competition will take place the weekend of 25th September and the judges will be Robert and Jean Price from Wales, I will get more information and costs to enter nearer the time.

We are also hoping to possibly squeeze in a judges’ seminar and open day late October and again will get information out when I have confirmation of the date and venue. Next year’s National Show will be held at Grantown, and Scott Robertson will keep us all updated.

Members will be sorry to learn of the death of Agnes McLean whose husband, Jimmy, bred four-horned sheep in Lanarkshire and together they attended a number of AGM weekends.

We hope to get funding for NSA Scotsheep 2026 which is being held at Wedderlie Farm in the Scottish Borders. Hopefully we will have our new breed stand by then although photos are proving difficult for the canvas. We are on the lookout for a professional photographer to take some pictures. I hope to be able to catch up with everyone at the Scottish Sales, thanks again to Scott Dalrymple and Robert Locker, my sale team, who are always there to answer a 5 am question on WhatsApp. Thanks to the Scottish Committee for their support and hard work.

Eastern Autumn 2025

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EASTERN REGION

Regional Contact Member – Tom Green

The show season kicked off in the Eastern region with Jane Woodbridge and Martin Wallis representing the breed in the Any Other Native Section at Nottinghamshire County Show, picking up the reserve male championship with their shearling ram. At the South Suffolk Show Gilly Winchester again represented the breed in the Any Other Breed section with her ram lamb taking 2nd place ahead of a Charollais, and her ewe lamb and shearling ewe both taking home third place rosettes. Hadleigh Show with Gilly Winchester representing the breed alongside Charlie and David Coe. Gilly was 2nd in the ewe lamb class while the Coes shearling ewe also took 2nd place, however it was the Wneham ram lamb that stole the show winning his class and becoming champion Native and then interbreed champion.

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David and Charlie Coe’s champion ewe at the Royal Norfolk Show with the judge, John Dixon

The first breed classes were held at the Suffolk where Nicola Fletcher ably judged. David and Charlie Coe’s aged ram was male champion while Gillian Christian’s ram lamb was reserve. Overall. The female champion was David and Charlie Coe’s shearling ewe while the reserve female and reserve overall was the aged ewe from the same home. Congratulations also go to the other exhibitors who helped get these classes reinstated; Becky Fisher and Neil Baskett, Ben Coe and Gilly Winchester.

Rutland Show was judged by Kay Carpenter who found her champion in Richard Chapman’s aged ewe and reserve in Joe Trofer-Cook’s ram lamb, Fenland Dennis the Menace. Congratulations to Tracey and Martin Coates who won the shearling ram and shearling ewe classes and Jane Woodbridge and Martin Wallis who won the ewe lamb class.

The biggest show in the region was the Royal Norfolk Show with eight exhibitors putting sheep forward for the judge, John Dixon, who certainly had his work cut out with the biggest classes being the lamb classes with 11 ram lambs and 12 ewe lambs forward. The female and overall champion was the shearling ewe from David and Charlie Coe’s Wneham flock, while Gillian Christian’s ewe lamb was reserve female champion. The male champion and reserve overall was Kingarrow Easton showed by the Gorringe family’s Shutecombe flock. Reserve male champion was Gillian Christian’s ram lamb, Briden Eddie. Congratulations to Becky Fisher and Neil Baskett, Church Flock, who took 2nd in the ewe lamb class and 3rd in the ram lamb class in only their second year showing, as well as the other exhibitors, Wendy Sharp, Sharphouse flock who missed the judging for the birth of her granddaughter, Ben Coe, Typhoon flock, and Gilly Winchester, Bracewell flock, and Debbie Gilks, Bridgham Flock.

The Society also held a successful breed stand at the show, we received numerous positive comments and several enquiries. My thanks to Becky Fisher, John Dixon, Lisa Adams and Debbie Gilks for helping me to man it.

Blaston Show was ably judged by John Emberton with Martin and Tracey Coates taking the championship with their shearling ram and Richard Chapman taking the reserve.

I’d like to welcome two new members, Sandra James, Ivycot Flock and Regenerative Farms Ltd, Beeleigh Abbey Flock to the Society and wish you all well on your journey into the world of Jacobs.

As I sit here writing this on the second weekend of July, hiding from the heat, Lincolnshire can only be described as a desert. We’ve had very little rain and with the grass burnt off ewes are being supplemented with barley straw and I am going to have to start thinking about how to flush them before we start sponging in August to lamb at the end of January. Lambs have been weaned a couple of weeks and those to retain have been selected as well as those which will be sold privately and at Melton MowbraySale. Shearling ewes have also been sorted through. The majority of wethers and tup lambs that did not make the grade have been sold at an average £7.50 a kg (£1 higher than the same stage last year), all grading at R and O 3L/3H which is the right specification for deadweight company.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the remaining shows and Melton Mowbray Show and Sale If I can be any assistance to anyone please do not hesitate to contact to me on 07800 817850 or

Northern Autumn 2025

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NORTHERN REGION

Regional Contact Member – Emma Chester

The Northern Region had a stand at the NSA North Sheep event hosted by the Peile family at Greystoke Castle Farm, Penrith, Cumbria, a mixed 2,300 acre farm with sheep, beef and a dairy herd. The Peile family used to keep Jacobs many years ago and Mr Peile paid a special visit to the stand to reminisce.

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Emma Chester and Rachel Knowles setting up the Jacob Sheep Society stand at North Sheep

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Emma Wilson’s ewe and Blue Texel cross lambs at the North Sheep event at Penrith

The Northern Region attended the last NSA North Sheep in 2023 in Northumberland which was a great success and we wanted to make sure we were back, flying the JSS flag. It was also a good opportunity to meet and greet many of our members, especially from the Cumbria area. The stand had sheep from the Wastwater and Escrigg flocks, and Emma Wilson’s pair of cross bred lambs (Jacob dam and blue Texel sire) created much interest which went hand in hand with our competition “Guess the birth date” of the lambs. The stand’s focus was on all parts of the breed; from breeding attributes, to their versatile fleece and flavoursome meat. Massive thanks to Rachel Knowles and Emma Wilson for help setting up, and Charlie Wildridge, Clive Richardson and Emily Maudlsey for assistance on the day. We had a great time talking with everyone who visited, promoting the breed and look forward to the next event in 2027.

Our first breed promotion stand at the Great Yorkshire Show was a great success Thanks to Kay Carpenter and Jean Simmons for their help in setting up the stand and to everyone who helped man the stand over the four days of the show. Northern Region member, Charlie Wildridge, produced a display board of photos for the stand and writes: “I found my inspiration from NSA to create a display board for our first ever breed stand at the Great Yorkshire Show to further educate people on our breed, society and the benefits. I was made aware that the Northern Show and Sale, which is held at CCM Skipton, is to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year and this gave me the idea to focus my display on showcasing the show and sale and celebrate previous winners. I carried out various research to find photographs of the sale over the years, managing to date back to 2008 where Jean Price was awarded the championship alongside Clive Richardson as reserve champion. For many of the photos a society member, who works at CCM auction where the sale is held, helped me search through the archives to find images of previous winners and general showing which I then presented in a timeline in date order. Using the Northern Region social media, I also created a collage of photos that highlights what occurs in the society, prioritising Northern regional activities such as open days/trimming demonstrations and our previous regional show winners at the Great Yorkshire Show 2024, including young handlers. The breed stand was a great success with many members reminiscing over the photos and remembering previous winners.”

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Charlie Wildridge’s display board at the Great Yorkshire Show

Georgia Knoiwles, an eleven year old Northern Region member enjoyed showing at the Great Yorkshire Show and wrote: “Our time at the Great Yorkshire Show was incredible. It was amazing to see how many people were interested in the Jacob breed. A member from the Northern Region, created wool bags to use in the garden, to use up the by-product, and they were sold out by the end of the week, showing how versatile the breed is. Overall, it was a great week for the showing, we were so proud of our accomplishments this year and I am sure all the other competitors were too. It was a great experience, this year, to help out on the first Jacob Sheep Society breed stand at the GYS. It was amazing to see how busy it was. It was great to see lots of support around the ring and back at the breed stand, after the showing. Thank you to the judge and to everyone who made it the great week it was.”

Since taking on the Northern RCM role just over a year ago, I would like to welcome our newest members: A.Taylor-Garthwaite, Keithfield flock; E. Ellis, Hutton flock; S. Worlock, Sandwath flock; E & E.Benn-Steele, Whicham flock; C.Abbott & E.Howarth; K. Amesbury; K. Johnson, Gallomire flock; J. Valentine, Ollerton Fold flock; M. Fogg; E. Woodward, J. Newhouse;

G. Sargent and L. Smolinski I look forward to meeting you at various events and welcoming more future members.

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Pat and Trevor Black’s champion shearling ewe and John Fozzard’s reserve champion ewe at Driffield Show with the judge, Clive Richardson

 

Southern Autumn 2025

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SOUTHERN REGION

Regional Contact Member – Peter Gorringe

Simon and Lesley Pope’s ram, winner of his class at the Kent County Show

A successful trimming workshop was held in the Southern Region and Natalie Ceeney (Hallwood Jacobs) hosted it and writes: “Have you ever thought of showing, but wondered ‘how on earth do I make my sheep look like that?’  Or started showing, feeling rather clueless against the competition? Well – that was us. So when Peter Gorringe of the Shutecome Flock suggested helping to run a trimming workshop, he had lots of takers. My husband (assistant chief shepherd) and I spent a weekend tidying up our barn for visitors, and another shampooing our best sheep ready for trimming. And then we day arrived. 15 people came, and we experienced a masterclass, with Peter and his son, Tom, showing us how to make our sheep look like that. We all had a go – and a few hours later our sheep looked rather lovely. I was also rather pleased that our sheep behaved well for the visitors. I’d made some brownies and lemon cake for the trimming session, so we ended up at the pub afterwards for lunch feeling rather pleased with ourselves, as well as full. I’m still not sure I could really say that I know what I’m doing, but I certainly feel more confident in preparing a sheep for show. And I’m even more in awe of the experts than before. Thanks to Peter and Tom Gorringe for their time and expertise. Unfortunately our washed and trimmed sheep promptly put their heads in the molasses bucket so they no longer look quite as clean…  so we will do it all again in August for the Edenbridge and Oxsted shop. Hopefully more successfully thanks to the class.”