Category Archives: Regional Reports

Southern Region Spring 26

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SOUTHERN REGION

Regional Contact member – Peter Gorringe

  On Sunday 30th November a group of around 20 JSS members from the Southern Region gathered for a flock visit to Lesley and Simon Pope’s lambing barn before the planned AGM in the local pub.

For those of us who had watched Lesley and Simon’s “lambcam” in previous years (rather addictive, and apparently with a worldwide audience) it was rather thrilling to see the real venue. It was even more exciting to taste the freshly baked sausage rolls (their own pork) and cakes to keep us fuelled while we walked around the Pope’s farm, Albans Barnyard. As well as a friendly flock of Jacobs, the Popes introduced us to their rather impressive cows. A broad consensus all round was that we would happily come to the Popes again if the opportunity presented itself.

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We then retired to the pub, but before being allowed to find out the results of the flock competition, we had an interesting talk by a local farmer about organic fly strike prevention. Concerned for the environment and the toxicity of the current chemicals, a team of local farmers had trialled organic methods alongside the more traditional Crovect and Cik. Rather to their own surprise, other than needing to repeat the treatment every month, the results appeared the same. The sprays that they trialled were Oxalis (from Helios.co.uk) and Blowfly Repel (Barrier Hygiene) if you fancy trying it… Most of us left thinking we might consider it.

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And then the main event – the results of the flock competition. We’d all been visited a few months before by Joseph Hughes and Matthew Kehoe from Ireland, who we all agreed had been very thorough and informed about the breed.  The competition had been fiercely competed this year, so despite all the amiable smiles and “we’re only in it for the fun of it” there was tension in the room as the results were announced. In all, the prizes were spread around the room, so most people went home with something, but particular congratulations to John and Ann Heady as the winners of the best small flock category and overall champions. We left clutching silverware and wishing each other well for a successful lambing in 2026.

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Flock Competition Results:

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Best ram lamb:          Best ram:

1st – Wendy Sharp          1st Lesley Pope

2nd – Anne Heady          2nd – Natalie Ceeney

3rd – Peter Gorringe          3rd – Peter Gorringe

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Best homebred ewe lamb      Best group of ewe lambs

1st – Natalie Ceeney        1st – Ann Heady

2nd – Ann Heady          2nd – Wendy Sharp

3rd – Wendy Sharp          3rd – Lesley Pope

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Best homebred shearling ewe      Best large flock

1st – Ann Heady          1st – Peter Gorringe

2nd – Bedales School        2nd – Bedales School

3rd – Wendy Sharp          3rd – Lesley Pope

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Best small flock          Champion flock

1st – Ann Heady          Ann Heady

2nd – Wendy Sharp

3rd – Gilly Cummings

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Flock competition prize winners at the Southern Region AGM
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Part of Simon and Lesley Pope’s Albans flock

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Scottish Region Spring 26

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SCOTTISH REPORT

Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper

          As I write this I’m certain most of you will be well through your lambing, the weather has been pretty shocking wet and muddy. Will we ever see green grass and be able to walk around without a thick covering of mud on our wellies which in my world transfers to the car. My lambing started later than usual this year but that’s nature. I used my old faithful Edingale Hugh Hefner and also a shearling ram bred by my brother, George Harper. It is always exciting and nervous using a new ram but for myself and my daughter’s flock we are pleased with the results. I decided any ewes that weren’t marked early went to a Texel, my thinking being the lambs will fatten quicker, I can wean lambs earlier and the ewes will hopefully fall back into the main cycle. Jacobs amaze me with their material instinct. My brother had a ewe lost her lamb, so I dashed home at lunchtime and skinned and fostered on one of my lambs, the ewe never questioned it, the lamb went in to suck and the ewe instantly bonded. I had a friend with me who couldn’t believe it. I said that’s why I love this breed and they are so underrated. That wee lamb has doubled in size and has a mum who adores her with an endless milk supply.

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Robert Locker and his sister, Sarah, with lambs from his Edingale flock

On Wednesday June 10th NSA Scotsheep 2026 will be held in the Scottish Borders at Wedderlie Farm, Gordon. We will have a stand and on it we will showcase the breed, pedigree and commercial. The commercial side is always popular and shows the mothering abilities of a Jacob ewe and how she rears cross lambs well. We are still putting together our new breed promotion stand, something we want to get right. Save the date and come and say hello.

Royal Highland Show chose Mr Lyndon Trumper from Wales to judge this year, and we look forward to welcoming Lyndon and his family to this event. The RHS sent an email to myself regarding numbers going downwards for the classes; welcome feedback from our Scottish Committee was submitted to the show and they acknowledge the issues which ranged from cost, a non–commercial breed, pen numbers restricted due to Bluetongue to name but a few. The show have said they only wanted us to be aware. Hopefully our numbers will be back up this year. As always any questions please drop the Scottish RCM or our Field Officer an email and we can help you. We have spoken about changing our after show party/gathering to something more personal E:\Users\Clive\Downloads\Deanburn.jpgand away from the show crowds. We will keep everyone updated nearer the time.

Our National Show this year will be held at Grantown on Thursday 13th August, and Robert Locker has kindly agreed to judge for us. This show will be included as one the points shows along with the Royal Highland, Fife and Keith, with points gathered and submitted to win large flock/small flock trophies. Many thanks to Scott Robertson and his northern team who help to make this northern show the success it is.

The Scottish Show and Sale will be held on Friday 31st July at H&H Auctions, Carlisle, and Ady Hamilton from Ireland has kindly agreed to make the journey over to judge. We will be asking Scottish members to once again sponsor the classes as this allows us to make the prize money a little more inviting. We will be asking our sponsors if they are happy to sponsor the sale again, added gifts and merchandise is always appreciated by us as a region and the vendors.
An adventurous lamb at Steph Crozier’s Ruberslaw flock

Another important date for your diaries is Sunday 10th May as it will be our Scottish AGM and also a judges’ seminar. This will be held in Fife but as I write this I don’t have the exact location but will get this out to Scottish members. Our Field Officer, Scott Dalrymple, will be hosting the seminar and welcoming any new members with questions about the breed to attend. It will be a great opportunity to meet members and share ideas and thoughts. More details will follow.

Robert Locker and his sister, Sarah, had a visit from Phil Wilkinson, a local photographer who for the past few years has made contact with myself or Robert when the first lambs are born as he submits the photos to all the national newspapers and 99% of the time one or more newspapers will use his photos, I did put something on social media about this but Robert has sent me the copies and they are included in this Journal.

This is my last report for the Journal as I have to step down as RCM for Scotland. Can I thank my Scottish Committee who have supported me over the years. All those years ago the late Marion Leithead put me forward for the role and I would like to think I’ve done her proud. Scotland at the moment has a strong committee with new faces who in return have new ideas and along with the experience of our longer standing committee members it makes us a stable region and we will continue to promote the breed and push    forward. I wish the new RCM for Scotland all the very best.

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Lambing at Jennifer Milton’s Cairdswood flock in Aberdeenshire
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A smart four-horned lamb at Ian Forsyth’s Oldtown flock in Moray
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A ewe with her triplets at Susan Wright’s Bonnygate flock in Fife
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Gordon and Grace Connor with a lamb from the Dun-mor flock

Wales Region Spring 26

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WALES REGION

Regional Contact member – Alison Ross

The end of the show season 2025 concluded with the Royal Welsh Winter Fair where Gwenllian Evans and Euan Edmunds were both in the ribbons with their respective Gwenerin and Sable pairs of lambs.

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Gwenllian Evans’ pair of lambs at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair

Our Christmas meal was held at The White Hart, LLandeilo, with our annual meeting beforehand. It was a very pleasant and informative afternoon. I would like to thank everyone who attended and especially those who travelled a fair distance.

As already mentioned in the last Jacob Journal, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has decided that it will no longer hold the spring show. We will consider a stand at the next NSA meeting in Wales, but this will be 2027. It was agreed that we would look at a small board and JSS poster to fix to a pen at the local shows as an alternative this year.

We have plans well underway for 2026 with an open day at Jackie and Gwyn Jones’ Milldale four horn and Werndale two horn flocks. There will be a judges’ seminar at the venue which is near Welshpool. Further information will be posted on social media and the JSS website soon.

The Royal Welsh Show dates are 20th-23rd July. Show day for the Jacob classes has not been posted yet but I will add them to the diary of events on the Wales webpage once they are published.

The JSS pedigree sale for Wales will be held at Monmouth Livestock Centre on Saturday 19th September. Despite the restrictions of last year, the sale was well attended and we hope to welcome more members from other regions this year.

The regional flock visits will be held on either the first or second weekend in October.

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             Arwel Jones’ ewe, Celtic Diamond, with her ewe lamb
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             Lois Harries with lambs from the Hope and Gobaith flocks

Central Region Spring 26

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CENTRAL REGION

Regional Contact Member – James Cartwright

Tales of the Lambing Shed

The lambing shed at three in the morning is a world of suspended time, where the only reality is the rhythmic rustle of straw and the low, comforting “churr” of an expecting ewe. For me, the constant tiredness of this busy part of the year is intoxicating and as the ewes do what they do so well (motherhood), I do marvel at new life entering the world, it never gets tiresome. With a breed of such character as ours and crossing fingers for the showring chance, there are moments for the shepherd of Jacob sheep when we have everything crossed. The arrival of a Jacob lamb is always a moment of aesthetic surprise. Unlike more uniform commercial breeds, every Jacob is a unique “patchwork” masterpiece, and as the ewe busily licks her newborn dry, the shepherd watches for the first glimpse of those tell-tale markings. This year we used CIDR’s for the first time, with great success and not surprisingly we did have a busy couple of nights when ewes seemed to be in all stages of labour at the same time. For us, it seemed to be the year of ram lambs which has happened before but there are years where ewe lambs seem to be the majority.

Happily, we have a couple of little chaps who show potential including Frank, who seems to stand well at only a few days old.

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James Cartwright’s ram lamb, Goldstone Frank, at a few days old

Chatting to members around the region, it appears that lambing has gone well which brings a cheer when the weather seems to drag you down. In the Meadowland flock Abbie seemed to draw the short straw with the nighttime shifts, although Hayley managing to snap a cheeky photo or two of her off to check the lambing shed in her cow dressing gown. Maybe there is an opportunity for the Jacob shop here to start to do nightwear? Thoughts on a postcard for that one.

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Abbie Higginson off to check the lambing ewes on the night shift in her cow dressing gown

Shows, open days and opportunities to mingle

A few dates for your diary start with the first regional open day of the year which is to be kindly hosted by Mark and Margie Rushbrooke of the Perrymill flock on Sunday 10th May (invites to follow). Mark and Margie have been members of the Society for 50 years and after visiting their farm today, it is clear we can all learn much from all their hard-earned experience and success over many years.

The early county shows of Shropshire and Staffordshire in May will be the first opportunity for many to get together and compare stories from the lambing shed, with surely a great crop of lambs between us. I would encourage members to attend at least one day at the Royal Three Counties Show at Malvern on 12-14th June, with classes this year being judged by Jackie Jones. Some top-class sheep will be on show in the ring. Again, in Malvern but at the National Sheep Association “Sheep Event” on 28th July, we will have a stand to demonstrate the attributes of the Jacob sheep with maybe a more commercial bias at this well attended event. Lastly, not to forget this year’s Central Region Show and Sale will be held at Worcester on Saturday July 25th with the show being kindly judged by Robert Locker.

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Welcome to new members

I would like to extend a warm welcome to new members in the region: Arthur Hurley – Cheshire, Rebecca Howard – West Midlands, Matthew & Emily Bowen – Herefordshire, Bartholomew Terry and Anya Makin–Terry – Gloucestershire, Sarah Horton – Worcestershire, Alice Smith – Staffordshire, and Tracie Paul Russon – West Midlands.

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Jobs for the month ahead

Shearing early for the shearlings and mature stock is a task that usually, and this year is no exception, sneaks up on me. Finding a shearer to get the job done can be tricky at this time of year and I am considering if I should have a go? Should I consider taking up this challenge and attend one of the many courses offered by professionals in the field? I am also considering bolusing this year. With the weather seeming to swing from endless rain to then long periods of warm and dry, mineral availability will surely be a challenge, and the right bolus in the right circumstances may just be worth considering further, watch this space.

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A lamb from Matt Greenow’s Dinedor flock in Herefordshire

Northern Region Spring 26

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NORTHERN REGION

Regional Contact Member – Emma Chester

I hope this finds you well and if you are currently lambing I hope it’s going well or if it’s coming up – Good luck. The region had a busy back end of the year, with our Northern Region AGM being held in October. See below our report of the day.

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        A ewe and her lamb at Jake Allonby’s Topspot flock in Cumbria

The Northern Region trimming demonstration day and Regional meeting was successfully held on Sunday, 19th October, hosted by the Maudsley family of the Escrigg Flock, Kendal, Cumbria. The event attracted a strong attendance from members across the region, highlighting the continued interest and commitment within the Northern Region.

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The day began with a trimming demonstration delivered by Scott Dalrymple. This session was both informative and practical, providing attendees with a detailed insight into correct trimming techniques and best practice. Scott shared his expertise clearly and answered questions from the audience, making the demonstration valuable for both experienced members and those newer to trimming.

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          Following this, Scott Dalrymple also led a judges’ seminar. This seminar focused on judging standards, consistency, and the key traits to look for when assessing sheep in competition. The session encouraged discussion and offered useful guidance, helping to develop confidence and understanding among current and prospective judges.

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Later in the day, the results of the flock competition were presented by Kay Carpenter and Jean Simmons who had judged the event. The presentation acknowledged the high standard of entries and congratulated all participants for their efforts throughout the year. Special recognition was given to the leading flocks, celebrating their achievements and dedication. A full report is included in this Journal.

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   Our Field Offiucer, Scott Dalrymple , giving the trimming demonstration at the open day

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The event also marked the official launch of the 2026 Young Handlers Points Competition. This initiative aims to encourage young members to become more involved, develop their handling skills, and participate regularly in shows and events. The competition was well received and generated enthusiasm among younger attendees.

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The day concluded with the Northern Region Annual General Meeting (AGM) and an Any Other Business (AOB) session. Key regional matters were discussed, allowing members the opportunity to share views, raise questions, and contribute to future planning.

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Overall, the Northern Trimming Demonstration Day and Regional Meeting were an engaging programme for all who attended this productive and well attended event. The Maudsley family were thanked for their generous hospitality, and the organisers were praised for delivering a successful and engaging programme for all who attended.

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Part of Chris and Emily Maudsley’s Escrigg flock at the open day

Southwest Region Spring 26

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SOUTH WEST REGION

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Regional Contact Member – Richard Fenwick

          2026 has brought us a very wet start to the year in the South West so lots of our lambs are still waiting for their first experience of grass. Lambing reports from around the region have thrown up a couple of surprises. New members recently started their Somerset Withy flock with three in-lamb ewes and you can imagine their surprise when one of their first lambing experiences presented them with quads, four ewe lambs.

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New members, Andrew and Lindsey Duckett of the Withy flock in Somerset, got a set of quads on their first experience of lambing

Perhaps an even bigger surprise presented itself to Josh Quant of the Redlands flock. A completely white lamb was born to a ewe that had been home bred for three or four generations and was by a ram with similar credentials, albeit from a different line. Theories abound on a South West WhatsApp group to explain this genetic anomaly – is it indicative of cross breeding in a distant generation or simply two recessive ‘white’ genes carried by both parents? Or even that all the rain had washed the black away. We look forward to an informed explanation.

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The completely white Jacob lamb that was born at Josh Quant’s Redlands flock in Devon.

We are looking forward to the many shows in the South West with Jacob classes. Sadly, we may lose breed classes from some of these shows if we don’t keep up the numbers. We encourage members to support our agricultural shows to ensure that the farming and livestock sections continue to thrive. If you are new to showing there’s lots of information and support around.

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* Check out the show dates on the JSS website which helpfully has links to the show websites.

* If you have not shown before, start with lambs as you just need to halter train and wash them.

* Go to the JSS website and search ‘Showing’ for a helpful guide if you are new to this.

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Here are some of the early shows in the region:

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North Somerset        4 May – closing date for entries 4 April

Devon County        21-23 May – closing date for entries 20 March

Royal Bath and West    28-30 May – closing date for entries 16 April

Royal Cornwall        4-6 June – closing date for entries13 April

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If you have any questions or need help and support, get in contact and we’ll put you touch with a member who lives nearby. We’ll keep you informed about dates for regional meetings and a flock competition later in the year.

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A ewe with her strong triplets at Richard and Katie Fenwick’s Camel flock in Somerset

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Eastern Region Spring 26

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EASTERN REGION

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Regional Contact member – Tom Green

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The Eastern Region AGM was again held at the Bell Inn Hotel at Stilton with 16 people in attendance. We enjoyed a lovely pre-Christmas lunch and The Bell will host the AGM again this November/December.

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There will be a new show with breed classes in the region at Aylsham and I would encourage anyone in that area who hasn’t shown before and would like to try to come along. We will all support you.

 

The other regional shows with breed classes are as follows:

 

Suffolk County Show – Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th May – Judge: John Dixon

Rutland County Show – Sunday 31st May – Judge John Newborough

Royal Norfolk Show – Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June – Judge: Chris Slee

Blaston Show – Sunday 28th June – Judge: TBC

Heckington Show – Sunday 26th July – Judge: Gareth Jones

Leicestershire County Show – Bank Holiday Monday 31st August – Judge: James Leonard

Aylsham Show – Bank Holiday Monday 31st August – Judge: Tom Green

 

The society will be having a breed promotion stand at the Royal Norfolk Show this year so I will be asking for volunteers to help me man it this nearer the time. Members at the AGM were also keen to try and support Any Other Breed classes at Newark with the aim to get Jacob classes reinstated there.

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Ewes and lambs at Becky Fisher and Neil Baskett’s Church flock in Suffolk

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  The Coates family have kindly agreed to host a show preparation day on Sunday 17th May at the Ashmere Flock near Market Haborough, we are hoping to combine this with some sessions on wool. All members welcome.

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Lambing in my own flock happened in the last week of January, sponging worked well with 44 ewes lambing within 6 days, the only ewe to return was one which had lost her sponge. The ewes are penned individually with their lambs for a minimum of 48 hours, the lambs navels are dressed with iodine in a dip cup regularly until they’ve dried and once dried and I’m happy they’re sucking they are all tailed and most ram lambs are castrated with only a handful left to run on.

Please note that DEFRA are currently consulting on altering the legislation surrounding castration and tail docking to require the use of local anaesthesia and pain relief. By the time you all receive this the consultation will have closed but I will keep you all updated. Ewes deemed to be in poorer body condition score (less than 2.5) or with triplets (or twins if a shearling) were wormed but most did not need doing. Ewes had energy buckets from 8 weeks before lambing and feeding starting 5 weeks before the lambs were due. They are currently enjoying life in the mothering up pens with hay until the weather improves and they be given a Magnesium bolus that prevents staggers and head outside (note Magnesium boluses only last 3 weeks so there is no point in giving them while they are in). Once out lambs will be introduced to creep feed coarse mix. There are one or two smart lambs beginning to show themselves so hopefully there will be something to show later this year.

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  The Eastern Region Show and Sale will be held at Melton Mowbray on September 11th and 12th and the judge will be our Field Officer, Scott Dalrymple, who will also hold a judges’ seminar open to all on the Friday. More details later.

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I would like to welcome new members who have joined since the last Journal, Thomas and Sophie Mountain, Rose and Roy Barrow, and Peta Claridge and Colin Dean and wish you all well on your journey into the world of Jacobs.

The region now has an active Whatsapp group with 25 members to discuss various sheep related topics to be added or if I can be any assistance to anyone please do not hesitate to contact to me on 07800 817850 or

Ireland Spring 2026

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IRELAND REGION

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Regional Contact member – Matthew Kehoe

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I hope everyone is having a productive lambing season and taking all of the usual trials

and tribulations in their stride. At home here at the Macamore flock we have had a brief but very busy eight days of lambing some early synchronised ewes in January and are preparing for the main batch to begin around the 1st of March.

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Since the previous edition of the Jacob Journal we have held our regional AGM on the

18th of October at the Bailie Hotel, Co. Cavan, and the first of many regional committee meetings on the 25th of January at Boyne Valley Wools, Co. Meath, to begin planning for the 2026 national shows, official sales, in-lamb sales, open day, the show competition and the flock competition.

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The 2025 In-Lamb Ewe and Ewe Lamb Sale took place on Friday the 12th of December with a full report included elsewhere in this Journal.

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The Ireland region committee is planning to run another Ireland region flock competition around the first week of October with our two judges yet to be confirmed at the time of writing. This always proves to be a useful opportunity to gain advice and guidance from a fresh pair of eyes on your stock and flock management. While we call it a flock competition due to its competitive nature it is very much an informal flock assessment aimed at providing a service to both new and experienced breeders. As always I’d greatly encourage everyone to take part. The annual show competition will run as usual under the same rules with points collated from the exhibitors’ six most successful outings combined. Our first event of the year will be the Royal Balmoral Show held at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn, from the 13th to the 16th of May. Following the usual schedule of events the Jacobs will be judged first thing Thursday morning by Siwan Harries (Hope and Gobaith flocks – Wales). As always Balmoral promises to be a fantastic start to the show season.

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Three generations of ewe at Dabhan Harkin’s Eglish flock in Northern Ireland

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The 2026 Jacob national shows held in conjunction with Omagh Show (Saturday 4th of

July) and Clonmel Agricultural Show (Sunday 5th of July) will both be kindly judged over

the course of the weekend by Stephen Harrison (Meathop flock – Northern region). For the Tullamore Livestock Show (Sunday 9th of August) we look forward to welcoming Lesley Partridge (Bentley flock – Central region) to judge the Jacob classes.

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As always our local agricultural shows are continually in need of Jacob sheep entries

and sponsorship in order to maintain the breed classes so please give them every bit of support that you can over the next few months. My thanks to everyone who has already secured sponsorship and trophies for the classes at their local shows. To our judges we are always in your debt and we greatly appreciate the effort from those who travel across the water to come see us.

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Our Southern Ireland Show and Sale will take place on Saturday the 1st of August at it’s

new venue, Tullow Livestock Mart, Tullow, Co. Carlow, and will be judged by the Society Field Officer, Scott Dalrymple (Dunmor flock – Scotland). Our Northern Ireland Official Show and Sale will take place on Thursday evening the 6th of August at Beattie’s Pedigree Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, and will be judged by Derek Brown (Belcreeny flock – Ireland). For our customers in the UK you will be pleased to know that all Ireland region sales will now be streamed online via MartEye. With a lot of new developments these days regarding the Bluetongue virus and the associated export restrictions now that the virus has recently been detected on the island of Ireland we await to see how things will progress over the coming months.

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As always please keep an eye on the regional WhatsApp group, the Jacob Sheep

Society Ireland Region Facebook page and the Jacob Sheep Society website for the most recent updates on shows, sales and events throughout the year. For any queries please email or call 00 353 87 169 9845. Wishing you all the very best for the remainder of the 2026 lambing season and I hope to see you all at the shows and sales over the coming months.

Winter 2025

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EASTERN REGION – Regional Contact Member – Tom Green

Summer continued to be dry in the east with many members having to feed sheep over summer, hopefully now in September the weather has broken, and the grass has freshened up a bit for everyone.

First, I would like to offer the regions huge congratulations to Joe Trofer-Cook who reached the final three in the British Farming Awards for the Kaleb Cooper New Entrant Award. This followed on from Joe taking the reserve championship in the Young Handlers at the Great Yorkshire Show following a win in the oldest section, and his brother Ernie also won the youngest section meaning two of the three brothers were in the championship.

The Eastern show season continued at Heckington where John Dixon presided over the judging. Richard Chapman’s Churchland aged ewe was John’s champion on the day. This first crop ewe is a Churchland Samuel daughter and was champion as a shearling at Hope Show in 2024. She had to fight off stiff competition from David and Charlie Coe’s Wenham shearling ewe who took reserve. This one sired by Celtic Picasso was champion at Suffolk and the Royal Norfolk and had been destined for the sale at Melton Mowbray the previous year until BTV restrictions prevented it from coming. I was rather pleased to take the red rosette in the ewe lamb class with my pretty Border Bugler daughter out of a homebred dam by my own Chestnut Yellerbelly, this ewe lamb comes from my Fineshade line. In the male classes Joe Trofer-Cook won the ram class with Fenland Oh -Eck, a 4-horn shearling by Hope Diamond. Tracey and Martin Coates won the ram lamb class with Ahmere Brandon, a Beiliau Lancaster son. Jacob classes again featured at Leicestershire County Show on August Bank Holiday weekend; we were very grateful to Jean Simmons for stepping in to judge at the last minute. The classes were well supported by both Central and Eastern Region members alike. Congratulations to Jane and Alan Nightingale who took championship with their Firtree shearling ewe and Kay and Sean Carpenter who took reserve with their Lickhill ewe lamb. The Carpenters also won the ram lamb class with Lickhill Perdix. Thank you to Tracey and Martin Coates, Fenella Bellinger, Helen Wright and Charlotte Lamb for supporting the classes and it would be great to get more exhibitors here next year. Special mention to young shepherd, Sam Wright, who took 1st prize in the Young Handlers with his Mum’s Valeland Ram lamb.

I would like to wish members who have purchased from the shows and sales huge amounts of luck with their purchases. I’d like to congratulate Tracey and Martin who bought the reserve male champion, Beiliau Captain, and 2nd placed Beiliau shearling ewe at Worcester.

Onto our own sale at Melton Mowbray, I will refer you all the full sale report written elsewhere but I would like to thank all exhibitors and purchasers. Congratulations go to Charlie and David Coe on winning champion and reserve with their ram and ewe lambs respectively. Jane and Alan Nightingale who had the reserve male champion and Lisa

Adams who had the reserve female. I would like to thank Wyn Harries and Clive Richardson for inspecting and Jean Simmons for her stewarding and adjudicating and giving up their long weekend, without their support the Show and Sale wouldn’t be possible. Thanks as well go John Fozzard for judging. Twenty-two members and families enjoyed a great presale meal at an Italian Restaurant in Melton Mowbray and a great time was had by all.

I would like to welcome our new members Nick and Rebecca Kiddy and wish them well with their Jacobs.

The Eastern Region AGM and Christmas meal will again be held at The Bell Inn, Stilton on the 23rd of November.

In my own flock all ewes have now been tupped with only a handful of returns from the sponges and I look forward to the progeny from the seven tups (yes seven, my father despairs) I used this autumn at the end of January. It’s a quiet time for the flock with retained lambs being given a clear out drench for worms and just a couple of ram lambs of both breeds we keep pedigree to halter train. Ewes are away at grass now the rams are out and will be given energy and protein buckets for the last eight weeks of pregnancy with concentrate feed introduced around Christmas time.

I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year and good luck at lambing time. I can be contacted in the meantime on or on 07800 817850

Winter 2025

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WALES REGION – Regional Contact Member – Alison Ross

The warm dry summer seems a distant memory as I look back to my five day commute over the Epynt to attend the Royal Welsh Show. The Mynydd Epynt is a large tract of land to the north of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National park. In 1940 200 people from 54 farms were evicted in order to make way for a military training ground.

I was witness to some breath-taking views as an early start would often treat me to swirling mists of “ Dragon’s Breath” in the valleys, while the sun broke through on the tops of the hills creating an other-worldly atmosphere.

The Royal Welsh Show is Wales’ flagship agricultural show attracting big names in the farming community and we are lucky to have some well- established and highly thought of Jacob flocks who regularly attend the show. This year was a particularly difficult time with Blue Tongue restrictions meaning only flocks based in Wales could enter so it was gratifying to see how many members attended both to participate and to lend support. It also gave some newer members a chance to rise and shine in the line-up. All the classes had a good entry of quality sheep to keep our judge, Lyn Jones, busy. The JSS Boraston Shield for best group of three was won by Gwenllian Evans, and the best male exhibit was James Leonard’s four horn shearling ram. The best female exhibit was the Harries’ family’s four horn shearling ewe which went on to win the JSS perpetual trophy as champion with James Leonard’s four horn shearling tup taking reserve. Many thanks to Lyn for judging. In the RWAS young handlers competition, Sara Harries came 1st out of 23 entries in her class and Lois Harries came 2nd out of 30 in her class. Well done to both of them.

The Wales Region Show and Sale at Monmouth Livestock Centre was also hampered by the Blue Tongue restrictions (incidentally lifted the day after the sale). However a moderate entry of 55 sheep was ably judged by Hayley Higginson and then auctioned by Lyndon Trumper to an almost 100% clearance. Female champion and overall champion was awarded to the Trumper family and their lovely two horn shearling ewe with the reserve championship awarded to the Harries family’s two horn ram lamb. Top prices of 600gns went to a Beiliau ewe lamb, 520gns to a GJ ewe lamb, 500gns to a Madog ewe lamb, and 400gns to a Penni Bach four horn ewe lamb

It is with great sadness that the RWAS has decided to end the Spring Show formerly known as The Smallholders and Countryside Show. Many of us will be very disappointed to hear this news. We will have to look for another show for our JSS breed promotion stand.

I would like to extend my gratitude to so many Welsh members and our visiting judges, who have helped at shows, the sale and behind the scenes in what has been a difficult year for all of us. You know who you are and I hope you know you are not taken for granted. As is often said, team work makes the dream work.