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:

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?

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

CENTRAL REGION

Regional Contact Member – Kay Carpenter

I hope everyone has had, or is having, a successful lambing season this year and you have all been able to breed a future champion. We used fertility inducing CIDRS for the first time here at Lickhill and we were very happy with the result. I’m not sure if this was beginners luck but it has meant a tight lambing pattern, early on in the season and I’d be happy to discuss the pros and cons with members who have any questions.

The first of the January 2025 lambs at the Lickhill flock

Lambing at Terry and Berni Barker’s Saltway flock

Any fans of the ITV series ‘Fletcher’s Family Farm’ would not have failed to see a great episode bestowing the virtues of the Jacob breed and of how they “look good and just get on with it”. The episode covered Kelvin Fletcher and his daughter purchasing a 2021 aged ram, Blackadder Viper, bred by Haworth & Locker and sold by Matt Legge, in order for the family to breed their own replacement ewes. This year’s Worcester sale is confirmed as taking place on Saturday 26th July at McCartneys, Worcester. We take great pleasure in thanking Chris Slee from the South West Region for agreeing to be our judge on the day. I hope everyone can make it there but, if not, we will have Marteye available for online bidders if not.

Blackadder Viper sold at Worcester in 2024 by Matt Legge

Ahead of this showing season the region is the grateful recipient of a set of new awards for the best novice exhibitor, having only started showing in the last few years and who will be nominated by the judge for the award donated by Hayley Higginson of Meadowland flock.

The new novice exhibitor awards donated to the Central Region by Hayley Higginson

The best novice awards will hopefully encourage newcomers to the show ring and currently the awards are being presented at the following shows: Staffordshire County Show, Bakewell Agricultural & Horticultural Society, Hanbury Countryside Show, and the Royal Cheshire County Show. Joining the show circuit is a great way to meet members and learn lots more about the breed. If you would like to find out more about showing contact Kay Carpenter or Hayley Higginson. Also if you would like to sponsor a novice award for your local show please get in touch.

Future Events

The region currently has three events organised to date. The first is a Young Handlers’ Workshop to be held on Sunday 6th April at the Elmley Flock, kindly hosted by Lorna Hendey and Jerry Strong, Pershore, Worcestershire. The day is aimed at Jacob sheep young handlers from all over the UK and Ireland. The whole day is free of charge to any young handlers with an interest in Jacob sheep. The day will include activities such as: putting on halters, showing and standing up sheep, feeding – discussion regards hard food and hay, how to do your own faecal egg counts (FECs), sheep medicines, and a sheep showing competition

Willow Bramley, aged seven, casting her eye over potential 2025 show lambs from the Millvale flock

The second event is a wool workshop to be held here at the Lickhill Flock, Stourport on Severn, Worcestershire and run by Barley Gould from the Southern region who is a very experienced crafter and wool enthusiast and who is responsible for organising our wool cup competition at the AGM each year. This is a workshop aimed at the complete beginner who would like to take home a finished product. This is to be a fun day to learn the basics so you can go on to make your felted projects or say never again, knowing you have given it your best shot. We have two different things to make; a wall hanging or a small bag. There may even be time for both. Due to felting needles, it is unsuitable for the under 12’s. To book your places on either of these days or if you would like further information, please contact Kay Carpenter on 07771 5511445 or email

Some of the Wool Cup entries on 2024

The third event in the region’s calendar is the English National Show 2025 to be held at the Royal Three Counties Show on Saturday 14th June at the Malvern showground. It was a fantastic turnout last year and we aim to impress the public and of course our judge on the day, Mr Scott Dalrymple from the DunMor Flock in Scotland, by having just as much of a super line up again this year. Deadline for entries is 16th April.

The English National Show overall champion 2024, Pard House Dynamo, owned and shown by James Leonard

Please get in touch if you would like to host an event for the central region at your holding. The usual timing for open days is one in the spring and one in the autumn. I’m happy to organise the day but require venues if any are available please.

CENTRAL REGION

Regional Contact Member – Kay Carpenter

A huge thank you to all the vendors, buyers and bidders at this year’s Worcester sale. There were sheep present to suit all requirements, from stores to flock animals to show winners. The old adage “good sheep sell well” was definitely true. Congratulations to Tom Lewis for achieving the top price of 1,100gns with his home bred ram lamb, Salopearl Charlie, and also to Ryan Edwards with his homebred shearling ram, Wharf Goldeneye, selling for 1,000gns. Both lots were used to the show ring and had successfully promoted the breed by competing and winning their classes around the country. Salopearl Charlie had won his class at the English National and was male champion at the Shropshire County Show, while Wharf Goldeneye had won his class at The Royal Highland and was reserve overall at The Great Yorkshire Show.

Other show winners from this year’s season came from Millvale flock breeders, Bob and Paula Bramley, who sold their shearling ewe for 650gns, and Lorna’s Hendeys’ & Jerry Strong’s Elmley ram lamb at 580gns. Other notable sales were Robert & Jean Prices’ sale champion ewe lamb at 1,000gns, Bertie Stanley’s male reserve champion shearling ram at 780gns, and the two four-horn ram lambs brought up to Worcester by our judge on the day, Wyn Harries, which sold at 700gns and 660gns.

Store lambs were sold at the beginning of the sale and were well received by multiple bidders.

Many thanks to our sponsors JG Animal Health, Pard House Jacobs & Shelsley Belted Galloways. Hillvalley Jacobs, Animac and Estate Country Feeds. Please contact me if you know anyone who would like to sponsor classes at next year’s sale which will be held on Saturday 26th July.

Breeding ewe assessment, stock judging and young handlers workshop:

Forty members gathered at Lickhill to take part in our September workshops. It is always good to meet and share ideas and this was no exception. Thanks go to Lesley Partridge for leading the ewe assessment discussion, to John Wescott of Farmers Fresh for leading the stock judging, and to the young handler team, Hayley and Abbie Higginson along with Jackie Jones, for judging and giving great feedback.

Prize winning young handlers in the stock judging class, judged by John Wescott, director of Farmers Fresh.

Left to right: George Sandall, Amber Garratt, George Lane , Olivia Chivers, Josh Chivers, and John Wescott.

Sheep penned for judging at the Lickhill workshops

Jackie Jones judging a young handler class

Autumn Open Day & AGM at Chatsworth:

The region’s autumn open day and AGM was held this year to the north of the region at the Chatsworth flock in Derbyshire. It was a very popular and successful event with members being given a tour of the flock by Izzy Cowan, the Jacob shepherdess at Chatsworth, against the stunning backdrop of the Chatsworth Estate. Ewe numbers have dwindled at Chatsworth in the last few years but now under Izzy’s new management that is set to change. She is keen to improve the flock and increase their profile. Izzy has recently bought in a new ram, Fettlemead Tucker, and started showing in the new Jacob classes at the local Bakewell Show for the first time this year.

Izzy Cowan, the Jacob shepherdess at Chatsworth, tells members something about the flock

Members looking around the livestock pens at the Chatsworth Farm

Fettlemead Tucker who won 2nd prize at Bakewell Show this year

The day included a judges’ seminar led by Clive Richardson and a very educational presentation of how to carry out your own faecal egg count (FEC) given by Terry and Berni Barker. This is possibly the simplest but most effective way to improve the health of your flock and could also be a financial saving too.

We also celebrated the Central region Young Shepherds of 2024. It’s wonderful to see so many young handlers in the region and know we are in safe hands moving forward.

Results for 2024:

Senior class (15-18 years)

1st Amber Garratt – overall Champion

2nd Oliver Garratt – overall Reserve Champion

3rd Isobel Cartwright

4th Olivia Chivers

5th Jack Parnell

Intermediate class (9-13 years)

1st Joshua Chivers

2nd George Lane

3rd Bertie Stanley

4th Charlotte Tatler

Junior class (8 years and under)

1st Iona Stanley

2nd Willow Bramley

3rd Charlie Parnell

Huge thanks to Hayley Higginson for collating the points accrued from showing over the last twelve months, for organising and providing prizes, and for being so supportive of our young shepherds. If you know a young handler and want more information about the Society please feel free to get in touch.

Hayley Higginson and Pat Black present the young handler prizes to Amber Garrett (left) and Iona Stanley (right)

Future Events:

Please get in touch if you would like to host an event for the central region at your holding. The usual timing for open days is one in the spring and one in the autumn. I’m happy to organise the day but require venues if any are available please.

I have just learnt that the English Winter Fair, usually held at Staffordshire County Showground mid-November, has been cancelled due to the incidence of Bluetongue. Whilst it is very unfortunate to not have the chance to show and try to repeat the great turnout of Jacobs we had there last year, it is the most sensible thing to do. I hope that this disease does not darken your door and you have a safe and prosperous lambing.

The final six pairs pulled forward in the Jacob class at the English Winter Fair in 2023

Members will be sorry to hear of the death of Richard Blacknell who, although not a member, accompanied his wife, Jean, while she was Field Officer to many shows and events. Our condolences to their family.

This just leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope to see members at our Christmas meal social in December, details yet to be confirmed, but please get in touch if you wish to join us. A Happy New Year and a successful lambing season.

Ryan Edwards’ champion aged ewe and Alan and Jane Nightingale’s reserve champion shearling ewe at Burwarton Show with the judge, Lyndon Trumper

At Moreton in Marsh Show Jerry Strong and Lorna Hendey’s ewe lamb was champion

David and Lesley Partridge’s ewe was reserve champion at Moreton in Marsh Show

CENTRAL REGION

Regional Contact Member – Kay Carpenter

Open day at the Spottywood flock:

The open day at John and Rachel Richardson’s Spottywood flock in Cheshire was well attended, with members joining us from the Northern and Welsh regions. Our thanks to John and Rachel who were very welcoming and generous hosts. Following a great deal of rain in the days before we were lucky to have dry sunny weather and to enjoy a tour of the flock and a hog roast lunch preceded by a very interesting talk from Jennie from Cheshire Farm Vets on diseases, prevention of strike and preparation for an early lambing. Richard kindly allowed us to go over his pens of shearlings, ram lambs and ewe lambs and I don’t think there was a person present who didn’t have a go to match the judge’s placing. Well done to everyone for joining in but special congratulations go to Rachel Knowles for winning the competition and prising Richard’s bottle of gin off him.

Lesley Partridge’s champion ewe lamb and Bernie Barker’s reserve champion lamb at Hanbury Country Fair with the judge, Wyn Harries

Many shows have been running in the region and showing has again become extremely popular. We have tried to arrange support for classes that have had a lack of entries but this proves difficult on occasion when there are shows on in the same week or even the same day in the same area, but this is out of our control unfortunately.

Please send in any show results with three or more exhibitors from the region to Jane Nightingale who has kindly agreed to collate them all and forward them to our Journal editor for inclusion in the Journal.

Central Region Show & Sale, Saturday 27^th July

This years’ official Society show and sale at Worcester is set to have a great turnout of sheep across all classes. At the time of writing, we are in the process of putting the catalogue together. However, by the time you receive this I hope you are home and happily settling in your new purchases. We are grateful to judge, Wyn Harries, inspectors, Scott Dalrymple and Marie Connor and adjudicator, Jean Simmons for all the work they do to ensure it goes smoothly. Also, many thanks to our sponsors JG Animal Health, Pard House Jacob’s & Shelsley Belties, Hillvalley Jacobs, Animac and Estate Country Feeds.

Ridout & Higginson’s champion ewe, bred by Steffan Griffiths, at Shropshire County Show with the judge, Robert Locker

Forthcoming Events 

Sunday September 22^nd – Stock Assessment Day (to include Young Shepherds Stock Judging)

Venue: Lickhill Flock, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs DY13 8RW

The day, open to all members, will include workshops on how to assess conformation and the finish of live lambs to go to market and selecting ewes for breeding and for showing.

The event will include a young shepherd stock judging competition, whereby competitors will judge a pen of 4 lambs, place the group of 4 in order of merit and give reasons for those placings in a short, 2 to 3-minute verbal presentation to the judge. However, everyone attending will be encouraged to have a go at the placings, just for fun. Everyone will be encouraged to use the EUROP 1-5 classification that will be discussed in the workshops.

Anyone interested in the event should contact me at , on 07771 511445 or message on social media.

Jane Nightingale with her champion ram at Ashby Show

Sunday 13^th October – Autumn Open Day and AGM at Chatsworth Flock

Venue: Chatsworth House Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP

Ewes and lambs from the historic Chatsworth Jacob flock (member number 00240) have relocated from the estate farm to the paddocks in the farmyard in an area opened to visitors. Jacob sheep have a long association with Chatsworth, stretching back over 250 years of grazing the estate’s parkland.

The farmyard at Chatsworth has a variety of animals including cows, sheep and lambs, pigs, horses, goats and poultry, as well as a milking parlour for demonstrations. Since opening, they have developed a breeding programme for rare and sometimes critically endangered breeds. In 2021, Chatsworth farmyard was awarded Rare Breeds Survival Trust accreditation, recognising their important contribution to the conservation of some of the rarest livestock and equine breeds native to the UK, from Suffolk Punch horses and Shire horses to British Landrace pigs and Eriskay ponies.

We have kindly been invited to hold our Autumn open day and AGM by Izzy Cowan, the Jacob shepherdess at Chatsworth. We shall discuss the intricacies of four horners, as well as any discussion on both 2 horn and 4 horn Jacobs with Clive Richardson, our field officer. Clive will also be holding a judges seminar on the day.

Members, Terry and Bernie Barker, who are currently carrying out their own faecal egg count (FEC) will give a demonstration on how to go about the process….. after we’ve eaten!

Again, anyone interested in the event look out for the open day flyer in your emails or you could contact me at , on 07771 511445 or message on social media.

To contact Kay please email: or Tel 07771 511445

Ridout & Higginson’s champion ewe and Tori Stanley with her reserve champion aged ram at Staffordshire County Show with the judge, Margie Rushbrooke