EASTERN REGION

Regional Contact Member – Tom Green

With Summer here and the shows in full swing the Eastern region’s calendar of events kicked off with a well-attended Show Preparation Day at the Sandal family’s Glenbank flock, kindly sponsored by Showtime Supplies. George Sandall has kindly provided a few words on the day below so all I would like to add is a huge vote of thanks to George and Harry and of course Mum and Dad (Vicky and Richard) for having us and providing us with a superb barbecue lunch and to everyone who took the time to attend.

“After another wet week, the sun shone for our Eastern region show prep day (it truly was the most perfect weather. How we could have done with some more days like that this summer). We initially looked through the flock and discussed the characteristics to look for in choosing a show sheep. Kay Carpenter, Jean Simmons, Paula Bramley and David Tuffney kindly shared their knowledge and expertise in what to look for, followed by a trimming demonstration. Tom Green then demonstrated washing and carding. A BBQ lunch was enjoyed and the advice and conversations continued to flow through lunch. The afternoon involved ring craft with some useful tips and practical demonstrations. The day was very well attended by both well-known faces and also many new faces introduced to JSS showing and encouraged to enter the ring. Many thanks to all involved in a wonderful day! (Hear, hear George)”

Society president, Pat Black, presenting Vicky Sandall with a thank you gift at the Easter Region show preparation workshop

May saw some members compete in Any Other Breed classes at local shows. Gillian Christian took the reserve championship at Hadleigh Show beating Border Leicesters, Blue Faced Leicesters, Kerry Hills., and Lleyns in the process.

Gillian Christian’s ewe lamb, reserve champion Any Other Short Wool Breed at Hadleigh Show

Gillian Christian with her ewe, reserve champion at the Royal Norfolk Show

David Tuffney’s champion aged ewe and Vicky Sandall’s reserve champion ewe lamb at Rutland show with the judge, Peter Gorringe

After losing our breed classes at the Suffolk Show I would like to thank the three exhibitors who turned out in the Other Native Breed classes to fly the Jacob flag, all of whom were rewarded with rosettes. Becky Fisher of the Church flock took 3rd place with her ram. Gillian Christian of the Briden flock took a 3rd place with her ram lamb and 4th with her ram and shearling ewe. Gilly Winchester of the Bacewell flock took a 4th with her ram lamb. Congratulations to the three of you and hopefully your support will lead to the reinstatement of breed classes next year.

It was ladies’ day at the first official show of the season at Rutland where Peter Gorringe of the Shutecombe flock found his champion in David and Jean Tuffney’s aged Kingsmore ewe with the Sandall family’s Glenbank ewe lamb in reserve. Congratulations to Sally Bothwell’s Buchanan ram lamb and Farmer Joe’s Fenland Shearling ewe who took first place in their respective classes. Farmer Joe was also well placed with his Fenland ram lamb in the Any Other Native breed class at the Lincolnshire Show.

Next up was The Royal Norfolk Show judged by Angela Gilbert. It was a fantastic show for the breed with Charlie and David Coe’s aged ram being tapped out in the breed classes before going on to stand reserve interbreed under the Society’s former official auctioneer Clive Roads of McCartneys, Worcester. This ram is Wneham Pict out of a homebred ewe and by Hyndshaw Borris and he was also breed champion at Heckington Show last year. In the breed classes Gillian Christian’s aged ewe was reserve overall while the Coe family took the reserve male and reserve female champions with a ram lambs and shearling ewe, while Becky Fisher took the red ribbon in the shearling ram class and Lisa Adams took the red rosette in the ewe lamb class. Many thanks also to the other exhibitors; Ben Coe, Debbie Gilks, Alan Smith and Gilly Winchester which culminated in an entry of over 30 Jacobs and a superb show of the breed.

Blaston Show held Jacob classes again this year and Jane Nightingale came over the Leicestershire border to win the championship with her shearling ewe, the Sandall family’s ewe lamb stood reserve. Finally Ashby Show was judged by John Dixon the weekend before the deadline for this article, and Jane Nightingale again took the championship with her shearling ram while Farmer Joe took reserve with his 4 horn ram lamb. Many Thanks to all the exhibitors from both the Eastern and Central Region for supporting the show.

Welcome to the new members in the region since the last Journal, Gilly Winchester – Bracewell Flock; Charlie and Emma Harrington – Buttercup Flock; Dawn and Norman Moore- Long Last flock; and Katherine Morley, I hope you all enjoy your time keeping Jacob sheep.

In my own flock the lambs have been gone through and the first fat lambs have been sold deadweight, weighing and grading well, however the £40 odd pound a lamb drop in price over the last month was less appreciated. Lambs for showing at Heckington have been selected and I will report on the regions final show of the season in the next issue.

Melton Mowbray Show and Sale is on the horizon over the 13th and 14th September. I have some lambs selected to go, I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. A social meal will be organised for the Friday evening with all welcome to attend. Before then my ewes will have been synchronised and tups will be in ready to start the cycle all over again for next year. Hopefully a flock assessment will take place within the region later in the autumn with a winter get together to announce the results.

In the meantime, if I can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me – the regional email address is or my number is 07800 817850.