Scottish Region AGM April 2025
Hosted by the Scottish Region
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th April 2025
For those how may need it here is a downloadable copy of the AGM details leaflet - Click here
WEEK-END PROGRAMME
Friday 25th April
9.30 am
Bus leaves from Mansefield Hotel, Elgin
10.30am
Visit to Huntly Market to view sheep from the Cairdswood, Isla-Bank, and Avonside flocks, various demos and crafts
1.00 pm
Lunch at Huntly Market
3.00 pm
Return to hotel
5.00 pm
Evening Meal at Mansefield Hotel will be served in the Hotel Restaurant between 5pm and 7.45pm, choices from main menu
Saturday 22nd April
8.00 am
Annual General Meeting in the Mansefield Hotel, leaving immediately afterwards
10.00 am
Leave Keith on the Whisky Train to Glenfiddich Distillery, lunch and Distillery Tour
2.00 pm
Visit to Ian Forsyth’s Oldtown Flock
4.00 pm
Bus leaves to return to Hotel
6.00 pm
Drinks reception hosted by the Scottish Region
7.00 pm
Gala Dinner
Sunday 23rd April
10.00 am
Bus Leaves Mansefield Hotel
11.00 am
Visit to Adam Christie’s Adamski Flock with lunch at 1.00pm
Members depart for home after lunch
Scottish Nov 2024
SCOTTISH REGION
Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper
I started the last report by saying rams will be out and working, by the time you read this the rams will be finished for the year and hopefully all your ewes will be in lamb. My rams went out a week later this time and again most of the ewes will lamb within a week of each other; Big L will lead the way again, but my shearling ewes have been slower to mark and will lamb after the main ewes. Mineral drench and mineral buckets again the only thing I give my females before they meet the ram. Shall see what my scanner man sees, always a nervous time.
Jack Elliott’s champion shearling ewe at Grantown Show with the judge, Scott Dalrymple
The Scottish sale was very successful. Many thanks to Kay Carpenter from the Central Region for accepting our invitation to judge, some huge classes for Kay to judge but on the day her champion came from the Trumper family, a very smart shearling ram which took her eye with another Welsh breeder taking the reserve place, a well grown ram lamb from the Hope Flock. The prices were up and down but that is the trend this year. It’s fantastic to see our sale growing and getting better and better each year. Our inspection team I am sure see a difference in the quality of sheep and there are so few now fail inspections, credit to our breeders and knowledge of the breed coming through. There will be a full report of the show and sale in this Journal. Thanks to our Scottish members who kindly sponsored the classes, and thanks to Crystalyx and Life-Guard for their generous gifts. We have secured another sponsor for our sale as Aytin Shears are keen to come on board so we look forward to seeing them in 2025. Thanks must also go to Robert Locker and Scott Dalrymple who are always at the end of a message if I need any assistance or information. We can confirm the 2025 judge will be Scott Dalrymple, I am waiting to hear a confirmed date for our sale but certain it will be start of August. I will keep everyone posted.
Our National Show 2025 should have been at The Border Union, Kelso, but this would clash with the Central Region sale at Worcester, so after a discussion with the Scottish committee we decided to approach Dalkeith Show, and as I write this I’m still waiting on confirmation that they are happy to accommodate our National Show. The general feeling is yes but we just need it confirmed. Once we have confirmation I will approach our chosen judge, the vote for the judge was also another committee choice.
At Nairn Show Jennifer Milton’s ewe was champion and Ian Forsyth’s ewe lamb reserve. The judge was Ewen MacMillan
We held our AGM at Huntly Auction Mart, Sunday 8th September. We had a lengthy discussion about the long-awaited Scottish AGM Weekend where a fantastic Scottish welcome awaits you all. Whether you fly, drive, or go by train your journey north will be a stunning one. When I was there, I travelled further up the road to see the hotel, it looks beautiful and the staff very confident they can accommodate our needs. The northern Scottish members have organised an entertaining weekend full of sheep, trains, crafts, games, and whiskey along with a lot of laughter. Thanks to Barbara Webster who is always on hand to help me. You will find the booking forms in this Journal.
Looking ahead to the end of 2024/2025 the committee will head over the Border to visit a few northern flocks of Jacobs and we plan to visit some Dutch Spotted too (ex-Jacob breeder who has opted for black and white just minus the horns now), hopefully photos in the next journal.
We would like to have a flock competition autumn 2025 – we have yet to confirm that date, but judges have been approached and we will get details out to Scottish members as soon as I can confirm dates. We would like to have an open day/judge’s seminar too – watch out for more details.
Robert Locker’s champion and reserve sheep at the Border Union Show
We have not forgotten about our new breed promotion stand but we are just trying to get the best pictures for this as the picture used will be blown up on the stand we need good quality photos that will withstand that editing. Watch this space.
At Keith Show Ian Forsyth’s shearling ewe was champion and Allan Scott’s tup lamb reserve. The judge was Mike Munro.
On that note Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all, good luck in your lambing sheds and I cannot wait to see the first lamb pictures.
Many thanks to the Scottish Committee for their support over the last year without you we would not be surging ahead and pushing the breed on.
Melanie Harper’s first prize Jacob pair at the Border Union Show
At the Black Isle Show Linda McKendrick’s shearling ewe was champion and Barbara Webster’s tup lamb reserve. The judge was Jennifer Milton.
Scotland Aug 2024
SCOTTISH REGION
Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper
Can you believe by the time you read this we will probably have our rams out, seems like only two minutes since the lambs were running round the lambing shed and we were picking out our show teams and sale lambs. The summer seems to of passed us by with only a small splash of sunshine.
The Jacob Sheep Society stand at Scotsheep
Many thanks to Barbara and her team who set up the stand for NSA Scotsheep, after a small admin error the Jacob Society managed to get a good spot for the stand next to some higher profile breeds which attracted a steady flow of visitors. We are still putting our new breed promotion stand together as the photos for the double sided stand need to be of exceptional quality as the photos will be blown up on the canvas. Barbara has a great deal of knowledge in this field, so we are guided by her.
The show season kicked off with the National Show at Fife, thanks to Linda McKendrick who kindly sponsored the prize money for the National. Barbara kindly donated the glass trophy too. Siwan Harries and husband, Wyn, pushed up their airmiles as Wyn had been judging in Ireland then both travelled to Scotland for Fife show. A great display of Jacobs was presented for Siwan to judge. On the day her champion choice went to Dunmor’s aged ewe and reserve spot went to Ewen MacMillan’s ram lamb. Next year our National Show will be held at – watch this space.
The next big one was the Royal Highland Show, and this year’s judge was Nicola Fletcher. Although numbers were down from the previous year the quality of Jacobs on show were there to be seen. Nicola’s champion came from the Dunmor team, their now aged ram put on the blue sash once again. The reserve championship went to Barbara Webster’s ram lamb. Female champion was awarded to Robert Locker’s shearling ewe. A full report will be included in this Journal. The entry and exit of stock seemed to feel easier as we are now diverted through the trade stands, and we miss the busy area down by the shearing tent. Thanks to all the exhibitors who gave up four long days to have their Jacobs on show. We had a lovely get together after the judging sponsored by Connor & Dalrymple and organised by Mary Connor and Angela Christie. Thanks also for everyone’s kind donations especially some very tasty shortbread from a certain member.
Connor & Dalrymple’s champion aged ewe and Ewen MacMillan’s reserve champion ram lamb at the Scottish National Show with the judge, Siwan Harries
Our Scottish sale has attracted a good number of sheep. We must thank some of our Scottish members who have kindly agreed to sponsor the prize money which has allowed us to increase the prize money on offer. Thanks to Crystalyx and Life-Guard who have once again supplied vouchers and gifts to give out to some of our prize winners. I say again that the move to Carlisle has been a very positive one. A report of the sale will be in the next Journal. Thanks to everyone who supports our sale, we appreciate you all.
The Scottish AGM 2025 is very much under control and I plan to travel with Barbara after the show and sale season is finished to visit the hotel and get the finer details in place Booking forms will be circulated with the winter Journal with all details needed to get members up to the beautiful scenery and hospitality that awaits you from our north of Scotland members.
Judging of the shearling ewe class at the Scottish National Show
I will get details out of our AGM meeting and maybe an open day too. I will keep everyone updated. Many thanks to Scottish committee members who give up their time to work so very hard for the Society.
Can I add many thanks to Siwan and her team for the super weekend we had at the Welsh AGM, my Welsh 4 horn ewe made it home to Scotland and has pride of place in my kitchen.
Connor & Dalrymple’s champion and reserve at Dalkeith Show with the judge, Adam Christie
Barbara Webster’s champion ram lamb at Fettercairn Show
Connor & Dalrymple’s champion and reserve champion sheep at Haddington Show with the judge, Mike Munro