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.

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.

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.

WALES REGION

Regional Contact member – Alison Ross

The show season commenced with the RWAS Spring Festival in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. It was good to see some new members showing their sheep alongside some of our more experienced show goers. Show results are at the back of this Journal. The breed stand proved very popular with the public and we had quite a few enquiries and heard some interesting stories from previous owners. Once again, I would like to thank Joanne Jones and her family for all their hard work in planning, setting up and manning the stand. The stand was runner up in the breed stand competition, well-done Jo.

On the 8th of June we held an open day in Ceredigion kindly hosted by Denise and Nigel Doney with the Woodleigh and Gwenerin flocks represented. Denise joined the JSS last year and it was wonderful to see her enthusiasm to throw herself in to all things Jacob despite a challenging year for her and Nigel. The Evans family needs no introduction as they are often seen in the winning line up at shows with their Gwenerin flock, Gwenllian has been extremely successful in the young handlers’ classes and gave a demonstration ably assisted by Harri Morris. Our thanks to Gwenerin and also to Angharad and John who just quietly got on with producing extra hurdles and a sheep stand without any fuss or bother. We were treated to a master class in trimming a Jacob sheep by Owain Jenkins with his smart young tup. Owain showed us how this differs from producing a continental show sheep and gave us some useful tips on finishing touches. Many thanks Owain.

After a Bring and Share lunch, Jackie Jones gave us a brief history of her membership of the JSS with the Milldale Flock number 00302. This was followed by a Q&A session, which gave those attending a chance to give their ideas on events they would like to see in Wales. I would like to thank all those who contributed to making this a successful and enjoyable day including all of those who attended, with some travelling from a fair distance away.

It was decided that there would not be a flock competition this year but any new members who would like their flock assessed by a Jacob judge (for advice and feedback), please let me know so I can add you to my list.

I mentioned at the open day that I would be grateful if someone could lead on the young handlers’ competition, please contact me if you can help.

At Lampeter Show Wyn and Siwan Harries’ shearling ewe was female champion out of 17 breeds and reserve interbreed champion

Samantha Matthews with her ram at the Royal Welsh Spring Festival

I am aware that not everyone uses social media, for show dates and upcoming events, please check the JSS website under shows, also the Wales region tag for news and events.

The Wales Show and Sale will be in Raglan on Saturday 20th September, many thanks to Lyndon Trumper.

We will be holding our Christmas meal at the White Hart, Llandeilo, on Saturday 29^th November at 12.30 with our Wales AGM beforehand. The White Hart has 12 rooms available for anyone wishing to stay.

At the Royal Welsh Smallholders Show, James Leonard’s shearling ram was champion and Gwenllian Evans’ shearling ewe reserve. Siwan Harries judged.

WALES REGION

Regional Contact member – Alison Ross

I am writing this report after a welcome dry spell of weather comes to an end and the first rain of a gathering storm begins. For those of you that have finished lambing, I hope you are pleased with your new crop of lambs. For those who will be lambing well into April, I wish you well.

We had a good turnout for the Christmas lunch and prize giving at Cradoc golf club, sadly low clouds obscured the magnificent views of the central Beacons. The flock competition was well supported with the judges kept busy over two days; our thanks to Jean Simmons and Richard Chapman. I had lovely reports from several members to say how helpful and encouraging they found the experience. I don’t think anyone came away without a ribbon but top spots went to:-

Best large flock and champion flock –  Samantha Matthews, Mashbury.

Best small flock – Gwenllian Evans, Gwenerin.

Best homebred shearling – James Leonard, Grove.

Best Group of ewe lambs – Gwenllian Evans, Gwenerin.

Best homebred ewe lamb – Gwenllian Evans, Gwenerin.

Best ram Samantha Matthews – Mashbury

Best ram lamb – Euan Edmunds, Sable

Young handlers awards:

Senior – Gwenllian Evans

Intermediate – Harri Morris

Junior – Griff Morris

It is encouraging to see the enthusiasm and knowledge of our young handlers in Wales.

Jackie and Gwyn Jones’ hoggets which weighed an average of 48.5 kilos and made £143 each at Welshpool Market

Plans for events in Wales are in hand with a trimming workshop at Grove Farm on May 10th that is open to all JSS members but numbers will be limited. If there is a demand, a second workshop may be held on May 11th. There will be a small charge to cover costs. My thanks to James and Hannah for hosting this.

The RWAS hold their spring show on 17th and 18th May and there will be a Jacob breed promotion stand. Please come along and support us.

An Open day will be held on June 8th in Ceredigion with two flocks represented. Thank you to Denise Doney and the Evans family.

The Royal Welsh Show dates are 21st-24th July.

The Regional Show and Sale is on Saturday 20th September.

There are plenty of local shows holding Jacob classes throughout our region, please see the website for more information.

WALES REGION

Regional Contact member – Alison Ross

Following on from the Wales hosted AGM in April, it has been a busy year in Wales but firstly, I would like to welcome new member Miss Jodie Thomas who is based in Carmarthenshire.

We are lucky to have so many small shows that have dedicated Jacob classes. Please continue to support these shows, I will endeavour to make sure that they are advertised on the website so let me know if there are any missing when I put up the list for 2025. The Brecon show has put in a request to see Jacob sheep entered next year, I will try and get there and it would be lovely to have some company. The show will be held on Saturday 2nd August.

Alison Ross with her champion ewe lamb and Angharad Griffiths with her reserve champion ram at Sennybridge Show with the judge, Rhodri Jones

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Show is possibly the highlight of showing in Wales and this year didn’t disappoint with some beautiful, quality Jacobs vying for top prizes. Congratulations to the Trumper Family for winning supreme champion with their stunning shearling ram and to the Harries family with their beautiful ewe lamb which took reserve championship. Full results can be seen in the show results at the back of the Journal.

The Wales show and sale was held at J.Straker, Chadwick and Sons, Monmouthshire, on 21st September. Many thanks to Lyndon Trumper, our very own auctioneer, Jean Simmons for adjudicating and Mark Wakelin and Jackie Jones for inspecting. These can be thankless tasks and we owe them our gratitude for their professionalism which means we can buy and sell our stock with confidence. We all know the highs and lows of keeping sheep and Samantha Matthews is no exception having had a lovely young ram injure himself at the beginning of the year and other minor events making her withdraw from some of the shows she had planned so it was wonderful to see her shearling ewe win supreme champion and go on to take top price in the sale. Well done Sam. Thank you to all those who came from near and far and good to see some of our new members attending.

By the time this Journal is printed, we will have had the Flock Competition. Thank you to Jean Simmons and Richard Chapman, our judges.

The Christmas lunch and prize giving is scheduled for 30th November and you should have received an invitation by email, please contact me if you would like to attend but haven’t seen the email. We will hold our regional AGM before the meal, this is your chance to have your say about events you would like to see run in Wales, all members are welcome.

The rams will have done their work and now we all “sit back” and dream of that show stopping lamb, delivered safely and growing well. Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a fruitful New Year!

WALES REGION

Regional Contact member – Alison Ross

Firstly, I must introduce myself as your new Regional Contact Member for Wales. Please feel free to contact me anytime.

Welcome to our new members, Mr. Glynn Evans, Mrs. Anne-Marie Coffey and Robert Williams, Mr. John Martin and Miss Julie Gough, Mr. Nick Wileman and also Mrs. Denise Doney.

James Leonard’s champion ram at the Royal Welsh Smallholder Show

Gwenllian Evan’s reserve champion ewe at the Royal Welsh Smallholders Show

I would like to thank Siwan Harries who generously stood in as RCM for the AGM year hosted in Wales. I think we can all agree that the event was a huge success; we saw wonderful sheep from some of the leading flocks in Wales, had a chance to catch up with friends (and make new ones) and who knew we could have such fun from a wooden sheep and a piece of string. A big thank you to Lyndon Trumper for agreeing to auctioneer for us.

Every event we hold relies on a team of willing helpers and I feel very lucky to know I have a great bunch of kind and knowledgeable folk to steer me along in my new role.

The showing year in Wales commenced with the Royal Welsh Smallholding and Countryside Festival. A special mention and grateful thanks to our relatively new member who gamely stepped up and took on the Jacob sheep promotion stand (and imagine our horror when we discovered we had been given a stand twice the size we had requested!) but thank you Joanne Roberts and family for your hard work.

The Spring Show is a small friendly show and a good start for those of us new to showing or to give young stock show experience. Congratulations to James Leonard for winning the Jacob championship with his smart shearling ram and to Gwenllian Evans taking reserve championship with her aged ewe. After many successes in young handlers’ competitions, Gwenllian has qualified for the RBST Young Shepherd of the Year final at the English Winter Fair, well done, Gwenllian.

For more shows and results, please follow us on Facebook and I will try and make up a full list of results for inclusion in the winter Journal.

We are blessed with a strong contingent of young handlers competing in local shows. At the time of writing this report I am compiling a score chart for the coming year please message me if you would like one.

The AGM this spring feels like a distant memory and now we enter another year in the breeding calendar. Some of our members will have put the ram in with their ewes and others of us will be holding back to lamb in kinder weather next spring.

The Wales region show and sale will be held on the 21^st September at Monmouth Livestock Centre with grateful thanks to Lyndon and Straker Chadwick.

There will be a flock competition in early October, I would like to encourage our new members to enter this as it is a chance to have your sheep assessed by our own JSS judges, they will give you encouragement and advice. I have found this a huge benefit to improving my flock and have enjoyed their visits as no preparation of the flock is required!

We will have a Christmas meal in early December.

Ewes at the Greenmeadow Community Farm flock in Powys