August 2023 – The Jacob Sheep Society

CENTRAL REGION

Regional Contact Member – Kay Carpenter

Huge, huge thank you to everyone who came along to this year’s Jacob Sheep Society AGM held in the region. We had a blast. It was fabulous to see everyone and I know we are all grateful to the flocks and the back-up crews who put in so much effort to make the weekend a success. It is by no means a one man/woman event and I repeat the thanks that I gave at the Saturday evening meal to all those involved, too many to mention here, but I hope they know how much I appreciate them. As well as opening their farms to visitors, we were warmly welcomed, well fed and watered everywhere we went. There are many months and a great deal of effort involved in putting on these events. I hope everyone has gone away knowing a little more about the Central Region and its fabulous members. I know we are all looking forward to relaxing at the Wales region AGM 2024. $C:\Users\Clive\AppData\Local\Temp\Temp1_central report pics from agm (1).zip\hartpury steps.jpg$

The AGM visit to Hartbury College

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Part of Deborah Powell’s Pardhouse flock on show during the AGM weekend

(Left to right) Geraldine Fletcher, Jean Blacknell, Nicola Fletcher and Richard Blacknell during the AGM weekend

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Charlotte Heaven with ewes and lambs from her Heavenly flock on one of the AGM visits

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Sh ow season is in full swing

The weather is never just exactly as we want it, either pouring with rain or baking hot. However, regardless of the conditions it is fantastic to see so many exhibitors taking the time and effort to turn out to our region’s shows and putting on a fabulous display and promoting the breed. I have had many enquiries about new memberships and new flocks starting up, so we are still a breed going from strength to strength and attracting new blood.

The new exhibition stand is making it easy for us to be ‘spotted’ and receiving compliments from other breeds who are admitting to be somewhat jealous of it as well as receiving awards from judges. At The Royal Three Counties Show we were delighted to be amongst the prize winners at 5^th place, with so many breeds there, it was a tremendous feat. Many thanks to all those that helped man it and talk Jacob sheep to those who need to hear about our wonderful breed. Thank you to Jane Nightingale for talking to the judges and to Alan Leonard and Terry Barker for being tall enough to help with putting together and dismantling the 2m high stand.

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Three Counties is a personal favourite of mine being as it is my local and has been since childhood. It attracted exhibitors from Wales and Eastern regions as well as Central and I would love to attract exhibitors from all regions in 2024. I will campaign for it to be the first of our English National Shows, if the Board agrees to the proposal. So, make a date in your diaries now for 14^th to 16^th June 2024 to bring along your best sheep as that would be some accolade.

Trimming Workshop

We were almost overwhelmed with the interest shown in the Jacob sheep preparation for showing and / or selling workshop. We ended up with seventeen attending and just had enough sheep to card and trim. My flock are now looking fabulous I might add, so thank you to all those that attended. I will most certainly run it again next year. We opened it up to non-members and are happy to say that by the end of the day they were new members. Who wouldn’t be after the expert advice given by Owain Jenkins who put on a fantastic performance and divulged a few top tips too. Thanks also to all those, too many to mention, who also came to offer their top tips and bring trimming stands and equipment.

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Owain Jenkins demonstrating how to trim sheep at the trimming workshop.

Saturday 29^th July Central Region Show and Sale

By the time this goes to press and gets posted out to you, the Worcester show and sale will be done and dusted. I hope that everyone manages to get along and see the sheep in the flesh and successfully sell and / or purchase whatever their hearts desire. There are 134 pedigree sheep in the catalogue so plenty to choose from. We will endeavour to put on a live stream of the show and we will have the sale ring on MartsEye. We are very grateful to our long term, supportive sponsors J.G Animal Health and Platinum Training and Consultancy.

Young Handlers Day

With so many young people connected to the Society there are plans to hold a Young Handlers’ Workshop and Competition in the region. There will be judging at the end of the day by our former young handler, Charlotte Heaven, who made her way through the ranks successfully and this year judged the Young Handlers Class at The Royal Three Counties. I have been approached with a fantastic offer of a venue with tame lambs from Mat Greenow, Fortress Flock, Herefordshire, so should it all come together that will take place in August and I will send out information when the plans are confirmed.

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Richard Chapman showing Charlotte Cartwright how to hold shears at the trimming day.

Central Region Flock Competition

Held every two years, it is time again to hold our regional flock competition. It will be on Friday 6^th to Sunday 8^th October and our judges are Clive Richardson, the JSS Field Officer and judge from the Border Flock, and Wyn Harries, renowned breeder and judge from the Hope Flock. We have added a couple more classes this year to the usual to include homebred shearling ewe and homebred ewe lamb. I hope the region’s members take this opportunity to get advice from these two experts and enter. Forms are available on the website or from me. Prizes will be announced at the autumn Open Day which will be held later in October at a venue to be confirmed.

August 2023