SCOTTISH REGIONAL REPORT
Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper
Boom here we are again bang in the middle of the show season and again I ask myself why I do this rushing about washing sheep, brushing out and getting a car packed and trailer loaded on show day. I do it because under all that chaos I enjoy catching up with everyone and supporting our Society, sometimes great moments and memories aren’t always when you take a champion rosette.
East Fife kicked off the show season in Scotland a fine display of sheep for Jennifer Milton from Keith to judge. Dunmor’s two-horn ewe caught Jennifer’s eye and scooped the championship then also from Dunmor their ram lamb took reserve champion. Fife always a taster for the RHS and one which exhibitors and visitors can see what may be heading to the RHS.
Connor & Dalrymple’s champion ewe and reserve champion tup lamb at East Fife Show with the judge, Jennifer Milton.
Royal Highland Show 2023 – probably one of the hottest I can remember, just as judging started at 1-30pm the sun hit the ring. Exhibitors, sheep and probably our Judge, Robert Price from Wales, felt the full force of the sun. Sun hats of all shapes and styles hit the show ring along with a supply of water. Robert Price worked his way through some big classes of Jacobs, some of the biggest we have had for a long time. Can I take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who exhibited at the RHS and great to see some new faces among the pens and some returning members back in the ring. Robert Price made Dunmor’s shearling ram overall champion and Dunmor’s shearling ewe reserve champion, a double whammy for them, well deserved. Their ram looked magnificent, he stood proud, dressed to perfection by Scott and shown beautifully by Mairi, a a super example of our breed. Howard Walsh has written a report for the Journal, so I won’t add any more about the show results. Thanks to Robert Price accompanied by his wife, Jean, for coming up to Scotland to judge at the RHS. I’m not going to say Helen Baillie’s age or how many years she’s been showing at the RHS but my goodness she’s still breeding lovely Jacobs. Helen’s ewe lamb took first in her class then reserve female champion. Eddie Crowe I have to mention too as it was lovely to see her continue to support this show and again taking a red ticket home to Arbroath. We ended the show day with a lovely “party” and a chance for everyone to sit down and relax. Thanks to Mary for setting up the buffet and drinks bar. We enjoyed lots of tasty treats, many made by our exhibitors, including a very nice cake with the Society logo on it was given to us by Jasmine. Rumour has it their first prize Adamski ewe enjoyed a bit of the sponge cake too. The show felt better organised this year from the judging day right through to the exit on the Sunday night, I will feedback to the RHS.
Steph Crozier with her first prize tup lamb at Haddington Show
While at the RHS myself and Barbara Webster stepped into the cattle promotion stands and took advice regarding a new stand for the Scottish region. We have found exactly what we feel is needed and Barbara and I will get details finalised and into the Society for approval, after that we hope to look to our Scottish members for help with what sheep should go onto the stretch canvas stand. I am feeling really positive about this venture, so needed to get the breed noticed at sheep events.
Connor & Dalrymple’s champion shearling ewe and reserve champion ewe at Haddington Show with the judge, Jennifer Milton
Scottish Show and Sale – By the time you read this Journal it will be past tense, but we are excited about our sale as a lot of effort has gone into pushing this forward, and a change of show ring should make things easier. The online bidding is a great feature and the way forward. A lot of people have said the location is way better and due to this we are attracting new vendors and buyers which at the end of the day is what is needed to keep our Scottish sale going. Many thanks to Scott Robertson from Tomintoul for generously sponsoring the prize money, Euan Hart from Crystalyx and John McCarter from Lifegard for donating extra prizes to our winners for which we are grateful.
Adam Christie’s ewe, champion at New Deer Show
The National Show will be held at Grantown Show and there will be a full report in the winter Journal; thanks to Scott Robertson for all his help getting this organised.
Scottish AGM weekend 2025 – seems a long time away but will be here before we know it, this will take place in the northern part of our region. We have a few things in place already, I plan to head north hopefully once the show season calms down and liaise with the northern Scottish members to find a hotel and get it booked. I will get details of Scottish AGM date and venue out once everyone has slowed down and the sales are past.
Can I say thank you to the members who support our shows and sales, out in baking sunshine and pouring rain giving up their time to showcase our breed without YOU are Society wouldn’t be where it is now.
Scott Dalrymple with 20 month old Gordon Connor at Haddington Show