Ryeland sheep and Greyface Dartmoor sheep wins so far

ryeland lamb and greyface dartmoor ewe and lambWe have had a good start to the showing season this year with the sheep.  At the RWAS Smallholders show in May Oakberrow Thunder and Untouchable were both third.  With the Greyface Dartmoors - our lovely Sunny was second in a strong class of rams and also Ulysses was second as well.  The breeding ewe - Antonia was a credible 4th.

At Shropshire County Show - Oakberrow Thunder was Breed champion with our shearling ewe being Reserve Breed Champion under judge Pam Bateman.

The Greyface Dartmoors under top judge John Osborne from Cornwall, our Ulysses won the any aged ram class and Agatha our ewe lamb also won her class.  The shearling ewe was 3rd in her class.

At the Royal Three Counties Show - the Dartmoors did well with Sunny winning Breed Champion.  He won the any aged ram class with his son Ulysses taking up the 2nd spot.  Our baby ram lamb (still to be named) won the ram lamb class and Agatha won the Ewe lamb class.  So a great day.

Exciting news - Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla Pups due

Really excited that the long awaited litter from Tilly -Ginger Lillie Around Oakberrow - is due on Monday 8 June 2015.  Tilly is a daughter from Gin from her first litter by Roy Bebbington's dog Zorro.  This litter proved to be excellent workers and also have had an excellent career in the show world.

Tilly won Best Puppy at Crufts in 2010 and also has gone on to win one Challenge Certificate with Best of Breed at Windsor Championship show and a Reserve Challenge Certificate at Midland Counties Championship show under the late Sheila Gray.  A consistent winner at both Open and Championship Shows.

The dad of the pups is Pam Wellstead's Ragnolds Ljuka who already has winning progeny in the show ring.

The photo shows Tilly and a headshot of Ljuka.

Lambing course dates for March 2015 at Oakberrow

In Lamb ewes ready for lambing at OakberrowThe ewes were all scanned last Friday and we are delighted with the outcome.  The Greyface Dartmoors we have 10 girls expecting and all the Texels are in lamb.  The Ryelands have also come up well with 34 of them expecting.  Plenty of twins and singles from the girls with one set of triplets expected.

The courses will commence from 17 February 2015.

NEW for this year we will have a few places for those who wish to experience night time lambing.  The course will start at 6pm and finish the following morning - what time you finish is with the ewes! A bed will be provided with breakfast and evening meal. 

Day courses commence at 10am - 4pm which will include lunch.

We limit numbers on the courses - day courses maximum 4 people and for the night time maximum 2 people.

It is a great experience and previous pupils have found it really helpful and learnt a lot.  We do like you to have a hands-on experience, but of course this is all dependent on the ewes. 

Please get in touch in you are interested, always pleased to have a chat through what you can expect to experience on the day.

What a lovely summer

Show Champion Oakberrow Wotzinaname (Foster), son of GuinnessI have just realised that I have not been keeping the web updated on what has been happening at Oakberrow this summer.

We have had great success in the show ring with the Sheep - see under the separate sections for more details - Ryelands and Greyface Dartmoors.  With regard to the Dartmoors delighted that the second Oakberrow ram has been studded, this was Ulysses who has a Sunnyside dad and a Vespasian mum (Antonia).

Oakberrow also had losses this year and I am really sad and missing him loads, that was Guinness - kennel name Jennaline Seamour Butts at Oakberrow, he was Foster's dad.  A couple of weeks ago Steve and I had to make that heart wrenching decision.  He was a wonderful dog, had so many happy times with him out working on some lovely shoots.  As I am typing this tears come into my eyes, but his memory lives on.

sheep showing courses - preparation

Dolwen Noble Inter Breed Sheep Champion Moreton Show 2013This time of year we are getting excited about attending the first show of the season with the sheep.  The Royal Welsh Smallholders

Royal Welsh Show

www.rwas.co.uk

will be our first one closely followed by Shropshire County Show. 

Shropshire County Show & West Mid Showground | Shropshire ...

www.shropshirecountyshow.com/…agricultural-show/.....

There is always something to learn about the art of getting a sheep ready for the show ring and we do courses from how to choose your sheep for showing, preparation and ring etiquette, etc.  These are really useful and at least as a novice you have learnt some of the tips that the wordly wise stockmen do.

If interested please do contact me to arrange a date.  See under Learning Courses for details.