Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Breeders' Association

Not surprisingly, the Annual Show & Sale day this year was predominantly wet, so although the show usually takes place outside it was necessary to move the classes inside.

The pens at Abergavenny are not removeable but some of the cattle pens are quite large and our judges, Matthew Evans (rams) and Rita Wise (females), managed admirably under these rather more difficult conditions. The results were as follows:

The Show Classes

Trophies

R A E Herbert Trophy for the Best Male Exhibit was won by Patricia Laws (reserve E O Williams)
The Peter Jones Trophy for the Best Female Exhibit was won by E O Williams (reserve D R L Williams)
A S R Austen Trophy for the most points awarded at the Show & Sale was won by E O Williams with 18 points (reserve Patricia Laws)

Immediately prior to the Sale the Auctioneer introduced Ros Morgan, mother of our late member Chris Hughes. She displayed a new trophy in memory of Chris, the Chris Hughes Young Stockperson of the Year Trophy, information about which was supplied with the catalogue and can be found again on page 5 of this newsletter.

photo

The Secretary, Lesley Lewin, then took the microphone to present the Hayston Flock of the Year Trophy and the A S R Austen Trophy.

She also presented Gareth Davies with his Vice- President's badge at the same time.

Then Lyndon Trumper (the auctioneer) took over for the sale, the first since 2006.

On a gloomy but dry day in early August 35 members and friends met at Patricia Law's Hounsley Farm to see the Hounsley flock, learn a bit about showing and judging and enjoy some excellent hospitality.

Edward Williams

It was quite a packed timetable! First of all, there were four shearling ewes tied up for us to practise judging, and a pen of ram lambs to try judging too.

This wasn't a competition, just a chance to have a go and learn a bit more.

There was also another pen containing two ram lambs for a "Guess the Combined Weight" competition. The weight turned out to be 63 kilos and Carmarthenshire member Eve Daff won this competition.

Following this, Talybont on Usk member Edward Williams and his father Glynn gave a demonstration on how to move horns.

Mike Hackling

Some horns can begin to point towards the head and cause problems as the ram matures and the Williams' demonstrated a way of carefully moving the lower part of the horn away from the head.

There was considerable interest in this part of the day and Edward and Glynn made the job look quite easy, and with no apparent distress to the ram lamb at all.

Mike Hackling was next and he gave a trimming demonstration which was much appreciated, particularly by some of the new members present who were entering shows for the first time this year.

Trish's neighbour, Robert Harding, was next and he gave a sheep dog training demonstration in the nearby paddock with three keen, but very different dogs:one fairly old and very reliable, one a bit too keen and one youngster who is just learning the job.

The seven qualifying shows this year were Royal Bath & West Show, Aberystwyth, Royal, Royal Welsh, Llanwrst, Gillingham & Shaftesbury, and Martletwy.

The winner is the same flock once more but we do have a new reserve:

Winner - Edward O Williams - 56 points
Reserve - Ray & Rita Wise - 27 points

L to R: Runner up Rhodri Workman, Judge Glenda Hughes and winner Charlotte Morgan

This year there was a good entry for the trophy of 10 members' relations and friends entered for our Young Handler Competition which takes place every year at the Royal Welsh Show after the completion of the sheep judging on the first day.

However, due to the very late running of our classes this year (due to the classes before us over-running and not due to our own judge I hasten to add!) by the time we were ready to start the Young Handler competition it was around 9 pm and for many of our participants it was simply too late in the day.

Immediately prior to the recent Association Sale the Auctioneer introduced Ros Morgan, mother of our late member Chris Hughes.

She displayed a new trophy in memory of Chris, the Chris Hughes Young Stockperson of the Year Trophy.

An information sheet and form regarding this new competition was supplied with the catalogue.

If it passed you by, here is the information once more, and a form can be requested from the Secretary.

The Trophy will be awarded for good stockmanship demonstrated at any of the shows and sales throughout the year up to our own annual BWM Show & Sale in the autumn.

Any Association member can nominate a young person using the form below. The closing date for this year's nominations is Friday 10th October.

So, have you been impressed by the enthusiasm and ability of a young person showing (or helping to show) Black Welsh Mountain sheep around the shows this year?

National Sheep Association is seriously concerned that many sheep farmers are not fully aware of the new double tagging rules which came into force at the start of the year.

These regulations require sheep born in 2008 and not intended for slaughter under 12 months of age to be double tagged either by the age of 9 months if extensively reared or when they leave the holding of birth.

With the seasonal sales of breeding sheep just starting and the sales of gimmer ewe lambs just around the corner the first real tests of whether sheep farmers are correctly identifying their animals are now with the industry.

NSA Chief Executive Peter Morris said ‘No-one in the sheep industry is happy that we now have to double tag our sheep that have been born in 2008 and which are not intended for slaughter as lambs.

This adds cost and hassle to sheep producers at a busy time of the year and it is very difficult to understand what it achieves in terms of improving traceability.