Over the 2022-23 season, young breeders travelled across the country to display their stock to the highest of standards. Looking back on late 2022, young breeder Freddy Bethley, High Green flock, took the win in the Novice Class of the Flock Competition before going on to clinch the overall championship, judged by Antony Glaves.
The 2023 National Show at Lincolnshire Show, saw a strong turnout and Harry Wood of the Windrush flock, produced some strong males, taking first in the aged rams, with this ram going on to win the male and overall championships.
The newly introduced ‘Young Breeders Championship’ made its first appearance at the National Show. This consists of the highest placed young breeder’s animal in each class being judged in a special championship class, prior to the overall championship. The Young Breeder’s champion at Lincoln was Harry Wood with his aged ram, followed by Tom Chester in reserve with his aged ewe.
Harry Wood and Tom Chester at The National Show, Lincoln.
Later in the season came the Southdown National Premier Show and Sale at Worcester. A trio of new centre records were established with new marks set for shearling rams, ram lambs and shearling ewes, with a number of relatively new and young breeders making their mark.
Emily Yates, Fulfen, with her shearling ewe Fulfen Echo took both the Young Breeder’s championship and overall championship, taking home the Chichester Trophy. Annabel Halcrow, Calley Castle, took both reserve Young Breeder and reserve overall champion with her ram lamb, Calley Castle ‘Firestarter’. Closely following Calley Castle was the reserve male, a ram lamb from Louise and James Trumper.
Fulfen Echo went on to be purchased for 1200gns by fellow young breeder, Tom Chester for his Chapel House flock, after a frenzy of bids by well-established flocks and Calley Castle ‘Firestarter’ was purchased by the judge, Jonathan Long, and his daughter, Sophie for their Chaileybrook and Littlebrook flocks for 850gns.
Sophie Long then set a new centre record and breed ram lamb record with Littlebrook Eddie The Eagle selling for 1200gns. Taking this cocky ram lamb home was Nick Page on behalf of the Goodwood Estate.Not only did the young breeders exhibiting stock do well, those young breeders investing in new genetics played a vital part around the ring. Third top priced male of the day was Presoed Monet from Howard Wood, Usk, falling at 1000gns to young breeders Louise and James Trumper of the Beiliau flock, with the same buyers taking Chaileybrook 23/01753 at 580gns. Another male from the Prescoed flock fell to Sophie Davies, Revesby flock, for 500gns.
It was also a competitive day for females with plenty of strong gimmers and ewe lambs up for grabs. Grace Denning, Somerset took home shearling ewe, Beiliau Sparkle for 520gns.
The Southdown Young Breeders team is working hard to set up events for next year. We would like to invite our fellow young breeders to a workshop to be held in May 2024, further details to follow.
In other news, young breeders have had a significant presence on the show circuit this year, with Tom Chester placing reserve overall champion with his aged ewe at both Ashby and Nottingham Show, meanwhile, Freddy Bethley took both overall and reserve champion with his shearling ewe and aged ram at the Royal Norfolk Show, matching his placings at Suffolk Show earlier in the season.
Emily Yates - overall champion at Southdown Premier Sale, Worcester
Annabel Halcrow’s Calley Castle flock placed well, taking reserve breed champion at the Royal Three Counties with her shearling ewe and grabbing first place with her group of three at the Royal Bath and West.
Also enjoying a good season was Sophie Long, who’s shearling ewe took reserve overall champion at Hanbury show, while her ram lamb, Littlebrook Eddie The Eagle, placed first at both the Royal Three Counties and Royal Bath and West, taking the reserve breed championship here.
A plethora of tickets were achieved by the growing number of young members, all contributing to the competitiveness at the local and regional shows and providing excellent promotion for the breed across the country
