The 2015 National Show was hosted by the Cheshire County Show and attracted breeders from well beyond the local area. The journey from Goodwood in Sussex proved worthwhile for flock manager Nick Page, as his ewe lamb, Goodwood Candy 15/05221, took top honours by winning the breed championship. Judge Brian Glaves commented that the ewe lamb had been an easy winner of her class, but the championship had been a tight call. Reserve championship honours fell to the winner of the aged ram class, Chaileybrook 13/0001, from the Long family’s Chaileybrook flock. Winning the Northumberland Trophy for the best group of four sheep were breeders Chris and Dave Rhead from Leek, Staffordshire, while the Cooper Trophy for the best ram lamb was won by Daniel Bunting from Hertfordshire. The Sheila Colman Salver for the best shearling ewe was awarded to the Long family’s shearling ewe.Judge Brian Glaves commented: “It was an honour to judge such strong classes at the breed’s National Show and I commend all the exhibitors for the quality of the sheep put forward. There were no easy classes to judge and it shows the standard present in the breed across the UK.”
The Suffolk Show attracted, as always, a strong number of entries throughout all classes. Judge Daniel Bunting selected a shearling ram owned and shown by Miss Holly Lutkin, and bred by Messrs Wakeham-Dawson & Harmer, as his overall champion. This shearling ram went on to be awarded the interbreed championship title the following day. A shearling ewe from Messrs Wakeham-Dawson & Harmer was awarded the reserve championship honours. The strong lamb classes were won by Mrs Amy Readhead-Higgins, and the aged ewe class saw Nigel Barrington-Fuller take the first prize. The group of sheep class specifies that the ram, ewe, ram lamb and ewe lamb must be bred and shown by the exhibitor, this class was won by MF & G Sprake.
Local breeders supported the South of England Show and it was local breeders Goodwood Estate Co Ltd, Anne Lambert and Messrs Wakeham-Dawson & Harmer whose entries were successful in gaining first place in the classes. Judge Neil Stainthorpe selected his champion from the Ridings flock of Messrs Wakeham-Dawson & Harmer, with Goodwood Estate Co Ltd taking Reserve Championship honours.
The Royal Welsh Show attracted a wide field of exhibitors, many of whom travelled from the South East to compete. Classes were well supported. Judge Paul Humphrey selected Messrs Wakeham-Dawson & Harmer’s shearling ram as his champion, with a shearling ewe from the same breeders taking the reserve championship.
Southdown Sheep Society members flew the Southdown flag at over 50 shows around UK, with some notable success: Mrs Lesley Mead scooped the interbreed championship at the Herts County Show, Basil Cooper wonthe interbreed championship title at the New Forest Show, and Graham-Ryves Webb did likewise at the Henley-on-Thames & District Show.
