The North & East of England Lleyn Sheep Breeders Club

Linda Barnard, Hall Farm, Welham, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 9QF
Tel. 01653 698580
E lindabarnard958@btinternet.com

Chairman: Graham Fort 01535 654739
Treasurer: Mrs Gill Edwards 01377 252631

NORTH & EAST OF ENGLAND LLEYN SHEEP BREEDERS CLUB 2010

Once again the North & East Club has had a very busy year. A revamped show stand was taken to the Lincoln Show, in Lincolnshire, the Driffield Show in East Yorkshire, and the Malton Show in North Yorkshire. Members of the group were also in attendance at the Great Yorkshire show in Harrogate, West Yorkshire on all three days in July and some members attended the East of England Show, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in June.

Geoff and David with the re vamped North & East show stand at the Lincoln Show in June 2010

The N & E of England Group held Lleyn classes for the second time in 2010 at the Lincoln Show. Our members provided a splendid display of 27 animals for our judge, Brian Procter which were a credit to the breed and a reflection of the hard work put in by everyone. Colin and Harry Bray won the championship and reserve champion with an adult ewe and a shearling ewe. Harry went on to win the young handler class amidst strong competition. The champion male was shown by Michael Proudley and the reserve champion male was shown by Alison Moody and Tony Wheldon.

Colin and Harry Bray at the Lincoln show 2010

At the Great Yorkshire Show in July the North & East Club fended off strong competition from Scotland and Lancashire when the champion animal , a magnificent adult ewe from Alison Moody & Tony Wheldon took the eye of our judge Mr Dennis Ison.


Alison with her champion ewe at the Great Yorkshire Show 2010

Helen and David helping out on the Society stand at the Great Yorkshire Show 2010

Colin Bray went on to win the Championship at the Driffield show and is pictured here with his grandson Harry after receiving the North & East group Trophy. Driffield in East Yorkshire is one of the largest one day shows in the country and attracted over 25,000 visitors this year. Our judge Mr Alan West came up from Kent to offer us his expert guidance. Alison Moody & Tony Wheldon had the reserve champion prize with their ram and young Harry Bray won the young handler class. Congratulations to Michael Proudley, Alan Waldron and Peter Lakeman for their success at the show.

Alan Waldron and Peter Lakeman at the Driffield Show July 2010

Michael Proudley with his aged ram at the Driffield Show July 2010 . Michael also won 1st prize with his ewe lamb.

Linda promoting the breed on the stand at the Malton Show

Congratulations go to our Chairman & wife, Graham & Mandy Fort on winning the third annual flock competition. They were presented with the “Barnard Silver Cup” and champion rosette by our judge Peter Lakeman at the Club’s AGM in October. Alison Moody and Tony Wheldon came second with Tim Riley third. Peter gave a brief account of the merits of each flock and said how much he had enjoyed himself visiting each flock.

Graham receiving the Annual Flock Competition Trophy at the Group's AGM in October 2010 from the judge Peter Lakeman

The North & East group sponsored the annual pre sale show in Skipton. The overall champion first prize shearling ram came from Terry & Bev Fort which went on to sell for 1300gns to club member Tim Riley. The reserve champion pen of five shearling ewes came from David & Jennifer Alexander which later went on to sell for £200 to club members John Vickerton & Sons . Tony & Janice Swinbank also took home another pen of shearling ewes from David & Jennifer at £178. The first prize pen of five ewe lambs came from William Williams and sold for £105 to John Vickerton & Sons and Andrew & Louise Hodsman took home a pen of shearling ewes from Graham & Mandy Fort at £165. Tim Riley realised £82 for his aged ewes.

The North & East group sponsored the new pre sale show in Newark this year. The winner Alun Wynne Davies with a splendid shearling ram went on to sell at 620gns to Club member Michael Proudley. The reserve champion animal another shearling ram from J Vickerton & Sons went on to realise 450gns and sold to G & V Matravers, Loughborough. The Society Chairman Wallace McCurdie had the first prize winning shearling ewes which later went on to sell for £160 to S Walker of Newark. A W Davies had £150 twice for shearling ewes to Club Secretary Linda Barnard. The winning pen of ewe lambs came from T P Radford, Grantham and went home to J Vickerton & Sons. G & A Fort had 660gns for one of his shearling rams and Peter Lakeman had 550gns for his 3rd prize shearling ram. There was a 100% clearance of rams with a 500gns average for the shearling rams and almost a total sell out of females.
This part of the country has been crying out for its own Lleyn sale and it looks like we have got off to a very good start.

The Fort family had the champion shearling ram at Ruthin sale which later went on to sell for 1350gns and also had champion shearling ram at Ross and 2nd prize shearling ram at Carlisle. They also received top price of £900 at the Kelso ram sale in September for a home bred shearling ram.

The Group's open day in August was a great success and we give thanks and congratulations to the Vickerton family for providing us with such a splendid display of animals, a wonderful barbeque and a most noteworthy East Yorkshire welcome. A full report of the day can be found on the Society's website. These young Lleyn enthusiasts provided a very jolly welcome at the entrance to the farm.

Harry Bray was awarded the North & East Young Handlers Trophy at the Group's AGM and dinner in October. He is pictured here receiving the trophy from our Chairman Graham. Well done Harry!

We welcome all Lleyn breeders and those with an interest in the breed to any of our forthcoming events. For more information contact Linda Barnard, Secretary on 01653 698580 or e-mail LindaBarnard958@btinternet.com.