Eastern Texel Club

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Club Report 2009

2009 has been a great year for the club reflecting an upward turn in the fortunes of the sheep industry nationally. Let’s hope it’s here to stay unlike the weather! Well, we had to mention it: whilst the rest of the UK “enjoyed” an abundance of rain, the east had a prolonged draught, which started in May and ended in late October. June hay crops were halved and there wasn’t any grass for flushing ewes either. But sheep farmers are a stoical lot, they might moan a bit but then they get on with it and cheer up.

Thinking of our county shows, the Suffolk, Royal Norfolk and Lincoln, there was much to cheer about for our members. For the three major county shows attendances were up on previous years with some new and younger exhibitors presenting their sheep for the first time.

Neil Pamplin took the championship with a stylish shearling ewe at both the Norfolk and Suffolk shows, with Tina Ashley’s shearling ewe taking Reserve at the Norfolk and Lincoln show. Tina’s fine female also won the ETBC’s award for the best exhibit, while Terry Prentice, one of the club’s most experienced exhibitors, took Reserve at the Suffolk. Two young apprentice showmen, the Mannings’ boys, got their feet on the ladder and we wish them luck in their future showing career. Finally, it’s nice to report that two breeders, keen to add some eastern promise to their flocks, snapped up the glamorous starlets of the shows, which hopefully left vendors happy and the ewes with some cracking off-spring.

Unfortunately the year 2009 saw the sad loss of the Club’s Hon Treasurer, Jim Blakemore. Jim was well known to a much wider Texel membership as he and his wife Dorothy took part in many social events and organized trips. Those who knew him will remember him as a cheerful Texel enthusiast, generous and kind to his many friends and colleagues.

In October the joint flock competition with the Midlands Club took place, just before the clocks changed. Judge Simon Farmer, ably assisted by son David, toured thirteen flocks over two days at the end of which, with his usual charm and eloquence David presided over the prize giving at the club’s annual Dinner.

Champion Flock – John & Barbara Leadbeater – Blackbird

We look forward to the club’s big event for this summer, a visit to the flocks of Tim Healy (Wealden) and Trinidad Investment, (Colwood) both in Sussex.

John Williams
Chairman