Ruthin Texel Sheep Breeders Club
Clwb Bridwyr Texel Rhuthun

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Club Report 2009

Welsh NSA Event

The first event for the club was the NSA Welsh Sheep at Ceirniogau Bach Farm, Pentrefoelas, in May. The Society invited the club to organize and man the stand and it was decided to have a pen of shearling rams loaned by myself from the Beidiog flock, and ram lambs from the Dutch group, loaned by Clwyd Davies of the Egryn flock, and Gerwyn Davies of the Cernyw flock. A traditional, warm, Welsh welcome was decided upon, and Jane Lewis, and Eiddwen Jones, two of our members, enthusiastically volunteered to bake Bara Brith and Welsh Cakes, and to be the tea ladies. Little did they know what they were letting themselves in for, as hundreds of people descended on the stand admiring the quality sheep on show and talking about Texel Sheep, and very appreciative of the tea and cakes. The Club ran a competition with two vouchers for £100 to be won, redeemable against a ram bought at the September Show and Sale. The event was a phenomenal success with everybody agreeing that all the hard work had definitely paid off, and was a fantastic promotion event for the Club and Society.

Flock Competition

The flock competition was held on the last weekend in June, and was judged by John Davies of the Amman Flock, and many thanks to John for all his hard work. I spent a very enjoyable two days taking John and Gloria around the flocks, and I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome we received.

Best Flock in Wales

Geraint Jones Erw, went on to win the title 'Best Flock in Wales' which was announced at the Monday evening barbecue at the Royal Welsh Show. Many congratulations to Geraint as he has won this honour five times since the competition started thirteen years ago.

Showing season

Congratulations to all the members who did so well in all the shows throughout the summer, and for flying the Ruthin flag all over North Wales and beyond, but special mention to the successes at the Royal Welsh Show, as 2009 turned out to be a fantastic year for Ruthin members.

Show and Sale

The Show and Sale was held on 13th & 14 September and attracted 649 entries, and our sincere thanks go to Mr Jim Clark, Garngour, for judging the pre-sale show, and for doing an excellent job. The quality of stock forward was again very high, with strong competition in every class. The Show Champion was awarded to a shearling Ram, 'Beidwen Omega', exibited by Miss Eiddwen Jones, and selling for 2,600 gns which was also the top priced shearling ram, to Mr Roy Hughes, Trefonnen. Reserve champion was awarded to a ram lamb, 'Hen Gapel Pure Gold', exibited by Mr John Owen, and was sold for 4,000 gns which was the top priced ram lamb, to Llion Jones, Pant. 1st Prize Shearling ewe was awarded to LTC083146, owned by Mr Robert Laird, Cambwell, selling for 1,500 gns to Mr Hywel Jones, Fferwd. Top Priced shearling ewe was exibited by Messers Rhys and Euros Owen, Eryri flock – ORE08114, and was sold for 1,650 gns to Mr Geraint Jones Rossa.

1st prize pair of Ram lambs were exhibited by Mr Carl Bellis, Cosyn.

Best Consignment of Shearling Rams
The award for the 'Best Consignment of Shearling Rams' was judged by Mr Basil Davies, Ochor Y Gop Farm, a staunch supporter of the Ruthin Sale for many years, which he awarded to Mr Geraint Jones of the Erw Flock, who averaged 524 gns for his pen of 11 Rams.

Junior Show
The Junior Show attracted an enthusiastic entry, and our thanks go to Martin and Shirley Jones for judging very efficiently. Results as follows:-
Best Ram Lamb – Robert Pierce, Oldford Texels,
Best Young Handler – Llyr Jones, Seisiog Texels.

Sale Averages
Shearling Ewes – 539.70 gns
Aged Rams – 675.00 gns
Shearling Rams – 420.48 gns
Ram Lambs – 305.67 gns
Highest Consignment Averages
Shearling ewes – Mr Robert Laird, Cambwell – 1084.00gns for 3.
Shearling rams – Miss Eiddwen Jones, Beidwen – 809gns for 8
Ram lambs – Mr John Owen Hen Gapel – 684gns for 10.

Shearling ewe prices were up significantly on last year, and although the Shearling Ram and Ram Lamb averages were down slightly on the year, it was by no means a reflection on the quality of stock, but rather a very warm and dry spell of harvesting weather that meant there were fewer buyers attending than usual.
Our sincere thanks go the Auctioneers and Staff for all their hard work and dedication. They are a very easy and friendly crowd to work with, and always give their utmost to make the event a success.

Inter-club Bowling Night.

October saw three teams of eager Bowlers going to an inter-club event with the Shropshire and Borders club, who also had three teams, at the New Bowling Alley in Wrexham. The Ruthin teams were in serious need of some practice, as we haven't been bowling for a few years, but three members turned out to be dark horses – namely, John Williams, Llys, Joe Barlow, Mossgiel, and our Club Secretary Sion Owens. They clocked up the three highest scores of the evening, and in doing so, ensured victory for the Ruthin Club, but as we all know, its not the wining that counts, but the taking part, and I can honestly say that everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and it is also good to meet fellow breeders, and to promote inter-club relations. We are already looking forward to a re-match next October.

AGM and Buffet, and Presentation of Awards

Over 40 members attended the AGM and Presentation Evening on a very wet and windy night in late November, and the excellent buffet supper immediately following the AGM, was thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed by all. The presentation of awards and trophies for the Flock Competition, and the Show and sale followed, ending what was a successful evening, enjoyed by all..

Ruthin Auction Christmas Show and Sale

My report would not be complete without sending my congratulations to Mr Clwyd Davies, Egryn, for wining the Champion best pair of trimmed, butchers lambs in the Ruthin Auction Christmas Show and Sale. This is quite an achievement, as this event is almost second to The Royal Welsh Winter Fair, and competition is very fierce.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank Sion Owens, Secretary, Peter Lewis, Treasurer, and all the members of the committee, who have supported me in my first year of being in the chair of the Ruthin Club, and I would like to wish all the members a very successful year in 2010.

Eurgain Jones (Chairwoman)

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21st Annual Show & Sale 2008

The confidence shown by breeders in the Texel was evident with high demand on all sheep at the Ruthin Texel Breeders’ Club Show and Sale held at Ruthin Auction on Sunday 7th and Monday 8th September 2008. [report]

Best Flock 2007

It’s official! The best flock of Texels in Wales is kept by Denbigh breeder Eurgain Jones. Her Beidiog Flock, kept at Beidiog Isa, Llansannan, near Denbigh, has received the top award in the Texel Sheep Society’s annual competition. It was presented at the Royal Welsh Show.

Eurgain is a full time farmer who carried on her husband’s work after she was widowed seven years ago. The couple had set up the flock in 1990 and she was determined to make a success of it after Phillip died.

“It means an awful lot to me”, she said “One of my main ambitions was to win this award and I still can’t really believe it. My husband would have been so proud”.

Judge Rheinallt Williams of Pantyclyd, Llangurig, Llanidloes, said it had been great to see an entire flock at Beidiog Isa. Stock rams were half the flock and they been on show alongside the yearling rams, the lambs, yearling ewes, and aged ewes.

“It was a tremendous show of sheep out in their working clothes in the field”, he added. “She has muscular sheep as well and she hasn’t forgotten the working end of the flock”.

History

Ruthin Texel Breeders Club was formed in 1986 by a group of local breeders to meet the demand for Texel rams from fat lamb producers in North Wales.

The high standards set by these breeders has established a reputation for quality resulting in flockmasters returning year after year for replacement stock.

Many individuals have been purchased over the years; both male and female, to make a tremendous influence in the Texel breed nationally.

Club members have won many of the coveted awards given to the Texel breed at shows and sales throughout the country.