Ram two-shear and upwards

• 1st Pollock & Tannahill
• 2nd David Bell
• 3rd George Knox
• 4th Damien Tumulty
• 5th Hanna & Mairs
• 6th Alan Dickson

Shearling Ram

• 1st James Kerr
• 2nd Pollock & Tannahill
• 3rd George Knox
• 4th George Knox

Ewe two shear and upwards having reared a lamb in 2010

• 1st Hanna & Maris
• 2nd Moore & Hamilton
• 3rd Pollock & Tannahill
• 4th George Knox

Shearling Ewe

• 1st Michael Graham
• 2ndMichael Graham
• 3rd George Knox
• 4th Michael Graham
• 5th Moore Hamilton
• 6th Pollock & Tannahill
• 7th Michael Graham
• 8th Moore Hamilton

Ram Lamb born on or after 1.1.2010

• 1st Michael Graham
• 2nd David Samuel Bell
• 3rd Michael Graham
• 4th George Knox
• 5th Alan Dickson
• 6th George Knox
• 7th Pollock & Tannahill
• 8th Pollock & Tannahill

Ewe Lamb born on or after 1.1.2010

• 1st Michael Graham
• 2nd Pollock & Tannahill
• 3rd Michael Graham
• 4th Moore Hamilton
• 5th George Knox
• 6th Hanna & Maris
• 7th George Knox
• 8th Pollock & Tannahill

Supreme Champion

Michael Graham
Shearling Ewe

Balmoral Supreme Champion - Michael Graham - Shearling Ewe

Reserve Champion & Best Opposite Sex

Pollock & Tannahill
Ram two shear and upwards

Res. Champion - Pollock & Tannahill - Ram two shear and upwards

Best Rouge Lamb

Michael Graham
Ram Lamb

What a year it has been, with the weather dominating everything we have had it all frost rain snow and now drought! Locally a small stream running through a village is dry and the hills with thin soils on limestone started to look green are now turning brown with the lack of rain. I hope that lambing went well after the long winter which seems to have gone on for ever and now the show season kicked off with the Balmoral Show last week!

Since I last wrote it may appear that the Society has been doing nothing but to the contrary we on the council have had monthly conference calls and in late April met at Marston Mill and saw “the office” where Sue looks after the societies affairs – we were all impressed. We covered a lot of ground from budgeting for this year (it appears at present to be better than in recent years) and looking into the future to increasing revenue (so we can improve breed promotion)

At the last AGM, our Society President, David Jane suggested raising membership fees which haven’t changed since the society was formed 23 years ago along with registration fees and deadlines. The up side is that you as members will see improved service and benefits from the Society, let’s see lots of you at the AGM for your opinions and ideas for a good debate on issues. It is encouraging to hear that we have more new members this year. AGM details can be found else where in this issue.

There are leaflets now printed for promoting the breed which are re-designed from last year with space to put your own details in or to staple your card. A leaflet will be sent to you but don’t be afraid to ask Sue for more if you need them to place at shows, auctions etc.

Wishing you all the very best for the show season,

John

The group then moved to the Kings Arms in Kirby Stephen where the serious business of the weekend took place and members were able to voice their thoughts and ideas for promotion of the breed in 2010.

Mr John Smithson has taken on a second term of office as Chairman and Mr John Watkins is to continue as Vice Chairman.

Council representatives:

• Region 3 Simon Wright had been voted on by his region earlier in the year with Mrs Debbie Siggs as deputy.
• Region 1 as a result of the voting of the members of the region Mr John Gate was elected as representative for Region 1 with Mrs Pat Imlah as deputy.
• Region 4 as a result of the voting of the members of the region Mr Moore Hamilton was elected as representative for Region 4 with Mr Michael Graham as deputy.
• Miss Elizabeth Lee will continue her term as representative for Region 2 with Mr John Watkins as deputy.

Mr John Smithson thanked Mr Michael Graham and Mrs Pat Imlah for their hard work whilst on council and hoped they would still be willing to volunteer help when needed.

Mr John Smithson reported that the show flock for 2008 was Mr David Jane of the Broadwood Flock with Mr Percy Tait of the Knighton flock in reserve place.

Photo of David Jane receiving the Rouge Sheep Society Show Flock Award from Chairman John Smithson

A crystal goblet was awarded Graham and Knox for the most points at the Royal Ulster show. A crystal goblet was awarded to Mr David Jane for the most points at the Royal Highland show. A crystal goblet was awarded to Mr Percy Tait for the most points at the Royal Show and the Royal Welsh Show.

Photos of David Jane and George Knox receiving their awards from Chairman John Smithson

Hororary Life President

Mr John Smithson announced that the Society had never had occasion to present this award and felt privileged to be able to do so. John Watkins put forward the nomination and Mr Simon Wright gave a brief resume of the life and times with rouge sheep for the nominee Mr David Jane of the Broadwood flock.

Mr David Jane stated he was delighted and honoured to receive such an award.

Photo of David Jane receiving his award from Chairman John Smithson.

Sunday morning 4th October saw a trail of cars leading across the hills out of Cumbria to visit Jeff and Sue Wilkinson, at Barningham, Richmond, Yorkshire.

This started with a tour of the flock at home in lush pastures and then a sheep dressing demonstration with a ewe kindly loaned by John Smithson and dressed by Stephen Doddsworth and Ian Teasdale. A paper is to be put together for those members that were unable to attend this very interesting demonstration it showed just how much time needs to be spent to present the sheep at shows and sales.

The dressed ewe – ready to show

Jeff and Sue had kindly arranged a sheep judging competition as well, the judge being Mr Michael Graham. Everyone was urged to have a go and the lambs looked really well. The winner on the day was Mr John Smithson.

John Smithson receiving the sheep judging prize from Sue Wilkinson

Thanks were extended Jeff and Sue Wilkinson for the fantastic day in Yorkshire and for their kind hospitality. John Smithson thanked everyone that had attended the AGM weekend and it is hoped to make a social weekend of the AGM in 2010.

A J Graham also took the prize for the Best opposite sex to Champion with a shearling ewe which made £260 on the day.

Topping the sale at 880gns was shearling ram from David Jane, Broadwood Hunter, a substitute entry to the original catalogue. Sired by the noted Garlic Footprint ram and bred from a Broadwood Rocksolid sired mother, Hunter was sold to J Charlton & Sons of Cleator Moor, Cumbria. At 800gns was another shearling ram, this time coming from the Knighton flock of Percy Tait based in Worcester. This home bred ram, a son of Knighton E1 and out of a Happy Home bred mother, he was knocked down to SA & VL Morris of Craven Arms. Topping the Romer pen of shearlings from John Lloyd and Elizabeth Lee was a February born ram at 710gns. Romer Harchibald, a son of Elagh Action Man and out of Wrights Bountiful, has had a successful show season earlier in the year winning 4th prize at the Royal Show and is full brother to the reserve male champion at the Royal Highland Show 2008. Harchibald was successfully bought by local enthusiasts Messrs Dodd of Temple Sowerby.

The highest female price of the sale came from the Broadwood flock dispersal of ewes and gimmers for David Jane. At 500gns, David’s champion show ewe Broadwood Evita, a daughter of Carscreugh Kingpin, caught the eye of many breeders with her shear size of strength of bone. She was sold to fellow breeder James Redfern to join his Redfern flock based at Leek, Staffordshire. James continued his purchases with selecting another two sheep from the Broadwood flock, the first at 480gns and the second at 420gns. The first was a three shear ewe, Broadwood Forgetmenot, a daughter of Broadwood Dynamo and going back to the noted imported sire Bruiser on her mothers pedigree. The third purchase for Mr Redfern at 420gns was a shearling gimmer, Broadwood Hilda, sired by Red Alert and bred off a Broadwood Dynamo sired mother.

Averages – 5 aged rams £243.60, 8 shearling rams £576.19, 10 lamb rams £290.85, 16 shearling gimmers £187.69, 8 ewe lambs £190.31, Broadwood Flock: 20 ewes £224.70, 8 shearling gimmers £279.56

The auction takes place at Borderway Mart, Carlisle and is comprised of:

• 6 Aged Rams
• 12 Shearling Rams
• 15 Lamb Rams
• 19 Shearling Gimmers
• 10 Ewe Lambs

Followed by the dispersal of the adult portion from The Broadwood Flock for Mr D R Jane and is comprised of:

• 22 Ewes
• 8 Shearling Gimmers

Judging will commence at 9.00am

Sale will commence at 10.15am

‘Rouge sheep in their natural surroundings’.

A. Best Lamb

B. Best Ram

C. Best Ewe and Lambs

D. Funny things – sheep

The competition is only open to members of the Society and photos should be sent into the Rouge Society office by 1st October 2009 with your contact details on the reverse.

The winners will be announced at the Rouge Society AGM to be held on 3rd October 2009

Likewise a big thank you to all the members who have turned out at the shows (and those who are still going to show) while it is good to win, it is the rest of the exhibitors that really make the shows worth while for the spectators – and this year has seen some excellent sheep and keen competition proved by the way the prizes have been spread around.
However, it is equally important for the judge to select for breed character, confirmation, skins and style and not purely size again to entertain the spectators (I believe another breed is laying ground rules for this reason). I must mention Stephen Dodsworth (Jacob and cheviot breeder) who’s keen eye at the Carlisle rouge sale two years ago picked out and bought a ewe lamb as a wedding present for his cousin “nuffie’s” marriage to Ailsa – so must have been pleased to see it take breed champion and follow by winning the reserve lowland interbreed at the great Yorkshire.

Sadly we lost a loyal and dedicated breeder Roger Imlah who will be missed by all who knew him. My lasting memory of him was at the Highland after winning the female champion with a ewe lamb and was having her titivated up on the dressing stand ready for the interbreed when Pat insisted Roger went back to her show box for the “broon” soap to wash its face and legs. He duly returned and was to set about the task when Lewis brandished his shears at him and swore – it was a pure delight to see Roger’s cheeky grin as he looked at Pat as if to say “I told you it would be a waste of time”. I think it was his favourite show.
All the breeders present at the show this year gathered at “Pats pen” and drank a toast to Roger’s memory; it was a pleasure to have known him.  Roger was a quiet calm character with a great sense of humour and enjoyed a good joke he will be very much missed by all those fortunate enough to have known him

We now hope for good sales this year I see there is a big entry at Carlisle boosted by the dispersal of David Jane’s flock which will mean the end of an era. Surely no other breeder has achieved what David has, not only within the breed but in the interbreed competitions at all the major shows around the country. Thank you David.

I hope to see many of you at Carlisle – it will soon be here!

John Smithson

After the disaster of 2007, 2008 had turned out not to be too bad a year. The sales at Carlisle and Exeter returned reasonable prices. The South West French Breeds sale at Bridgewater turned out much as expected; the club has decided to leave its future in the hands of the Auctioneers. On the showing front in 2008, participation from the South West at the National Shows was curtailed by the Blue Tongue restrictions; members did support the local shows in the South West. Titch Hammett took the Garlic (UK) Trophy for the South West Show Flock of the year for 2008, Joy Churchill being runner up.

One point raised for 2009 sales was Scrapie genotyping. Given that the scheme will be abandoned, will the society still be demanding Scrapie genotyping certificates for the society sales in 2009 and beyond? It seems an unnecessary expense.

We look forward to 2009 with renewed optimism. A major event will be the NSA Sheep South West to be held on 9th June 2009 at North Alfordon Farm, Okehampton (by kind invitation of Dudley Laxton) where there will be a society stand.  James Siggs is Chairman of the NSA South West Region.

Females sold to 380gns for the reserve champion and best opposite sex, a shearling ewe from Graham and Knox sold to Gary Hanna, who purchased seven females to start his new flock.