Anglesey Show 2024

The sun came out for the Bluefaced Leicester judging at the Anglesey show, and it was great to see twice as many exhibitors there compared to the last few years. There was certainly plenty of work for judge Wyn Morris, of the Cynhafal flock, he was certainly made to earn his lunch! And it was great to see a good crowd right around the ringside throughout the judging, a testament to the growing interest in the breed in North Wales.

Rising to the top was the shearling tup from an exhibitor making his debut at the show, Alfie Benbow, who brought a strong team of six sheep up from the Gornal. The Champion was Gornal S23, a son of Hope R4, who himself had stood champion at Llanfyllin show the previous weekend. He was the exact blend of style and confirmation that the judge was searching for, he’ll no doubt be on a lot of breeders’ short lists when he goes through the ring at the NSA sale at Builth in September.

Pushing the shearling tup close was the first prize aged ewe from the Roberts family, Myfyrian. This stylish one crop ewe was Myfyrian R33, a daughter of the Lowes Fell M1 who has done a fabulous job for the flock since he was acquired at the Hexham ‘Kelso’ sale back in covid affected 2020. Later in the day the champion and reserve joined forces to scoop the honours in the interbreed pairs, which is always great to see for the breed!

The aged tup class saw Elfyn Owen’s homebred Cernyw R1 beat the sire of the champion into second, and this fabulous aged tup went on to be reserve male, there will be numerous tup lambs by this son of the legendary Addingham B1 available at the backend sales. In the female section the reserve ticket went to the first prize gimmer from Dewi & Meinir Parry, Falnash S13, who was bought out of the Blue Belles sale in January as Meinir’s birthday present.

The Nant-y-Glyd flock also took home the red rosettes in the lamb classes with progeny of Philiphaugh R1, who has done a good job for the flock after being bought out of Kelso last year. The group of three was hotly contested, with exhibitors needing to be plucked from the crowd watching on there was so many sheep in the ring, and the spoils went to the Myfyrian flock with a needle sharp and well matched trio. Congratulations to all exhibitors for making the effort and putting on such a fine show of Bluefaced Leicesters.