Centenary National Show 2025 - Burwarton Show - 7th August

The Clun Forest Sheep Breeders Society marked its centenary year in fine style this week by hosting its National Show at Burwarton Show in Shropshire which drew a strong entry of quality stock from across the country. Although Bluetongue restrictions meant there were no entries from Wales, exhibitors travelled from as far north as Cumbria and North Yorkshire with some leaving home as early as 3am to ensure their sheep were settled and prepared for judging at 10am.

The weather was characteristically British: warm and humid, with welcome sunny spells punctuated by sharp, heavy downpours. But even the rain could not dampen the spirits of competitors and spectators, who were treated to a day that showcased not only the quality of the breed but also the camaraderie of the Society.

Presiding over the judging, Roger Williams found plenty to admire in each class. The day began with the Ram, 2 Shear and Over class, where local breeder William Handley of the Lyncraft flock took the top honours with his powerful homebred aged ram Lyncraft Griffin. Strong, balanced, and full of breed character, he later earned Male Champion and Reserve Overall Champion.

 In the Shearling Ram class, Paul and Lydia Murray of the Inside Hype flock based in Cumbria headed a strong class with their well-grown, stylish homebred ram, Inside Hype Hubert, showing excellent conformation and presence. Hubert, which earlier in the summer took breed Champion at Great Yorkshire Show, is sired by the 2024 Ram of the Year, Honddu Gilbert, who will be offered for sale at the upcoming Carlisle Sale in September.
The red rosette in the Ram Lamb class went to another breeder local to the show, Steph Thackery of Hayton flock, whose correct and upstanding lamb showed real future potential.

The ewe classes drew some of the day’s biggest crowds and largest entries. The Aged Ewe class was dominated by Paul and Lydia Murray’s outstanding ewe, Inside Hype Gwen, who has picked up a number of prizes this summer and is in superb condition considering she reared triplet lambs this season. Gwen, who was sired by Court-Llacca Briton and out of a Travelly ewe, has a lovely combination of strength, femininity, and breed type which secured her the Female Championship, Breed Championship, and the prestigious Boyle Perpetual Challenge Cup. Gwen will also be offered for sale at the Carlisle sale in September.

The Murrays also won the Shearling Ewe class with a well-fleshed, correct shearling, while Anna Pennell of the Nipna Flock based in North Yorkshire topped the Ewe Lamb class with a well grown stylish lamb out of a homebred ewe and sired by the renowned Court-Llacca Briton.
The Novice class was won by new breeder Abigail Collier from Lancashire whilst in the  Pairs class, a perfectly matched duo of shearling ewes took the red rosette for Paul and Lydia Murray.

In the Group of Three class, the addition of their class winning shearling ram to their winning pair, secured not only the first prize in the group of three class but also later the Geoff Bishop Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Interbreed Group of Three beating trios of some excellent sheep from across the other breeds.

Away from the main breed classes, Clun Forest breeders also made their mark in the commercial sheep classes. In the pair of cross-bred breeding ewes and cross-bred breeding ewe lambs section, Anna Pennell excelled with her impressive pair of Clun Mule ewe lambs, taking 1st prize in the ewe lamb class against Texel, Texel cross and Suffolk cross lambs earning the Reserve Championship in the section. In the pure-bred pair section, John Williams of the Hopton Flock produced a quality pair of Clun Forest ewes to take 1st prize in the ewe classes and Reserve Champion in the section, and followed up with a fine second place in the Clun Forest ewe lamb pairs class, reinforcing the depth and quality present within the breed. First prize in the pair of Clun Forest ewe lambs class went to Hannah Mason with her impressive ewe lambs which also took the section Championship.
​
Beyond the show ring, the Society’s gazebo became a lively hub of activity. Ably manned by staff and members, exhibitors and spectators were offered refreshments including some delicious home baking, which was especially appreciated once the judging had finished. Members old and new gathered to chat, swap advice, and enjoy a chance to socialise. Also on offer to purchase was some of the Society’s new centenary merchandise, which proved popular throughout the day.

Burwarton Show, which kindly hosted the National Show, provided ample space for not only the classes and the society gazebo but also pens to hold a display of Clun mules and Clun sired lambs. This included Clun Mules kindly provided by Anna Pennell and John Williams, and pens of Hill Radnor and Welsh Badger Face ewes with Clun sired lambs at foot kindly supplied by Margaret Deakin. These displays illustrated the Clun’s potential as an improving sire for hill breeds, and showcased the attributes of the impressive Clun Mule. In a thoughtful gesture to mark the occasion, Burwarton Show gifted each exhibitor a commemorative wooden magnet as a keepsake to mark the occasion.

By the close of the show, Paul and Lydia Murray had enjoyed a remarkable run of wins, taking multiple first places, the Breed Championship, and three major trophies. William Handley’s aged ram shone as Male Champion and Reserve Overall, while strong performances from all exhibitors ensured the ribbons were well spread across the classes.
​
Thanks must go to all those involved in making this such a special and memorable event. Special thanks to Burwarton Show for kindly hosting our National Show and not only accommodating the extra entries but also the display pens, the society gazebo and for the commemorative magnets. Thanks to the society staff, council members and volunteers who helped set up and take down the gazebo and who manned it all day to provide refreshments to members and spectators. Finally extra special thanks to all the exhibitors who supported the classes with such a strong entry of sheep. Your dedication and passion for the breed is what will ensure the breed has a bright future.


Full Results
Class 150 - Ram, 2 Shear and Over
🥇693 - William Handley
🥈343 - Abigail Collier
🥉711 - Steph Thackery

Class 151 - Shearling Ram
🥇667 - Paul and Lydia Murray
🥈313 - Anna Pennell
🥉314 - Anna Pennell
4th 1005 - Andrew Fisher
5th 694 - William Handley
6th 612 - Craig Phillips
7th 712 - Steph Thackery

Class 152 - Ram Lamb
🥇713 - Steph Thackery
🥈1006 - Andrew Fisher
🥉344 - Abigail Collier

Class 153 - Aged Ewe, reared a lamb in 2025
🥇668 - Paul and Lydia Murray
🥈1007 - Andrew Fisher
🥉695 - William Handley
4th 317 - Anna Pennell
5th 613 - Craig Phillips
6th 948 - Abigail Collier

Class 154 - Shearling Ewe
🥇669 - Paul and Lydia Murray
🥈1008 - Andrew Fisher
🥉614 - Craig Phillips
4th 318 - Anna Pennell
5th 670 - Paul and Lydia Murray
6th 697 - William Handley
7th 715 - Steph Thackery

Class 155 - Ewe Lamb
🥇320 - Anna Pennell
🥈1009 - Andrew Fisher
🥉376 - Emily John
4th 615 - Craig Phillips
5th 346 - Abigail Collier
6th 717 - Steph Thackery

Class 156 - Novice
🥇347 - Abigail Collier

Class 157 - Pairs
🥇671 - Paul and Lydia Murray
🥈699 - William Handley
🥉322 - Anna Pennell
4th 616 - Craig Phillips
5th 1010 - Andrew Fisher
6th 718 - Steph Thackery
7th 348 - Abigail Collier

Class 158 - Group of Three
🥇672 - Paul and Lydia Murray
🥈323 - Anna Pennell
🥉700 - William Handley
4th 1011 - Andrew Fisher
5th 617 - Craig Phillips
6th 719 - Steph Thackery
7th 949 - Abigail Collier

🏆Championship🏆
 
Male Champion - 693 - Aged Ram - William Handley

Female Champion - 668 - Aged Ewe - Paul and Lydia Murray

🏆Breed Champion - 668 - Aged Ewe - Paul and Lydia Murray

🏅Reserve Champion - 693 - Aged Ram - William Handley

Trophies

🏆The Boyle Perpetual Challenge Cup for Clun Forest Champion - Aged Ewe - Paul and Lydia Murray

🏆The McCartney Morris & Barker Perpetual Challenge Cup for Best Group of Clun Forest
- Paul and Lydia Murray

🏆The Geoff Bishop Perpetual Challenge Trophy for Interbreed Group of Three Champion - Paul and Lydia Murray with Clun Forest Group of Three

Commercial Cross Bred Breeding Lambs

Class 226 - Pair of Cross Bred Breeding Ewe Lambs
🥇325 - Anna Pennell - Clun Mule - Reserve Champion
🥈572 - Louis Jordan - Texel
🥉966 - Callum Preece - Texel X
4th 1048 - Charlotte Price - Texel X
5th 593 - Anthea Link - Suffolk X

Commercial Pure Bred Clun Forest Ewes & Breeding Ewe Lambs

Class 227 - Pair of Clun Forest Breeding Ewes
🥇618 - J G Williams & Son - Reserve Champion
🥈1049 - Charlotte Price
🥉951 - Brian Williams
4th 1045 - Margaret Deakin

Class 228 - Pair of Clun Forest Breeding Ewe Lambs
🥇1066 - Hannah Mason - Champion
🥈619 - J G Williams & Son
🥉952 - Brian Williams
4th 1046 - Margaret Deakin
5th 1050 - Charlotte Price

Congratulations to all our exhibitors who made the national show such a brilliant display of stock!

Judge Roger Williams with Paul, Lydia and Edith Murray with their Overall Champion Age Ewe and William Handley with his Reserve Champion Aged Ram.

William Handley with his Male Champion and Reserve Overall Champion Aged Ram, Lyncraft Griffin.

1st Prize Shearling Ram Inside Hype Hubert from Paul & Lydia Murray

1st Prize Ram Lamb from Steph Thackery of the Hayton Flock.

Overall Champion, Female Champion and 1st Prize Aged Ewe, Inside Hype Gwen from Paul and Lydia Murray.

1st Prize Shearling Ewe from Paul & Lydia Murray.

1st Prize Ewe lamb from Anna Pennell of the Nipna Flock.

1st Prize Matching Pairs (both shearling ewes) from Paul & Lydia Murray.

Interbreed Group of Three (two shearling ewes and a shearling ram) from Paul & Lydia Murray.

Pair of Clun Mule Ewe Lambs from Anna Pennell which won Reserve Champion in Cross Bred Breeding Ewe Lambs Section.

Anna Pennell's Reserve Champion Pair of Cross Bred Breeding Ewe Lambs and a trio of Clun Mule Ewes.

Reserve Champion Pair of Clun Forest Ewes in the Commercial Section from John Williams.

---