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Super Season for the Clun Forest

28/7/2022

Huge success for the Clun Forest
As July comes to a close although it’s not quite over so hopefully more to add, it’s good to reflect what a phenomenal few weeks it has been for the Clun Forest Sheep at the shows. They have featured in Interbreed line-ups show after show and credit must go to those members who are out there across the country getting the breed seen.
This weeks Farmers Guardian sees both Mike Eckley Reserve Lowland interbreed champion at the Royal Welsh and Anna Pennells’ Reserve supreme at the Great Yorkshire in the press. These two are just the tip of the iceberg with Interbreed success (Ch or res etc) this year so far at

Mid Devon
Aldborough and Boroughbridge
Royal Welsh
Great Yorkshire Show
Penrith
Royal Norfolk Show
Royal Bath & West
Royal Three Counties
North Somerset

We are sure there are more to come but it just goes to show the Clun Forest Sheep can compete on all levels against all breeds - smart and stylish

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Royal Welsh 2022

24/7/2022

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At a sun baked Llanelwedd the temperature was set to get even higher with some of the best Clun sheep in the land going head to head. With the classes filed with the best quality sheep for many years, that included animals that had won Interbreed honours at the Royal Three Counties, Royal Norfolk and Great Yorkshire Shows in 2022. So the Judge, Jean Ritchie formally of the Parkstock Flock was well qualified to adjudicate with 20 Royal Welsh Clun Championships to her name.

The Aged Ram Class was won by Mike Eckley with his powerful 3 Shear Ram , Aber-Rheon Charlie, who was bred by Monty Davies and had won the Ram Lamb Class at the last Royal Welsh in 2019. The Shearling Ram Class was taken by Anna Pennell & Nipna Earl, who is out of the legendary Wrotham Sharon, the only Clun to win the Supreme at the Royal Welsh back in 2018. The Ram Lamb Class was won by a typically smart lamb from I.T.Davies, who also won the Group of 3 class. In the Female Section it was a very strong 4 shear ewe from Anna Pennell with a very smart Aber-Rheon bred 2 shear ewe from Gwawr Llewelyn Hughes a close second. The Shearling ewe Class was incredibly strong with Andrew Fishers winner from the Great Norfolk taking the red again followed closely by Mike Eckley with Court-Llacca Edna second. Again the ewe lamb class oozed quality with 2 new breeders leading the class. the First Prize went to a lovely lamb from Richard Whitticase of Churchstoke with a respectable second going to Gwawr Llewelyn Hughes of Caernafon.

The Male Championship was eventually taken by Mike Eckley and Charlie with the judge describing him as very correct and great breed type, with Nipna Earl and Anna Pennell taking the reserve slot. The Anna also took the Female Championship with her aged ewe repeating her Great Yorkshire success from the previous week; with Andrew Fishers powerful Shearling ewe taking the reserve place. Mrs Ritchie then awarded the Overall Championship to Mike Eckley's ram and the Reserve to Anna Pennells ewe.

The following day saw Mike Eckley repeating his 2016 success by taking the coveted Reserve Native Lowland Interbreed Sash coming behind the eventually Supreme Show Champion. The last day saw Messers Eckley & Pennell being shortlisted from the 42 breeds forward for the Interbreed Pairs but there was no ticket this time.