Flock Competition, 2008

Judge: H. George Hughes, M.B.E.

CLASS A   Flock of 40 ewes or over
Winner is awarded the Berkhampstead Rose Bowl and £15
   
 1st M. F. & G. Sprake
 2nd D.S. & P. Humphrey
   
 CLASS B  Flock of 10 - 39 ewes
Winner is awarded the Gaddesden Trophy and £15
   
 1st D. G. & M. Y. Crundwell
 2nd J. & S. Hutley
 3rd Miriam Parker
 Res. J. Mark Hawtin
   
 CLASS C  NOVICE Competition, not to have won a first prize
Winner is awarded the Frank Grantham Trophy and £15
 1st Lesley Mead
 2nd S. Gennings
3rd  A. Glaves
 Res. Hazel Hobbs
   
Tufton Beamish Trophy to the Champion Flock:
D. G. & M. Y. Crundwell
Reserve: M. F. & G. Sprake 
 
  Hobgen Salver for the best intake of shearling ewes
Miranda Wallace
 
 Miller Hallett Trophy for the best ewe lambs
Lesley Mead and D. G. & M. Y. Crundwell
 
Paynter Wool Trophy for the flock with the best wool
Lesley Mead  
 
 Noakes Trophy for the best three lambs of each sex,
sired by a named ram, present and shown
D. G. & M. Y. Crundwell
 
The Jim Cresswell Trophy for the best ram or group of rams
M. F. & G. Sprake  
 

All trophies to be awarded at the Southdown Sheep Society Field Day 2009. Trophies to be held for one year.

Name   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  Noakes
Trophy		  Total  Position
in Class
 CLASS A                      
 M. F. & G. Sprake  24  24  25  12  12  8  56  35  90  196  1st
 D.S. & P. Humphrey  23  20  24  12  12  7  56  30    184  2nd
                       
 CLASS B                      
 D. G. & M. Y. Crundwell  26  26  26  12  12  8  54  37  92  201  1st
 J. & S. Hutley  26  24  24  11  11  7  53  36    193  2nd
 Miriam Parker  25  23  28  10  12  8  54  32    192  3rd
 Mark Hawtin  23  20  25  10  10  6  52  35    181  4th
                       
 CLASS C                      
 Lesley Mead  24  22  24  10  13  8  52  37    190  1st
 S. Gennings  26  20  24  12  10  7  52  35    186  2nd
 Antony Glaves  26  20  26  10  8  5  56  31    182  3rd
 Hazel Hobbs  20  20  22  12  10  8  53  35    180  4th
 A & C. Brown  21  16  27  12  10  7  56  30  86  179  5th
 Miranda Wallace  22  22  24  13  10  7  50  30    178  6th
 R. & A. Day  22  20  24  12  10  8  52  30    178  6th
 Nic Attwell  21  20  25  12  10  7  49  30    174  8th
 David Burden  20  18  20  12  11  7  45  30    163  9th

Breakdown of Points awarded

 A  size & quality /30
 B  Uniformity /30
 C  health & management /30
 D  intake of shearling ewes /15
 E  wool /15
 F  colour /10
 G  rams /60
 H  ewe lambs /40
 Noakes Trophy  3 ewe lambs & 3 ram lambs sire by a named ram and shown /100

Dear All,

I would like to thank everyone for their kind hospitality. I was welcomed everywhere I went and was sorry that there was not enough time to stay longer with those of you I visited.

It has been 25 years since I last had the honour of judging the Southdown Flock Competition and I have to say that in that time flock ewes especially have improved considerably in both size and quality.

I was most impressed with the very high standard of the stud rams being used - something that will ensure the continued improvement of the Southdown breed.

I would like to make particular mention of those dedicated flock owners who have to travel a considerable distance to manage their flocks when they are not on the home holding, it is never easy when sheep are in fields in several different places.

Class C was a challenge - in the Novice class of the competition flocks ranged from very small to those of several hundred and it is not easy to judge these against each other. I shall be commenting on this to Council in an attempt to address this.

I must make mention of Irving Pallister who so kindly acted as my driver for much of my travels; it made the long journeys much more enjoyable and I would like to thank him very sincerely for giving up his time to help.

And finally, my thanks to all of you who took part in this year's Flock Competition and my congratulations to the winners.

Yours sincerely,
H George Hughes MBE,
Competition Judge
November, 2008