The Southdown Sheep Society was invited to attend the French National Southdown Show at the Sommet de L’élevage, Clermont-Ferrand in early Autumn. This show marked the 170th anniversary of the Southdown breed in France, and Council accepted the French breeders’ invitation to send two judges to the French National Show: Howard Wood and Jonathan Long.

Howard Wood & Jonathan Long judging the Southdown class

Camaraderie and cooperation were to the fore at the French National Southdown Show staged for the first time at Sommet de L’élevage, Clermont-Ferrand.

Held to mark the 170th anniversary of the Southdown breed being in France, a date taken from the appearance at the Paris Exhibition of 1855 where Jonas Webb’s sheep were on display and a ram was presented to Emperor Napoleon III.

That said, the 1936 publication ‘The Southdown Sheep’ records the first flock of Southdowns being established in France by Le Comte de Buille in 1827.

Representing the Society and judging the classes at Sommet de L’élevage were Howard Wood of the Prescoed flock and Jonathan Long of the Chaileybrook flock.

Commenting on the experience the duo said the welcome from their French colleagues had been second to none. “A more enthusiastic group of Southdown breeders it would be hard to meet. From the moment we arrived, to the moment we left they wanted to talk about nothing but Southdowns and how the breed compares in the two countries.

“Such was the enthusiasm for our presence that we invited to join all the breeders for lunch ahead of judging along with a drinks reception afterwards to mark the occasion. “The passion for the breed and the dedication shown by our French colleagues to enhance the quality of their flocks and ensure its commercial appeal is admirable. “What was most notable though was the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation between the breeders. Everyone was united in their efforts to further the breed and promote it to the wider French sheep industry.”

Importantly, recent years have seen a number of new breeders establish pedigree flocks, helping widen both the geographical and, in time, the genetic spread within the country.Jonathan Long said: “Having been visiting France to see Southdowns for more than 30 years I was expecting a high standard of sheep and those expectations were realised from the first class to the last.

“In both the male and female classes we found sheep which would have done well in both the show and sales rings in the UK. The width and depth of loin in most was tremendous, with length, size and breed characteristics matching the muscling.”

Howard Wood added: “We found our overall champion in a shearling ewe from relatively new breeders ‘Ferme de Cheni’. She was an outstanding animal, correct in every way, with a superb top and end, alongside great breed character. Our male champion and reserve overall was an aged ram from Benoit Poillot and family. This was another great example of the breed, with superb structure and a great body. Interestingly, his full brother won the shearling ram class and was reserve male champion. Having not seen Southdowns in France previously, this was a great experience and I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet French breeders and see their sheep first hand. There is no doubt the breed has a bright future in France.”

Jonathan Long Howard Wood