Southdown member George Anstie has had considerable success not just in the show ring, but also on the sheep lines where he goes to great lengths to educate the public, often winning the ‘Best Pen’ competitions.

Judges new and not-so-new gathered at the farm of Patrick Goldsworthy, Grafham, Cambridgeshire, in early November for a hands-on session and an opportunity for discussion and sharing opinions and good practice.

Shearling ram Fulfen Fabio from Emily Yates took the day’s top price at the Southdown Sheep Society’s second sale of the season at Melton Mowbray.

It was a record-breaking day at the Southdown Sheep Society’s Premier Sale, Worcester, on Saturday (3rd August) when Chaileybrook His Nibs 24/02116 topped the sale and set a new breed ram lamb record at 2000gns.

The fledgling Southdown Young Breeders Group staged its first event at the end of October, with young people from across the midlands and southern England gathering in Lincolnshire to learn the art of preparing Southdowns for show and sale and also the fundamentals of judging sheep.

The 2024 National Southdown Show will take place at the Royal Bath & West Show on Thursday May 30th.

A trio of new centre record were established at the Southdown Sheep Society’s Premier Sale, Worcester, in early August, with new marks set for shearling rams, ram lambs and shearling ewes, with a number of relatively new and young breeders making their mark.

As breeders we all have our red lines when it comes to selecting replacement stock or placing animals in classes at shows.

Our President Graham Ryves-Webb recommends the writings of Barclay Wills to all Southdown enthusiasts