Shows 2003

Shropshire & West Midlands Show 2003

Alexander Griffiths champion young handler with his ram lamb, Caspar

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Cheshire Show 2003

Mr.Norman Read with his Champion & Reserve Champion
"George", Winner of Ram Class (all photos by Mrs. Chris Rhead)

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Southof England Show 2003

(Picture by courtesy of Farmers Weekly)

The Harmer family - Gussie, Woody and Liz - with H.R.H The Prince of Wales at the South of England Show

Judge Robert Backshall

Mrs. Sharon Pond, owner of the Champion Southdown, being introduced to HRH The Prince of Wales

Sharon Pond's Group of Three at the South of England Show

For more photographs from the South of England Show, click here

South of England Agricultural Society honours the Secretary

Clive Pritchard, the Secretary of the Southdown Sheep Society, was honoured by the Show Authorities at the South of England Show at Ardingly, Sussex on Thursday to Saturday, the 5th to 7th June, 2003, after 31 years as a Steward in the Sheep Section.

The Society awarded him a shooting stick, which was presented to him in the Main Ring after the Cattle Parade on Thursday the 5th June, 2003 by Mr. George Norris, the General Manager of the National Westminster Bank plc.

In addition, the Stewards, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Adam Brown, with Mrs. Claire Hastings and Mr. David Craig, the Joint Chief Stewards, gave him lunch on Friday the 6th June.

Mrs. Claire Hastings with Mr. Clive Pritchard

Also on Thursday, he presented the rosettes and trophies in the Southdown section of the Show, including the first presentation of the Sheila Colman Trophy for the winner of the Shearling Ewe class.

Mrs Susan Harmer of Messrs Wakeham-Dawson & Harmer receiving the first award of the Sheila Colman Trophy for the winning Shearling Ewe. Presented to her by Mr Clive Pritchard, Secretary of the Southdown Sheep Society. Also in the photograph is her daughter, Gussie

He also had the honour of being presented first on Thursday to HRH The Princess Alexandra, and on Friday to HRH The Prince of Wales, to whom he gave a Southdown tie.

HRH Princess Alexandra talking to Clive Pritchard, with Mr. Adam Brown and Mr. David Craig

HRH The Prince of Wales shaking hands with Clive Pritchard, Secretary of the Southdown Sheep Society at the 2003 South of England Show. Also present Mr. Adam Brown.

The Secretary wishes to thank all those who made this memorable occasion possible.

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Stafford Show

Judge: Mrs Sharon Pond

Champion & Reserve: J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor

Results Shearling ram  1st 2nd Mrs. C. Rhead J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor Shearling ewe 1st 2nd 3rd 4th J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor Mrs. C. Rhead Mrs. L.P. Griffiths Ewe lamb 1st 2nd 3rd J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor Mrs. L.P. Griffiths Ram lamb 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor Mrs. L.P. Griffiths Mrs. L.P. Griffiths K. Stickels K. Stickels Group of Three Animals 1st Mrs. C. Rhead Champion & Reserve J.F.C. & B.D. Taylor

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Suffolk Show, 2003

SOUTHDOWN BEATS THE SUFFOLKS AT HOME

I am sure that members will be interested and delighted to hear that Show reserve supreme champion in the Interbreed class was awarded to Gail Sprake’s Southdown Ram Lamb by judge Mr G Smith from Godalming.

Gail Sprake, daughter Ellie with Southdown Ram Lamb the Reserve Supreme Champion of the Suffolk Show

Coming second to the winning Hampshire Down submitted by Jim Cresswell was an accolade indeed but most important, and for the first time for many years at the Suffolk Show, the Supreme and Reserve Champion were not from the county’s home breed. Indeed the Suffolk although well represented could not match the quality of the Hampshire and Southdown.

Southdown meat in the right places. Gail Sprake with her Interbreed Reserve Supreme Champion ram lamb at the 2003 Suffolk Show.

Gail had already won the first prize for the Ram Lamb in the Southdown class, taken first with her ram of any age (two shear), first with her Ewe Lamb, first with a Ewe of any age having reared lambs in 2003; then went on to pick up the special Champion Best Exhibit prize offered by the Society.

Jonathan Long’s group of three in the interbreed classes, Gail Sprake’s entry in the background.

Also pictured in the ring with Gail is Jonathan Long’s entry for Group of three in the interbreed classes, which won second place behind the Texel entry from T & J Prentice. Jonathan was also awarded firsts for his Southdown shearling ram and his shearling ewe.

Results (Judge: Mrs. Sue Thomson)

SUFFOLK SHOW 2003
From the Eastern Daily Press, 30th May 2003

A RARE TRIUMPH
Rare Breed enthusiast Gail Sprake had one of her most successful shows against top sheep breeds.

Since she started the pedigree flock of Southdown ewes almost 18 years ago, it has grown to be one of the largest in East Anglia. Mrs Sprake, who was elected to the breed society's ruling Council saw a home bred ram lamb take the championship. It was awarded the reserve supreme inter breed title

"This has been our best show. To have a rare breed like a Southdown take the reserve supreme inter breed is a great achievement", said Mrs Sprake of Meens Farm, All Saints, near Haleston.

Mrs Sprake can sell all her ewe lambs and ewes without too much difficulty: "Our flock is building a good reputation and I think many people are starting to appreciate the advantages of the breed. Although it is still on the Rare Breed Survival Trust's priority list, numbers are holding steady."

Mrs Sprake won four of the six first prizes in the Southdowns including the mature ewe class and the ewe and ram lamb classes.

Younger daughter Ellie, who turned 14 last month, was runner up in the senior section of the young handlers' class

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KENILWORTH SHOW 2003

Any other Native Breeds included the following Southdowns -
Shearling ram: 2nd Joan Hayes, 4th Norman Read, 5th John Goode
Shearling ewe: 1st Norman Read, 2nd Joan Hayes, 5th Gerald Hayes
Ram lamb: 3rd Joan Hayes, 4th John Goode, 5th Norman Read
Ewe lamb: 2nd John Goode, 3rd Norman Read, 5th Joan Hayes
Group: 1st Norman Read
Champion Female: Norman Read
Reserve Overall Champion: Norman Read

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SOUTHDOWN SUCCESS at the 2003 HERTFORDSHIRE SHOW

On the first Day - Saturday - Southdown sheep were in the British Down Breeds. Basil Cooper had one FIRST; Lesley Mead had two SECONDS, a THIRD and a SIXTH; Daniel Bunting had two FIRSTS.
Basil Cooper's ram was the Down Breed Interbreed Champion and was the reserve for the Overall Champion.
On the Second Day - Sunday - at the Rare Breeds Show, Basil Cooper had a FIRST; Lesley Mead had two SECONDS; Daniel Bunting had one FIRST.
Basil Cooper's ram was the RBST Champion and the Supreme Champion of the Show.

If we could get two or three more exhibitors we could ask for Southdown classes for 2004

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SURREY COUNTY SHOW 2003

26th May - Judge: Paul Wakeham-Dawson

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Click here to go to shows that have classes suitable for Southdowns

This document maintained by rutinum@aol.com.
Material Copyright © 2002 The Southdown Sheep Society