NEWS FROM THE BLUES 2020 N1 Whinnyhall 12,000gns N1 Hewgill £30,000 N24 Marriforgh £30,000 2020... the year that was... www.blueleicester.co.uk e: [email protected] t: 01228 598022 Deadline Reminder This is a reminder to all Members of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association who have lambs to register this year. All Lamb Registrations Should be returned back to the Association Office for inclusion in the Flock Book by 31st December, 2020. You can either complete the Registration form that was sent to you at the time you ordered your Association Tags or you can do your registrations on line on the Grassroots Database. If you require another copy of your form or your passcode for the database please do not hesitate to contact the Office and we will issue these for you. *Please remember if you do not return your registrations on time you will not appear in the Flock Book and you will not be issued with Association Tags for next year’s lambs until your paperwork is up to date www.blueleicester.co.uk 1 FROM THE Chairman Successful Sales and Zoom Meetings As I sit down to write this report after several reminders from Helen, it is difficult to know where to begin! Covid 19 is still headline news and nothing much else seems newsworthy so I will just make the comment that I hope things are a lot better next year and that some common sense will prevail! On a farming front lambing time weather was not I must also thank Helen and Rachael for their too bad after a wet start and lambs seem to have dedication keeping the office running through thrived this year. Trade for fat lambs and breeding lockdown as well as working from home and Helen sheep has been significantly dearer than last year for keeping me right on Zoom meetings which by the but they are just where they need to be as everything way I’d never heard of! else seems to get more expensive! It was obviously very disappointing not to have any shows to promote I hope next year we will be able to have proper stock and catch up with friends but hopefully next meetings and move on from this unprecedented time. year things will be a little better. I hope that everyone bought the tup they wanted, it’s Following on from the breeding sheep the tup sales the best one they have ever had and lambing time is duly arrived and trade seems to have been up at most good. if not all centres with good correct tups of both types making a premium. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year A huge thanks must go to all of the auction companies for the effort and money they put in to ensure that the sales could go ahead in a safe and socially distant environment with live steaming and online bidding Melvin Ridley available. Association Chairman 2 www.blueleicester.co.uk President’s Report 2019 has, for me, been a year of mixed emotions, surmounted by the invitation from the Welsh Region to take up the position of President of the Blue Faced Leicester Sheep THE BUSINESS BREED Breeders’ Association. This was an invitation that I accepted readily, and regarded it as the highest honour in my lifetime with the Leicesters, with winning the breed DELIVERING championship at the Royal Welsh Show in 1996 adding to that honour. After the May AGM , with lambing safely over, there was I am pleased that some of the questions asked at UNRIVALLED HYBRID VIGOUR I PROLIFICACY I MILKING ABILITY a very full programme of regional events, shows and previous AGMs have now been answered in part by sales ahead. I pledged my support to the “team” at the the appointment of a Vice Chairman for the Breed head of our Association, and have done my utmost to Development committee and I know that Derek Hall, carry this out. will work alongside current Chairman Myrfyn Roberts, and together they will bring forward more forcibly My diary for the 2019 reads like a travelogue of train to the mule societies the necessity for a quality Blue times and accommodation all over the country, from Faced Leicester to enhance their work and that of our Okehampton in Devon to Thurso in the very north of Association. Scotland being about as far north as a train will (or will not!) travel; the latter being only a bus ride away from Another area to which the focus of my attention John O’ Groats, and YES, a bus did go there! I would is drawn is the wool. Knitting wool shops are now add that on arrival I walked into a gift shop only to stocking this as a pure wool, but from my walks around find that it is run by an ex-policeman and his wife from the showgrounds amongst the craft workers and the very village where I now live!! The tales of these outlets I have learned that there is huge demand for an journeys and experiences are many and varied, some of expansion of the supply of our wool to mix with others them nearly exhausting even my sense of humour. The in the production of garments, blankets and “throws”. friendship, support and “taxi driving” during this time I had on my personal spring 2020 agenda, thwarted from many, many members has been amazing, and I by Covid, a plan to visit mills with a view to discussing thank you all for this. the weaving of a bolt of tweed solely from Bluefaced Leicester wool. This is now “on hold” for another day. A record of events has been clearly laid out in the regional reports for the past 18 months, which is where I cannot conclude without singling out the following, we are now, to which I have little to add. The sales for which I am sure you will forgive me. James Porter figures for the two seasons are there for all to see and has, in 2020, been awarded, by the NSA, the T.I. Allinson draw conclusions as to where the Association is heading, Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to the the most important factor being that QUALITY will sell. Sheep Industry in the North of England. This speaks This lies in the hands of the vendors, who are in charge for itself, and we all join in congratulation to James. It of the standard and good name of this Association. has been so good to see James during 2019, at Penrith Show in particular, enjoying his time on the Bluefaced I have seen the cream of the breed around the shows, stand. particularly the Progeny Shows. Listening, learning and watching the progress of breeding programmes at Unknown to many, Matt and Elaine Drummond have these events has been an education in itself, including been responsible, for the past 15 years, for the design the “crossing” rings at the sales, and yes, Hawes. It and production of the “Looking Ahead” and Autumn would seem that we are never too old to learn! Review magazines for the Association, for updating the website, and for the logo “The Vital Piece” which It is known that the Lower Down flock has always bred was designed to coincide with the 50th year of the “traditional” Leicesters. In 1977 we were looking for Association. Through pressure of other commitments a suitable cross to put on to our Clun Forest sheep, they are now handing this work over to a renewed possibly needing something to enhance the quality source and I cannot stress our gratitude to them for the of that breed. I would add that Lower Down is 4 miles time and effort put in for all the work involved so that from Clun! A Clun breeder in north Herefordshire had we are all kept informed of the work of our Association. worked this out, and in company with Joe Raine and Bill Thank you very much on behalf of us all. Wearmouth we visited her flock, which helped to make up our minds that this would suit us. Off we went to So... this pandemic rages on, and the outcome is still Carlisle, bought a tup and three shearling ewes, and so unknown. It amazes me that the farming community life began, although when the first ewe brought a black has not (yet!) been blamed for Covid 19. The “B” word is lamb I wondered what had happened, and blamed our rearing its head again – another unknown, this time for neighbour’s tup!! Undaunted, the following year we the farming community in particular. I thank you all for bought a further three shearlings, and the rest is, as the opportunities and fun I have enjoyed over the past they say, history. I was “given” this nucleus flock and 18 months, keep faith in what you all do best, above thus began my passion for this breed with all its ups all keep safe, and continue to support the work of our and downs. Association. Mrs Jackie Williams www.blueleicester.co.uk 3 THE BUSINESS BREED DELIVERING UNRIVALLED HYBRID VIGOUR I PROLIFICACY I MILKING ABILITY OFFICE NEWS Registration Forms If you have not already returned your completed 2021 Subscriptions / Members Details registration form to the Office, then please do so st The Annual Subscription for the Association remains at by 31 December… £25.00. This is normally collected by Standing Order on the 1st working day of the new year.