4 minute read
Five nations weekend success
Five Nations weekend returns
More than 50 young Texel enthusiasts from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales gathered in Wales in early July for the Youth Development Programme’s Five Nations weekend.
The event for those with an interest in the breed aged 18-35 saw participants visit a number of leading flocks, including Cefin Pryce and family’s Caerienion flock, the Bennett family’s Plasucha flock and Willy Davis and Paul Rowlands’ Usk Vale flock, viewing top quality stock and taking part in a number of challenges and competitions along the way.
Society YDP coordinator Ailish Ross said the weekend had been a huge success, with participants travelling from all five nations to meet and learn from some of the UK’s leading flocks. “Following an enforced break due to Covid-19 the Five Nations weekend once again proved terrifically popular with young Texel breeders and everyone who came will have gone away with new friends and new knowledge to put in to practice at home,” she said.
Friday 1st July saw the first flock visit to the Bennett family’s Plasucha flock, a flock renowned for the quality of its females and having produced the first prize ewe lamb at the Royal Highland Show just a week beforehand.
This visit saw the youngsters pit their wits at stock judging with four classes, Texel shearling ewes, Texel ram lambs, Texel ewe lambs and Bluefaced Leicester shearling rams, being judged and Steve Smith of the Penparc flock acting as master judge. Taking top spot here was Isle of Manbased Kirree Kermode, with second place going to Scottish breeder Jordan Green. The Society thanks the Bennett family for their generosity in donating prizes, with Kirree winning semen from the 75,000gns Sportsmans Express and Jordan’s prize being semen from another Plasucha flock stock ram of his choice.
Saturday morning saw the event visit Cefin Pryce and family’s Caereinion flock at Welshpool, with this flock noted for producing high performance shearling rams which are regularly among the top sellers at both the Welsh National Sale and the Main NSA Ram Sale, Builth Wells.
More than 50 youngsters made the trip to Wales for the Five Nations Weekend.
Stock judging underway at Plasucha. Master judge Steve Smith Penparc, Kirree Kermode, YDP committee member, and the Bennett family and shepherd Peter Stubbs, Plasucha.
Visitors viewing stock at Usk Vale. Competition got visitors in a spin at some points.
Willy Davis and Sophia Chambers, Usk Vale, receive gifts from YDP committee members Winning the Drumgooland shield were the Northern Irish team.
Second spot went to a combined team from Northern Ireland and Wales Third placed team was the England C team.
For more on the Society’s Youth Development Programme and members success this summer scan here:
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Kirree Kermode was on winning form here too, leading the way in the competition to guess the weight of a pen of three shearling rams, hitting the nail on the head with the exact weight of 362kg.
This venue also saw the participants take part in a Rugby obstacle course, collecting points for their national teams.
And the final visit of the weekend was to the Usk Vale flock, with a trio of competitions adding points to their team’s totals. This included a tote bag sack race, a Texel themed quiz and a water game.
Miss Ross said all three visits had been excellent and showcased some of the very best Texels in UK. “The three hosts had put a lot of work in to the visits and are to be thanked for their superb hospitality and willingness to open their gates and share their knowledge with these keen young people.”
Winning the team competition and with it the Five Nations Drumgooland Shield was the Northern Ireland team of David Chestnutt, Jack Gault, Ryan Greene, Stewart Ferris and Peter Stubbs.
Then in second was a mixed team made up of Northern Irish and Welsh members; Robbie Foster, Nathan Armstrong, James Herdman, Bethan Jones and Aled Davies and in third was the England C team of Kirree Kermode, Richard Crookall, Chris Cornthwaite, Robert Mason and Daniel Clarke.
The winning team received a prize of sheep feed generously provided by Bibby Agriculture, with others sponsors supporting the weekend, including AB Europe, Clinwil Nutrition Services, Farmgene, Halls Auctioneers, JG Animal Health, McCartneys and Welshpool Livestock Sales.
