Come And Meet Us at Malvern - Countrytastic 12 April 2012

Over the last few years we have attended Countrytastic at the Three Counties Showground Malvern www.threecounties.co.uk  This is a day for children with many hands-on activities and also meeting and chatting to farmers.  We are going to take along Dot and her baby boy Billy-Jo, see the photo, he is so cute!  Steve will also take some of the Ryelands and will be there to talk about sheep and give a clipping demonstration.  This is a brilliant day out for the children and also the grown-ups.  The theme this year is Dairy and there will be the opportunity to see cows being milked.  Hope to see you there.

Crufts - the greatest dog show in the world

On Friday it was gundog day at Crufts and eagerly awaited here at Oakberrow.  Unfortunately we could only take Gin as Foster is docked and therefore not eligible to compete at Crufts. 

Gin was entered in the Picker up class in the Gamekeepers section but did not win anything in that class - however the rest of the day improved.  In the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla Breed classes under breed specialist Sheila Gray, Gin and her daughters did really well.   First of all Ginger Lillie Around Oakberrow owned by Yvonne was a creditable 2nd in a huge class (post graduate), followed by Incahoots at Galicar owned by Jo Cairns who won the Limit class.  Mum was next to compete in the top class - Open and the judge awarded here a 5th place in this good sized class.

We then went back to the Gamekeepers classes where Gin together with Smartie and Lily were entered in the Team for Madresfield Shoot - so Steve, Jan and Sue got themselves ready and looked a very well matched team and we were over the moon winning 3rd place in tough competition. 

After what was a very long day we then made our way wearily back to the car but delighted with our day at Crufts.

Lambs, lambs and more lambs

Yes, here it is as I said earlier photos of some of the lambs.  They are all of texel lambs at the moment.  The first Ryeland lambed 2 days ago and they are still in the Lambing barn and will go out shortly.  I will take a photo then when they are looking their best running around and playing.  So far on Ryelands - 2 ewes lambed and we have 3 lambs - 2 boys and 1 girl and Nimrod is the dad.

The next big batch will be the Ryelands when they will be lambing over the weekend 11 and 12 February, however as with mother nature they will only arrive then they are ready, however you have to be prepared.  Steve still has some dates available for lambing courses, so get in touch.

Oakberrow Wotzinaname ShCM

Great news - Foster has been awarded his Show Certificate of Merit and can have ShCM after his name.  Even better is that the lad has done this since October attending the Open shows and his number of Best of Breeds, Group Placings have very quickly added up to the 25 points required.  I am very proud of him.  As you can see from the photos he is proud as well.

Today sees the end of the shooting season and the dogs will miss their days out.  Foster will not be able to attend Crufts, as a docked dog he cannot enter so will be a 'dock and denied' dog.  Seems stupid really as he has a life qualification for Crufts, even more is that he would not even be able to enter the Gamekeepers classes at Crufts.  Anyway that is the law at the moment.

Lambs have arrived!

Exactly at midnight on Sunday the first lambs arrived.   The first was a texel who produced twins and then closely followed by 5 more texels.  I also have Camilla who is a Ryeland dad and Suffolk mule mum, who this year went to the Texel and Camilla had twins.  Princess who is another daughter of Duchy (the Suffolk mule) but to a texel ram, also had twins and for the first time ewe lambs.  Don't tell Steve but I intend to keep one of these!  The first Ryeland is due on 31 January - but they normally lamb a few days later than anticipated.  Dot and Willow, the Greyfaced Dartmoors are also due to lamb soon with the other 4 towards the end of February.

Pictures of the lambs to follow.