Fleece and field - all baled up.

Watching the rain fall this morning, with a warm glow of satisfaction, as we got the hay in last night. A good day of hot sun yesterday, burnt off fridays' rainfall, and I mustered help from local friends to lighten the load.
We've only one alpaca left to shear now, and we'll do that before this weeks heatwave, then we can get on with a few matings. Following shearing, the herd have gone from the cuddly 'fluffy teddy-bear' look, to animals of elegance and grace.

Scrumpy, before;

Scrumpy, after;

Apple Vale Golden Delicious, with her cria, Flamenco - both just shorn;

Florina, Fiesta, Elstar and Fortune, post-shearing;

"Give me a couple of seconds" - Royal Bath & West Show 2015

Apple Vale Fortune sire: CCNF Talon of C.M.E

The Royal Bath &; West Show was the location for the South West Alpaca Group (SWAG) 2015 show. We had been given a new location on the site, not quite on the fringe as before, but without the large canvas marquee that had housed all the pens and the show-ring in previous years, provided by the show Society. This had given the organiser Di Davies several challenges, particularly in terms of layout, shelter and economics. Assisted by our Chairman, Mark Steele, a plan was hatched, modest marquees were purchased by SWAG, and breeders were encouraged from far and wide to show their pedigree alpacas, 180 in total - some travelled from Wales, East Anglia, the Home Counties, and Cornwall - a tribute to the status of the show in the alpaca breeders calender, and to the tenacity and hard work of Di, Mark and others.

I had been 'invited' to be part of the set-up team, erecting the marquees, setting-out animal pens and other stuff necessary to put on a livestock show - I assumed that I had been invited partly due to my well-honed physique, muscular and lean (pot-belly excepted), the body I wished I had twenty years ago, and belying my true age - a physique gained from the outdoor life that comes with alpaca farming - it was a chance to refresh the skills learned in the Scouts, and for male bonding - I was led to believe that the team would be 'strong, mobile, fast, multi-talented and a charismatic group of volunteers' - I wanted to be part of that - we were lured by the possibility of 'some general all-in wrestling in order to warm up' - we were enticed to think of the 'satisfaction, pride and camaraderie...but that tears may be spilt at the end' - I was prepared to take the rough with the smooth. What I hadn't considered, was that the day before we were to assemble, I was struck by a stomach virus that hit full force the night before, and there was no way I could be more than 5 metres from a lavatory for the next 36 hours.

Fortunately, it was all over by the days I was showing alpacas in the ring, and I was able to fulfill my committment to help with the breakdown of marquees and stacking hurdles on the final day - hopefully Mark's suggestion of 'Squitty Dave' as a nickname won't last.......

On Day One, rain arrived along with those of us arriving in the morning - it became torrential for a while - the gazebo had been water-proofed and so most of the rain ran off quite well, but the rain was so heavy that a fine spray was forced through - fortunately, I had brought our battery-driven cooling fans, and we were able to dry off the alpacas. Greys and blacks were judged inside the marquee - a cosy, but damp affair. The rain disappeared, so that by the time the browns were showing, the show went outside. . We then had a junior brown female (Apple Vale Florina) with a lovely soft, fine fleece, in a class of 4 entries, however, disappointingly she was the only one turn up on the day. She was awarded second place, which I understood, as her fleece is lacking in character and density, but was disappointed that in summing-up the judge placed more emphasis on the negative than the positive traits, of which there are several - hey,ho - she was literally, 'second to none'. We then had a junior fawn male, followed by a junior fawn female in the ring, both of whom have reasonable but not stunning fleeces, and we weren't surprised to pick up rosettes near the poorer end of the line.

Moved up to second place...but will we stay there?

Day Two dawned with better weather in prospect. Apple Vale Fortune found himself in a class of ten, of which all turned up! Great, a real competitive class. We were in the middle of the line-up - they enter from youngest to oldest, and he was in the middle of the age range. After the first round of assessment, the judge started to sort into placings - we were moved up into second place, but I thought this was an 'approximate' place and was ready to be shuffled back a bit. I was flabbergasted to find that was our final place, and Fortune was awarded second place in a class of ten. RESULT!

What a difference a 'couple of seconds' can make!

Yess! second place rosette being presented by apprentice judge Jo Bridge.

Further to my summary of the Devon County Show, we did find that possibly the best place to get a mobile 'phone signal, is in the show-ring! well at least that was true for Andy.........perhaps his white coat improved reception!

Having, cleared away our pens and pitch, taking coffe cups to the bins, I was amazed at how many more coffee cups I found when clearing out the car and trailer at home.

Now the come down - showing is over for us this year - four hectic weeks in May...now we must concentrate on shearing and matings.

With thanks to Scott Stevens for the photographs.

Devon County Show (or, 'colour changes, a mobile 'phone call, and a missing ball'.

On thursday and friday, we got up at 4.45, and were on site by 7.00 as required - fortunately I discovered a jammed trailer brake on wednesday night, so sorted it out with some fine adjustment with a mallet. We are all lured to the show at 'ridiculous-o'clock', by the Full English Breakfast served in the show canteen, and it is worth it. The weather was fabulous, being quite hot between cloudy spells on both days. Several colour changes, from brown to fawn and fawn to light gave the stewards some headaches.

First, we had Apple Vale Florina in the Junior brown female class, and she was placed 3rd from five, quite satisfying.

Then we had Apple Vale Flamenco, and she managed a 3rd from four. I was in the junior fawn male class (Fiesta was unplaced), when a mobile 'phone rang, and I'm glad to say it wasn't mine (set to 'silent') - I wouldn't say whose it was, but if I can find Andy's phone number, I might ring it on friday at the Bath & West, to try and get the ice cream forfeit that is levied against such 'mis-demeanours'!
On friday, we had 'lights' and 'whites'. Apple Vale Fortune found himself in the first group in a split class, against formidable competition, and we were quite satisfied when he was put into fourth from his group of five,

Apple Vale Fortune enters the ring, watched by judge Mary-Jo Smith and apprentice Viv.

Steve Powell (Ashwood Alpacas) shows the 'bite' of Imperial Force for the judge to examine.

Mary-Jo examining the fleece.

The judge gives her oral reasoning behind the placings, while 1st and 2nd take a rest.

This morning, with a warm fine day forecast, we commenced our shearing, by Yours Truly, with Joy assisting, and we got three heavily fleeced, or pregnant females done - very satisfying, given the heat - I feared I might have lost my shearing 'mojo', but it was still there, no problems, no cuts, and quite tidy, if I say so myself - just the small matter of being knac***ed - when you have done it yourself you can really appreciate the professional shearers.

This week, I am helping erect two marquees for the Royal Bath and West Show on tuesday (heave ho), Joy will be demonstrating felting, compered by Val Fullerlove, on wednesday, and on friday and saturday I will be in the show ring again. Come and say, 'hello', if you read this - oh, the 'missing ball' quoted in the title of this blog refers to one poor breeder, whose male alpaca was elliminated due to the judge only being able to find one testicle - at three previous shows this year, the said testicle had made an appearance....so... if you have seen it.....

North Somerset Show

On Bank Holiday Monday we headed off for the first local show, the North Somerset Show. Heavy showers had preceeded for a few days, so the herd had been washed and blow-dried, but then had visited the rolling pit. Nevertheless, the weather forecast was for gradual improvement, so I was optimistic that they would be dry and clean by the time we set off, and this was the case. The day dawned breezy and sunny, and we arrived in good time, with no need to set up the gazebo.

First in the ring was Apple Vale Florina, in a class of six and she gained second place, praised by judge Jay Holland for her soft-handling fleece:

Apple Vale Florina - Dam: Apple Vale Bramley (S: CME Tulaco Centurion), Sire: Van Diemen Qjori of Patou

Next came the fawns, and we had female Flamenco, followed by male Fiesta, both sired by our stud, EP Cambridge Columbus of Patou - a second place for Flamenco, also praised for her soft handle, but Fiesta didn't place in a class of nine:

Apple Vale Flamenco

Apple Vale Fiesta - heads into the ring full of optimism;

Finally, the junior white male class, and Apple Vale Fortune took fourth place in a class of 7, earning praise for his good frame, and dense, fine fleece:

Apple Vale Fortune - s: CCNF Talon of Classical Mile End

The rain had been threatening for an hour, and set-in as we lined up for the Supreme Champion - I expect everyone was damp by the time they set off, and got a good soaking when they unloaded at home, as we did - but a good show was had. Two more shows this month - bring 'em on!

"You gotta roll with it".

With the fabulous dry weather, the herd are looking at their best, almost fully fleeced, and clean, and the sunshine beckons me to spend time with the camera, during a rest between paddock maintainance. All that is needed is for the herd to co-operate and pose on request...fat chance of that...I have a theory that ours are not over-fed, as they constantly graze when I have the camera out...I try and attract them to look up with a variety of noises, whistling, trilling like a 'phone, and today I introduced the ee-aw of a donkey! Anyway, let the photos do the talking this week:

We are halter-training our youngest, Flamenco the fawn, while Florina the brown is the companion.

When let off their halters, they charge back to join the group!

Fiesta behind Flamenco, both sired by 'Scrumpy', EP Cambridge Columbus of Patou, our herdsire.

"I kissed the grass, and I liked it"

Elstar, a lovely 'girl'. Sire: Van Diemen Qjori of Patou, Dam: Apple Vale Bramley.

Empress decides to graze horizontally  Sire: CCNF Talon of CME Dam: Helens Diana of Apple Vale

Bramley leads her daughter, Florina ahead of the rest.

Dappled Elstar.

Mother:Daughter. Helens Diana of Apple Vale and Empress.

Caton Freedom of Apple Vale rolls in the dust pit.

Pixie the dog, rolls in chicken poo!

Pixie wallowing, infront of the tree den that I built in the Walnut tree for grandson Oscar.

Fan-tastic.

On thursday we left home with film directors from L.A staying in our studio bed-sit, the dog went to friends at one end of the village, the hens and 2-day old chicks in the care of our neighbours, and the remaining alpacas to be checked on by our farm neighbour. Miraculously, everything seemed to work out, with all of the animals and keys in the correct places when we got home late last night. We had a steady journey to the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, for The British Alpaca Futurity 2015, and got unloaded and parked fairly swiftly.

Apple Vale Florina receives some calming words.

For cooling the alpacas in a warm arena, breeders use electric fans, and some time ago I looked into whether re-chargeable battery versions existed. I located a Makita fan at Axminster Tools, on-line, which are quite cheap, but the batteries and charger are considerably dearer - never-the-less, they can be used with other Makita tools, such as drills, and besides, we can use them in agricultural shows, the barn in hot whether, or the trailer even, so I took the plunge, and ordered everything - with the hotel being in the arena complex, re-charging was straight-forward, and the batteries last for 3-4 hours depending on high or low setting. At night we set one running before ten o'clock lock-down, and the alpacas were fine in the morning. So, we were very pleased with the outcome, and many breeders were inquisitive to see the set-up - the two fans suited us for 3 alpacas, and would probably do for 5 or 6 - fan-tastic!

This was our first time of showing at a national show - Day 1 we had two females in the show ring, Apple Vale Florina, Junior Brown, and Apple Vale Empress, Intermediate White - whilst they both have good characteristics, we are realistic and know that there are some aspects they are not the best, so we weren't surprised that they did not get in the rosettes, amongst stiff competition.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. - presenting the rosettes.

On Day 2, we had Apple Vale Fortune, Junior Male, and White, sired by CCNF Talon of Classical MileEnd, with grand-sire Dovecote Jaquinto of Alpaca Stud. We knew he had many special characteristics, but he was in a class with three groups of nine, all containing progeny of championship-winning sires.

Judge Peter Kennedy from Australia presents the rosette

When the judge placed Fortunes fleece sample on his sleeve, I saw the brightness immediately jump out compared to some others, and allowed myself to think we had a chance, so it was a relief when he beckoned us to the front line, and fantastic when he directed us into third place - the alpaca judging ring (and show) is a serious, professionally operated example of British alpaca breeding - but everyone, including judges, know not to take themselves too seriously - it is fun, and there are light-hearted moments, and we all love our alpacas - so I allowed a smile to spread across my, normally (too) serious face, but with-held the 'fist-pumping' and cry of "yesss" until we got in the car! After all, in over six years of alpaca breeding, I've made the 'walk of shame' (which of course, it isn't) a few times, as we have steadily improved the herd through careful breeding on our compact farm. We'll have a glass of wine tonight.

Listening to the judges summing-up and reasoning.

The fibre, fleece products and crafts were celebrated by the 'P-Lush Show' running alongside the alpaca show, and contained some fabulously exotic garments to demonstrate the possibilities with alpaca fleece.

Apple Vale Fortune with his rosette.

Sit-and-ride mower.

Four days until The British Alpaca Futurity at The Ricoh Arena, Coventry - this afternoon I gave the trailer a spring clean, rinsing off the green lichen, so it is gleaming. New banners have been made for the pen, and I have written the list of 'stuff to take'

Thanks to good weather, the show team of three are quite clean (paddock condition). We have continued halter training, and today I enlisted my grand-daughter, Pixie, and daughter, Kerry to introduce some new faces, with the hope that Florina would be happier to walk - as you can see, she was more interested in the lush grass up the avenue, than going for a walk!
Once back in the paddock, Pixie (age two-and-three-quarters) requested a ride on an alpaca, so we nominated Fortune, as he is the biggest, and he was quite happy for her to sit there.

We can only hope that the sense of 'occasion', and the interest in the new sights, sounds and smells of the show ring will sharpen their walk in the 'catwalk' of the show ring....
Meanwhile, on friday, I joined the alpacas for the eclipse, to observe their behaviour as the false dusk fell..

Scrumpy wonders what is going on as the eclipse begins.

The eclipse 'party' is in full swing!

The eclipse is three-qaurters finished.

At the back, Florina is 'disttracted' by Scrumpy our stud male...

See you at The Futurity, hopefully - come and say hello.