Devon County Show 2016

At 4.45a.m on thursday morning, the alarm went off - I'd been awake for a while, fuelled by a cocktail of anticipation, excitement and apprehension that our preparations for this show would pay off: we would arrive on time (7.00), we would have all the equipment required for showing alpacas (mineral feed, hay, water buckets, Apple Vale pen banners and leaflets, poop scoop and bucket, white coat, wet weather clothes, dry weather clothes, cold weather clothes, warm weather clothes, folding chairs (though we never get time to sit in them!), fans to keep the 'pacas cool), and finally, that our alpacas would be judged highly against good competition.

We arrived to find that 'The Devon Eye' had been erected next to our usual show area, and I thought that would be a great opportunity for an aerial photograph of the show ring:

The day had begun with clear skies, sunrise as we drove across the Levels beyond our village, but slowly cloud gathered.

As I waited with our brown female, Apple Vale Florina, (dam: Apple Vale Bramley, sire: Van Diemen Qjori of Patou)we could see the band of rain coming from Dartmoor, and spots of rain began, so the judge decided to move to the showring in one of the marquees. Florina was placed fourth out of four, but the judge began her summing-up by saying that 'all of this class had a fine, soft-handling, 'buttery' fleece', which was a positive comment, and we know that she needs to add density and character to her fleece by mating to a male with these characteristics, so we weren't disappointed.

Friday morning came, and having left the alpacas in the marqee overnight, we could have an extra half an hour in bed, not having to round them up, and not having the trailer to tow. first in th ring was Apple Vale Gala, a junior female (dam: Helens Diana of Apple Vale, sire: CCNF Talon of CME). She wasn't placed at the National Show, but in a class of twelve here, I was relieved when she was called forward into the front row, being the best seven out of the twelve. Then followed a bit of alpaca 'hokey cokey', as the judge juggled us around...we went from fourth to third, back to fourth, and finally to fifth, which we were satisfied with from a class of twelve, with good genetic ancestry.

There was a bit of excitement at one point in the day, when an alpaca that had been in an outside pen for a bit of drying sun and breeze, got spooked by a dog, and leapt out of the pen - I saw this happen, and shouted something like, "alpaca loose!", as it darted off behind a marquee...to one side there is an off-road buggy track, to another side through a hedge, the fun fair, and to another side, the entire showground stretches out...the thought of an alpaca loose amongst thousands of show-goers and dogs must cross all of our minds...anyway, I saw alpaca owners in the marquee rushing towards the outside rear of the marquee, having heard my shout or the clatter of hurdles, so I headed down the side, and as I reached the rear corner, the alpaca started heading back towards me at full speed...I launched myself at it, got a grip, but it was an intermediate or adult, and so at least as heavy as me, and as it dragged me around guy ropes, a pulley to raise the marquee, and power cables, I realised one of us might be garotted and let go, landing in a puddle...it then realised it was better off with it's owner, and walked back into the arms of 'mummy'...panic over.

Next, it was time for the Intermediate White Males (age 12-24 months) - Apple Vale Fortune (dam: Helens Diana, Sire: CCNF Talon of CME), was in a class of seven. Having gained second in his group at The National Show, and first in a smaller group at The North Somerset Show, we had high hopes...we weren't disappointed...

Fortune was awarded first place, the judge commenting on his fine, dense fleece, being consistant from his head to his legs, and the character being consistant from the skin to the tips of the fibre, and mounted on a good frame and chest. I often wonder what other breeders think about when the judge is coming to their conclusions...you have an idea of your alpacas good points and not-so-good points, so you guess your position, but you haven't examined the competition, so then you allow yourself to consider first place, but then you try not to set yourself up for disappointment by considering a low placing or, 'the walk of shame'....and then comes the decision...or do other breeders just look at the sky, the audience, and enter a state of otherworldliness?

It's the Royal Bath & West Show, in less than two weeks - Joy will be demonstrating fibre felting on wednesday and thursday in the marquee along with other demonstrations of fleece processing, and we will have three of our alpacas in the halter show on friday and saturday - do come along and say hello, and don't be intimidated, all the alpaca breeders love to talk to the public and answer questions.

North Somerset Show and more.

The Show was held on May2nd. A band of rain was forecast to arrive around 11.00 and to leave around 3.00. We all arrived in dry weather, but a few spots of rain had us urgently erecting gazebos, only for it to fizzle out. The show started, with judge Liz Barlow assisted by apprentice Viv Darcy. Rain arrived 'on time', during the blacks and browns, making judging very difficult. We gained a third place for Apple Vale Florina, sired by Van Diemen Qjori of Patou.Intermediate Brown Female.

The rain passed and the sun came out around 3.00 as forecast, and after being chilled by the seeping rain, we slowly warmed up. Then we had Apple Vale Gala (sire: CCNF Talon of Classical MileEnd) in the Junior White Female class, and were delighted to gain second place in a class of six.

Finally, Apple Vale Fortune (sire: CCNF Talon of CME) was awarded a "well deserved" (judges quote) first in the Intermediate White Male class. The ground dried up, and all was pleasant for packing up. A lovely show, always.

Meanwhile back at the farm I have begun constructing a shelter for our farthest paddock - it will be a simple, two-sided open shelter in the corner, but I wanted to create something individual, sculpted to the land which has a gentle slope, but is exposed to a long open fetch of levels, so I designed it to have low sloping eaves to minimise the wind resistance, with a hipped roof for some 'elegance', and a cantilevered canopy for extra cover. That's my theory - so it's not an off-the-shelf rectangular box, but something I am crafting and enjoying, saving in cost, but spending a lot of time building in fine weather with the alpacas observing.

The wall stud frames laid out.

Walls erected and temporary hip prop in place.

Hip rafter and verge rafters in place.

Truss assembled.

Jack rafters and purlins in place.

 We are just about to enter our birthing window with the first due, Caton Freedom, and she is rather susceptable to mites, so noticing some patches on her legs we gave her Eprinex in pig oil down the back line, (she is also prone to abscess at injection sites) and Udder Salve on the legs - I tried to check the condition of her teats, and she is quite a placid girl, but being pregnant she's a little guarded, and while on my hands and knees peering under her belly, she gave me a kick on the nose! Luckily, it must have been at the end of her range, because although it smarted a bit, and I thought it could be broken, there was no damage.

This week we also replaced our plasma supply - the vet came and took a donation of blood from Apple Vale Autumn Gold, who was very calm about it, and we took it to Classical MileEnd to be spun down.

The warm weather this week has brought our shade/shelters into use,

as the herd have been feeling the heat:


And finally, completing the news round-up, we gave Apple Vale Fortune his first 'session' with a lady - both he, and Pelachuta, an experienced dam, were keen, and we hope this will show he is ready to start his stud career - more as this develops.

Well, it's the Devon County Show this week, so fingers crossed for good weather, good competition, and good results....to be continued.

The year begins to unfold - developments on all fronts.

Apple Vale Fortune

 It's been a while since the National Show, and Spring finally arrived - though it's taking a while to warm up, we have had plenty of dry days. The paddocks are beginning to look well, particularly the rested ones. 'Magic Day' , when the grass grows at a faster rate than the alpacas are eating eat is not yet perceptable, but areas that I re-seeded for repairs are sprouting. We have fertilized each paddock in rotation, and next we have to tackle the weeds that are pushing ahead.

The herd have been given another ADE vitamin 'shot', which we hope will be the last until the autumn, but we just have to see how the summer goes.

We had a photo-shoot for a young model who is creating a promotional portfolio, and she brought her photographer to our farm to use the alpacas in some of her scenes.

Since the New Year, we have had visitors in the B & B Studio from California, Austria, Singapore, Estonia, all over the UK, and a couple from Venezuela and Santa Fe - they all enjoyed a tour of the alpaca paddocks, and seeing how we (Joy) uses the fleece to make unique, luxury, felted and alpaca wool garments.

I have started creating a new shelter for one paddock - as usual for me, it will be a bespoke shelter suited to the aspect of the paddock - I enjoy the creative design and build aspect - I also have plans in my head for another shelter in an adjoining paddock, which received an early boost when our village hall had it's 25mm Maple floor replaced, and I rescued 8 panels destined for Her Majesties bonfire beacon, so I now have to design that shelter around these heavy panels!

Closer to home, I've discovered several bird nests - firstly, a Hedge Sparrow (Dunnock) nest with white alpaca fleece lining was particularly exciting, these two chicks have now fledged and are hopefully surviving -

Fleece-lined nest.

Faces only a mother could love!

secondly, we currently have a pair of Blackbird chicks in the same hedge - and thirdly, I found a fascinating nest lying under some trees in the paddock, which I suspect had been knocked out of a small tree by an alpaca. It is like a soft pillow, the size of a melon, with an outer casing of moss, lichen and strands of spider web, stuffed with hen and duck feathers, which I believe would have been built by a Long-Tailed Tit.

Nest of a Long-Tailed tit, with feather stuffing.

In the paddocks, a Kestrel has been ever-present for several weeks now, flitting from fence-post to shelter roof and dropping to the ground then back again, as I've gone about my tasks.

Easter bonnet.

A new hay feeder that I made.

We are now one week from the first of three local alpaca shows, a busy month of to-ing and fro-ing, and seeing so many of our friends in the alpaca community, followed closely by new cria, shearing, and new breeding decisions to be made and so on.

Three mums-to-be, plus one (Florina) to start this year.

Each birth that we anticipate, has a significance to the mating: from new genetics, a new colour, an advance in the genetic mix, and a new beginning, each is anticipated with growing excitement!

BAS National - success

A mainly pictorial record of our successful weekend, along with pictures mainly of some of our West Country friends. Apple Vale Fortune was awarded 2nd place in the Intermediate White Male class, though his sister wasn't placed in the Junior White Female class. Joy was awarded 2nd and 3rd for two of her hand-spun, hand-woven scarvess, in a class of ten entries!

Junior Brown Male

Judges examination

Judges deliberation

A private moment between Patou Hollister and Mark, as they await they're 3rd place rosette (well done!)

Felicia with one of the Popham Suris...levitating?

Toft Timogen - 1st Adult Brown Male, with one of the co-owners: Mark

Apple Vale Fortune, with muddy shins, striding forwards.

The critical eyes of the judges, impressed by his conformation.

Absorbing the judges 'reasoning' (I am happy, honest!)

Andy Walker with Dominika, has a snooze behind Jodie Lane with Golden Charm

The leader of the Labour Party (?) passes by...while Andy Walker receives his rosette

Being Mothers Day, our son Phil' came over from Manchester to surprise Joy.

Colin Ottery wonders whether he can shear Bodi's coat...

"You're having a laugh", might be the reply!

Angersleigh Flower Girl with Gary finds it all too tiring.

Emma with Longthornes Faith

Apple Vale Gala ready for her moment.

Apple Vale Gala behaves herself.

2nd & 3rd for Joy's scarves

Excitement is building.

With only days to go before the BAS National Show, preparations are being made in all 'departments'. Halter training has continued with stuttering progress - I'm sure they will walk like a catwalk models when it matters...I can only hope.

The trailer has been cleaned inside, and the green lichen washed off the outside -  Joy said, "are you expecting a helicopter to fly over it an inspect it?". The trailer mats have been cleaned and installed, and the partition between males and females set in place.

This afternoon, we spent some time finishing this years 'business card/brochures', each one handmade, and hopefully unique.

This years herd personalised polo shirts/jackets/caps/socks/underwear (I exaggerate) have been ordered.

The weather has been kind, with dry frosty weather for a week, but we even had to hose down the legs and toes for nail-clipping last week, while the weather was still mild. I planted some Willow cuttings this morning to provide shade and shelter, and help absorb next winters rain!

We also have some entries in the fibrezone, hand made by Joy from the fleece of our herd.

Good luck everyone who is entering, and we look forward to meeting old friends, and making new ones, do come and say hello - if you are not an alpaca owner, you are welcome to come along and have a cheap, interesting day out seeing the best alpacas in the country, and meeting the breeders, who will be delighted to introduce their show animals to you.

Whether the weather?

Scrumpy on a frosty morning.

A weekend of mucking-out shelters with a build-up of straw, hay and mud after trying to create dry 'nests' in the wet ground - the forecast for the next ten days is good, with the exception of wednesday, and it's make-or-break for the show team to clean up ahead of The National Show. Will the claggy caked-on mud crumble, or will we have to give it a helping hand....?

Apple Vale Fiesta

We had Scrumpy and Fiesta (above) castrated during the week - Scrumpy (EPC Columbus of Patou) has produced a good number of well-conformed and well-fleeced progeny during his ten years, both for us and his previous owners, but his work is done, and genetics have moved on, and he doesn't tolerate our boys, so we hope it will calm him down, and he can share a paddock soon. Fiesta is calm and will continue to be a good companion to the others.

Fortune can smell a change in Fiesta's 'prospects'!

Halter training has continued with Gala, and after using the lure of 'fresh' grass on the lawn to get her used to having the halter and lead rope, today we moved on to walking around the paddock, in a mock show-ring routine.

I wonder if the show organisers will consider a prize for the alpaca 'most representative of paddock condition' this year? Of course my paddock is different to your paddock, but it is important to have a bit of paddock on your alpaca, otherwise how can it be paddock condition? ;-)

Last saturday as we faced the southerly winds from storm Imogen, I added some stakes to the tether the shelter, and I was relieved that they also survived the westerly winds that came on monday.

Musical paddocks.

Well yesterday we gave the herd their due vitamin AD & E injections - we had to plan where to corral each group very carefully, so that we could catch each individual without skidding onto our a*ses in the muddy conditions. The permanent, dry shelter is being used by the weaning group, and so it would have been logistically awkward to try and manouevre each of the other groups over to that shelter - anyway, it all went to plan.

However, with the constantly damp-to-wet conditions, the condition of all paddocks is poor, and while we are resting one paddock at all times, we have to move a new group onto it before it recovers properly, as the other paddocks deteriorate, just to allow each group to occasionally have somewhere dry to sit at night. So it was, that today we had another move around, moving a group of females into the 'rested' paddock, moving Scrumpy into the paddock where the females had been, and creating a 'weight-watchers' group of females needing to slim, who moved into Scrumpys prevoius paddock. We gave Scrumpy a couple of hours in the orchard/alotment - he thought he had died and gone to heaven, before moving him off to his new paddock! The 'weight-watchers' were seriously un-impressed with their new 'squelchy' paddock.

Our weanling has the use of the dry shelter with her companions, and we hope her fleece will clean up before the National show, but it all depends how dry the paddock becomes during the daylight hours, whether her fleece actually improves or not - and one of the males, also in the show team, is in a damp paddock with some straw bedding in an open (but damp) shelter.

We can only hope that, either we get a long frosty spell before the show (not going to be this week), or, the judge seriously looks beyond the external (paddock condition) appearance, and takes notice that these animals have clearly had more fesh air and natural daylight, than the clean alpacas that have been kept in large dry barns - we've done our best, we can only hope.

Meanwhile, halter training has continued, with the lure of the squelchy but almost un-grazed lawn being the treat.