Shows

Many Cotswold Sheep Society members are keen to show their sheep – though we would love to see more doing so. There are very good reasons for encouraging members to show their sheep, particularly when you have a rare breed, which of course, Cotswolds are.

Often our flocks are small and isolated from one another, indeed having just twenty breeding ewes counts as a ‘large flock’ in the Cotswold sheep world! This means it is hard to assess how your flock is doing. When you take your best sheep to your first show you may of course, find yourself at the top of the line, and then you can congratulate yourself on doing an excellent job.

Often however, you can find yourself at the bottom of the line and realise that your sheep are not perhaps as well grown, or as white, or have as good wool as others in the line. That is valuable information to have – maybe the answer will be a new ram, in which case you can set about looking for a ram that will bring the missing qualities to your flock.

It might be that there is nothing wrong with your sheep, except for a lack of correct preparation – and again there is many a wise word to be had around the ring regarding the best feeding regime or handling techniques.

The important thing is to be brave and enter your sheep into a show – if you don’t have one near enough with Cotswold classes, then enter the Longwool classes at your local show.

The Victoria Wheeler Memorial Cup

The Victoria Wheeler Memorial Cup being presented to Davina Stanhope for the best pair of lambs at Moreton In Marsh Show 2024.

Moreton In Marsh Show 2024

Champion - K, V & E Wheeler - Senior Ram - Tingewick Claude

Society Summer Show 2024

Champion - Shearling Ewe & Reserve Champion - Senior Ewe from Davina Stanhope with Judge, Ben Stayt

A sunny day for the Society Show

A good turnout and sunny day for members at the 2024 Society Summer Show at Bourton on the Water

Three Counties Show 2024

Champion - Senior Ram - D Stanhope Reserve Champion - Shearling Ewe - D Stanhope Judge - Miss L Henson. They then represented the Cotswolds in the Interbreed Pairs winning Overall Interbreed Champion Pair!

Showing Workshop 2024

Members new and old to the show ring enjoying a sunny day at Yew Tree Barn ahead of the Society Show