Royal Threes Counties – ZSA National Show 2023 Report – June 16, 2023
The Zwartbles Sheep Association National Show 2023 was held within the Royal Threes Counties Show with the sun shining, and temperatures rising well in to the twenties, even with an early start shortly after eight thirty in the morning, with judge Cyril Cromie of the Fort Flock, Northern Ireland presiding over affairs.
The first class, Senior Ram, had just two forward to kick things off, with the red ticket going to Greenhill Hagred, a three shear Woodston Pedrog ram form Martin Preston and Alison Stevenson.
Swiftly following on behind with six forward was the Shearling Rams, this was a two-way battle for top spot with two very closely matched animals, Hayberries Kane, and Norton King of the Road, with the son of Smiddy Hill Graffiti, King of the Road brought forward by Raymond Heigh, Peter and Susan Addison and Martin Preston, pipping Kane shown by Geraint and Lucie Owen.
Ram lambs followed with 15 forward, this time the red ticket went a little further North to the Greystone Flock of Messrs McLaren & Baird all the way down from Dunblane, with Greystone Laird a January born son of Greystone Hero, leading the field from Raymond Heigh and Brookdene Lorenzo.
On now to the females as the heat rose inside and around the ring, the red ticket for the Senior Ewe again going to Dunblane with a Pistyll Fire Cracker daughter, Greystone Hella snatching the red from under the nose of the Owens once again with Cernyw Jet-Star with 12 being forward.
The shearling Ewe class, as expected was the largest class of the morning with 22 filling the ring, and a good selection of types there was for all to see. After a long and hot selection process, Geraint and Lucie Owen got their just reward taking the red ticket with Cernyw Kariad, a Cernyw Herciwlis daughter ahead of Martin Yardley taking a hard earned second with Jessley Knockout, a Speyside Fergie daughter.
Moving on to the Ewe Lamb class, and again a busy ring with 16 out, and the red ticket again bound over the Northern border with Ally Baird and Greystone Laurel, a Greystone Hero daughter. Second was Susan and Peter Addison’s Beech Hay Chancellor daughter, Hayberries Lorelei.
On then to the group of 3 Class, and a well-deserved win for the Owen group, followed home by the Hope View trio of Kathryn Hopkins, Ben Stayt’s Statesman three, and new breeder and first-time exhibitor, Sam Williams.
On then to the Championship awards, and it was the Senior Ram, Greenhill Hagred who took the Male Champion card, followed by Greystone Laird.
The Female Champion again came from the senior class, with Greystone Hella leading the Shearling Ewe, Cernyw Kariad, these two then stepped even higher up the pedestal to take Champion and reserve honours from a fantastic show of sheep from top to bottom placed in front of Mr Cromie.
Report submitted by Martin Preston