Hey ho Off to the Nationals we do go...

TOFT show team were brought out of the shed by Freya this morning, early doors, for an airing outside for a couple of hours before journeying to the International Centre Telford for the British Alpaca Society National Show 2016. 

It is virtually impossible to judge alpacas when they are wet so we shed them up to keep them dry as a bone for a few days before the Nationals. At the Nationals we have fans blowing over them whilst they are in the pens to stop them 'sweating up'. This gives our show team the best chance they've got of competing for the medals the rest is up to them! Here's hoping? 

The show kicks off at the International Centre Telford tomorrow at the crack of sparrow fart and ends around 4pm on Sunday. Over 500 alpacas have been entered making this the biggest show in Europe. It is open to the public if you fancy an alpaca fest. Don't forget to come and say hello to TOFT if you do.

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Who be this then...?

Look who I found hiding on the wall of the feed store in the barn at TOFT. We are very busy this week clearing the old brick barn of the accumulated alpaca debris of the past 19 years and relocating the usable into the new barn.  It's surprising what you come across and each drawer you open bumps you off track down memory lane at light speed.

In a week where my eldest son Scott is celebrating his 27th birthday I came across this picture of him about 11 years ago when our foundation sire PA Accoyo Cornelius first won the Sires progeny shield at the BAS National Show. Proud, proud moments for TOFT at the time. Huge advances at TOFT in the meantime. Proud moments now as I see the man this happy soul has become. Enough I'm starting to feel old . Happy Brithday son and may 2016 fulfill all your expectations.

Mrs TOFT Alpaca judge at the Royal Bath & West

Busy week for Mr and Mrs TOFT Alpaca judge Friday and Saturday Shirley was judging the alpacas at the South West Alpaca Group a Show at the Royal Bath & West show. Your truly was on the mic keeping the crowd interested whilst the judging took place. After a tricky start when the heavens opened and wouldn't let go we had a great two days. We kicked off in a tent then got outside around lunchtime on Thursday were we stayed right through to last knockings. Although the sun shone it was the cold wind that kept grabbing at those of us sat at the table. So much so myself and Dawn Crawford had to get out and buy a new coat each. Despite the cold start everything soon warmed up for us to enjoy the show. The crowds came out on the Saturday and we held them around the alpaca ring right up until lays knockings. Congratulations to the organisers,stewards, exhibitors and of course the winners for providing a great showcase for the alpacas. Well done Mrs TOFT Alpaca Judge and see you all soon.

All done in Meppel,and the jobs a good un!

Whoopy Daisy done great as the happy organisers signify, congratulations to the organisers, thanks to the stewards and exhibitors for another great alpaca showcase. WD off to bed now as she is falling asleep in her ice cream...

And the winners were....

A very compact tidy fawn Huacaya intermediate male got Supreme and the reserve champion fawn  another intermediate male also took reserve show champion. The standard of alpacas at this show was very high and competition was stiff throughout.

The champion Suri was a white junior with a very fine and lustrous fleece showing good independence and layering.

A great alpaca day was had by all, over 1400 people attended and the weather was just dandy congratulations to the winner, commiserations to the losers and thankyou all for taking part.

Mrs Judge at the Alpaka Show Meppel...Holland

Well here we are in deepest Holland with Shirley judging 140 alpacas at the Alpaka Show Meppel and me acting as companion animal. Great to meet new friends and old here in a Holland in a lovely setting bedecked with trade stands- some Alpaca  some not but obviously enough of a draw as the crowds have been rolling I since about 10am. Here's a few snaps of Mrs TOFT Judge strutting her stuff in a very competitive turn out.

Thanks to one and all...at the. Heart Of England Alpaca Fiesta

After 12 years judging alpacas all over the UK and Europe it was a real treat to judge a show in my own backyard. It meant TOFT couldn't show and I have not been able to take a detailed interest in my friends alpacas since last summer but it was worth it for the fun we had this weekend. I loved every second of it from start to finish. Not only the challenge of the judging but also the pleasure of being amongst friends who all speak English and get your jokes. It's fun in Europe too but it's great when you all. Get the funnies straight away. It was a blast!

I thank Lulu Oliver of Lusi Alpacas for inviting me and  for organising a real professional event with a great atmosphere that will only get better as it settles I to its new home. I thank Liz Barlow for her work as  chief steward, my wife Shirley for show secretary and Jo Bridge of Windy Ridge and Viv Cook of Oakton Alpacas who combined a day each as my apprentice with the alternate day as Ring steward. This worked real well and I was very impressed with both my apprentices and wish them well as they go onto gather more experience before certification. I feel if they go to approach their learning  with the confidence they showed this weekend they will go on to make a real contribution in years to come.

A huge thanks to all those white coated stewards who hustled and bustled to keep the wheels running and didn't get in the limelight. We know who you are and what you do and we thank  you all.

The Alpacas were superb throughout and the competition fierce in coloureds as well as whites. The supreme champion Huacaya went to an intermediate white  Huacaya from Ashwood Alpacas who has a handle like melted white chocolate on an extremely bright, dense well organised fleece exhibiting a good uniformity throughout the blanket and between primary and secondary fibres.

 However there were signs that a change might now be blowing through the alpaca shed with a couple of signature fleeces emerging on two  of the juniors that may be signalling the next stage of development.  

The judges choice went to a young Junior White from Houghton Hall alpacas which was as bright as a lighthouse, extremely well organised in a floppy style with density to die for in its staples whose amplitude was seriously impressive. It was very close but the young lady took it on the day however this boy will be one to watch if he grows to his full potential. Likewise there was a small light junior alpaca from Furze Park Alpacas in the ring which exhibited similar qualities but unfortunately it needed to eat more pies to get in contention. 

It's going to get very exciting in years to come if we see this amount of luxury emerging and unbelievable if we can manage to get it to stay that way for ten years. Scnuzzle? You'll want to Scnuzzle , Wuzzle and stroke your alpacas all day long if we get that good. that's of course if Scnuzzling is still legal by then!

Thanks for inviting me to judge, thanks for entering, thanks for your patience and humour and I hope you all have a wonderful birthing season that lives up to your expectations...you wish!  Have a great summer! The judge.

Thanks for a fabulous weekend at the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta

Last weekend I had the privilege of judging almost 300 alpacas in the Heart Of England Alpaca Fiesta. Two full on days from 8am to 6pm with the ring full of superb Huacayas and Suris. There were some classes of clear winners but the majority were very close and the championships set a real challenge. The standard of Suris was exceptionally high despite the smallish entry. The Suri classes were interspersed with the Huacayas and for me it works great and I hope that other show organisers decide to interlay their Suri entries in the same way. It's good for the breed, good for the breeders and creates interest and promotional points for the general public and Suri breeders throughout the show. Way to go! As for the judges concentration not a problem more of a change is as god as a rest!

The champion Suri went to a superb Intermediate Light Female from Houghton Hall alpacas whose lustre shone deep and bright from a dense, fine, uniform fleece which hung in independent wafered layers like laminate. Lovely.

Mind you there is no room for  complacency in the white and lights. The traditional winners had better keep the ball moving because  the judge's choice went to a stunning Black Junior Suri from the Backyard Alpaca Company who had lustre like wet paint and a density to die for. If that alpaca grows up to fulfil its potential then we might see a bit more colour on the cup in the coming years!

Lovely crop of colour....

Every one of the 9 TOFT entries to the BAS National show got placed resulting in a bonny crop of coloured rosettes from some seriously competitive classes. A massive TOFT thanks to. Barbara Hetherington of Beck Brow alpacas and her merry team of organisers and helpers who made the last two days a massive success. Well done one and all. The. National is a credit to our vibrant community. Roll on next year...same time same place and we'll do it all again...Perfick!

Aha....that looks better...

Up at the crack of Sparrowfart for the Nationals....

The glamour of show biz...Early doors at the Telford International Centre for the first day of the 2015 National Show. TOFT stand looks a little understated until we get the flag here (forgot it yesterday hey ho) and the telly on! White coats at the ready for Linda and Freya when they get here. They are currently whacking their way up the M6 to join us.

Hey Ho into the trailer we shall go...BAS National Show Telford International Centre this weekend

TOFT Alpaca Stud ladies team trotting into the trailer...

Alpaka judging in the Allgau...

The schwabenhalle  in Buchloe was an ideal setting for the Alpaka Show last weekend. Apparently these halls are made specifically for the showing and sale of cattle. There is plenty of room for the animals alongside the hall and tons of tiered seats from which the public and breeders can enjoy the spectacle. The show was organised for breeders only on the Saturday and open to the public on the Sunday when 2000 people popped in to enjoy the alpacas. 

Great turn out and I had the privilege of judging some remarkable alpacas. Exhibitors had come all the way from Holland, Italy, Austria and France to compete their alpacas. A massive thanks to Hienz and Simon for inviting me to judge and for creating this alpaca showcase. A fantastic amount of work goes into getting it right and they worked their Alpaca socks off to make sure everyone had a good time.

There was a great atmosphere in the hall and the exhibitors as always took defeat in their stride with good humour and there were tears of joy for the winners. 'Twas ever thus - please feel free to blame the judge.

A big thanks also to Hieke who took Shirley and I out on the Thursday evening for my first ever Croation meal- yumliscious. 

A big thanks to Pia and Jan who worked as my interpreter - not an enviable task with my accent.

Thanks to Ritchie for his sound work and scribework  and thanks to his girlfriend who played show secretary throughout. 

Thanks to  Theresa for scribing the fleeces until late on Friday evening.

And  big thanks for the patience and good humour of the exhibitors and for all the volunteers and organisers who put in their time and talent to make this show a success.

And not forgetting the young Klinks - Reuben and Tom who did a great job ferrying fleeces to me all Friday evening. Thank you one and all for an unforgettable experience in your wonderful country and I hope to see you all in the UK pretty soon.

TOFT on tour in Buchloe...

Started the fleeces this evening still got 40 to get through in the morning before the halter starts in the afternoon. I shall have to work like the Duracell bunny to get through 180 alpacas and the fleeces and get the medals dished ouT by early doors Sunday. Alpaca breeders enter this show from France, Italy,Switzerland  and all points North and South. They drive for hours to get here and I'd like to get them on their way as early as possible on Sunday. One things certain they won't be hanging around to talk to the judge after the show.

Call country character and select Falconer direct for one of these...

And you will get something so right like this Dude, straight out of  the Falconer casting agency to authenticate your country event. No stone unturned to entertain the crowds at the Alpaka Show Ost in Burgstadt this weekend. Every Alpaca Show should have one.

Every alpaca show needs one of these....

Camel rides all round at the Alpaka Show Ost...there were two of these Mamas to entertain the crowds and they had passengers all day long. Every alpaca halter show should have one.

Mrs Toft Alpaca Judge is getting about a bit....

She's now in Burgstadt Germany where today and tomorrow she is judging fleeces and Saturday and Sunday Halter. Her ever faithful companion animal is dutifully carrying the bags...bless his cotton socks!

Alpaca Judge all scrubbed up and ready for action...

Looking her best and ready to go . Here is 'Mrs Judge' at the Golden Fleece Hotel in Thirsk. Shirley is busy strutting her stuff today judging  in the Alpaca Showring at the Yorkshire Alpaca Group Halter Show in Thirsk. 

We shall be at the Thirsk livestock Auction Centre all day today-Shirley in the ring and me playing companion animal. Next week it's back to Germany. Who said farming was boring?

TOFT Adele Champion Brown in the Heart of England Fleece Show

Nice surprise during Sunday dinner when our fleeces returned from the Heart of England Fleece Show. TOFT Adele an adult Lavender Park Tulley girl came back with the Champion Brown Ribbon.

True to form TOFT Timogen took first in the Junior Browns- considering his 14 micron fleece was full of veggie matter and was felted in places his fleece results confirmed his National. Brown Champion Status for 2014.

There are coloured rosettes in the rest of the bags but no  time this morning to scrat through the other bags -more on that later.

 Thanks to the organisers and judges for the. Heart Of England Fleece Show with over 190 entries this has got to be the biggest alpaca fleece show in the UK and probably Europe! 

Well done H of E and thanks to Young Lordy who helped sort the winning fleeces! Couldn't have done it without you- xxx

Toft Alpacas 'companion animal' had a great day out

As a companion animal I'd make a better cabbage! I'm not a watcher at all. I can't watch alpaca judging for too long.I much prefer to be doing than watching. So I love the agricultural shows as I get to wander around all the livestock exhibits asking questions and meeting the breeders.

I couldn't resist clicking these two Suffolk's who were all dolled up, trimmed, combed, polished and dyed for the sheep show at the Northumberland County Show.

A real contrast to the paddock condition in which alpacas are shown. I love the sheep lines at the agricultural shows. I can genuinely stand for hours watching the sheep being judged. It's a mystery I am dying to understand but each time I come away a little more mystified than when I arrived.

There the judge is, is in the ring, with his or her stick poking and prodding and touching as the sheep run hither and thither. The handlers kind of wait at the fence side until he or she taps their sheep with the stick at which point the handlers dive in and grab their entries and put them in a semblance of order which only they seem to understand. 

The judge then grabs the rosettes, slaps them on the sheep in the order he sees fit and the then they all nod or shake their head and move on to the next class. No explanation or justification of the decision making is deemed necessary and much muttering and speculation amongst the watching sheep men as to what the poor judge is thinking.

This in contrast to the alpaca judging where all is concentrated and orderly. Animals are placed and the the judge must reason down to sixth placing their decisions and rationale for their placements. 

The result? The public flock to the alpaca judging in droves and love the glimpse they get into the judges brain as opposed to walking away from the sheep judging as mystified as when they arrived. 

And for the alpaca breeders? Well they were told in public why they were standing where they were. It won't stop the disgruntled moaning about the judges mental capabilities but they can't add any speculation about the judges reasons into the mix!

I for one would love to hear the sheep judges reasoning. They are all experienced sheep men and women who obviously know what they are doing I just wish they would share this knowledge with the rest of us. 'Twas ever thus!