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!

Champion Suri and Huacaya at the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta

Big day for Houghton Hall alpacas who took champion Suri and for the Alpaca Stud who took champion Huacaya.

Alpaca Showtime!!!

What a day, we had to deliver the show team to the National Agriculture Centre at Stoneleigh this evening ready for the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta this weekend where they are competing against another 250 pedigree alpacas at the Heart of England Alpaca Show.
The sun shone, then it rained , then it hailed, then it shone again and it went around in that cycle all day long and In between we had the show team in and out of the barn all day long trying to keep them dry.
Alpacas can absorb almost 20% of their fleece weight in water if allowed and in that condition the crimp drops out of the fleece. The fleece gets duller and the handle becomes difficult to quantify. That's why we never judge alpacas in the rain.
Anyway finally the sun shone and we loaded them up into the trailer drier than they started the day and packed them off in the trailer to the show ground. Tomorrow Linda and the Toft Alpaca show team will be up at the crack of sparrowfart strutting their stuff in the show ring at Stoneleigh.
The show goes on all weekend if anyone wants to trot along and see how they do please feel free. All alpaca enthusiasts are welcome at the Alpaca Fiesta.
More on the Toft Alpaca Show team over the weekend- fingers crossed- watch this space!

Time to microchip the juniors

Thirty Toft Alpaca cria now have electronic ID's since Shirley Linda and Linda's daughter Gemma spent this afternoon popping microchips into the juniors. We pop the microchip in behind their left ears with a sizeable applicator. Then the chip sits in a wee pocket below the skin. If we were to put it in anywhere else they have a tendency to migrate and become a devil to find.
At least now the show team will have the necessary to get into the ring at the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta on April 27th & 28th.