Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta 2016

Popped into  the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta yesterday at the Bury Farm Equestrian centre, Slapton near Leighton Buzzard.  Always amazed to think back to 2000 when we managed about 48 entries in the first BAS Alpaca Show at Purston Manor Brackley. Some exhibitors actually carried their alpacas into the ring to be judged and carried them out again. At that time there were less than 2500 alpacas in the country and halter training was in its infancy. The learning curve had only just begun. 

16 years later and the Heart of England Fiesta attains over 300 entries 24 hours after they opened for bookings.

 I think it's now safe to say as we approach our twentieth year of breeding alpacas that our South American friends have secured a permanent presence in the Agricultural landscape of the U.K. All we have to do now over the next 20 years is start to move to a more commercial fleece producing operation to add real value for the breeders to this magnificent fibre. Onwards and upwards!

Judge Gorn fishing ....

Relaxing day today after a fantastic weekend judging close on 300 alpacas at the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta at  Bury Farm near Leighton Buzzard. More on that tomorrow when I can keep my eyes open. 

The Judge took a relaxer today to recharge and went  fishing with young Lordy in the garden pond for wrigglies. We have to make the most of the wrigglies and pond life because the smallest fish in the pond are Koi Carp and weigh about six pounds each. You don't need a net you need a harpoon. I believe the Koi are responsible for the lack of little fish- cannibals one and all. Regardless of the brutality of the fish world we had a great hour searching for whales and throwing stones in the pond. A blissful end to a great weekend and I saw not one alpaca all day. Tomorrow we get back to business at TOFT Alpaca Stud.

Toft triumph at the Heart Of England Spring Alpaca Fiesta

Another busy weekend and another great show for Toft Alpacas at the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta.

 We took eleven Toft alpacas to the show and every one of our entries achieved a rosette including three firsts and a Reserve Champion. 

TOFT MATILDA- 1st, Huacaya Junior Female Brown and Reserve female Champion Brown

TOFT ADELE- 2nd, Huacaya Intermediate Female Brown

TOFT TIMOGEN- 1st, Huacaya Junior Male Brown

TOFT TAIPAN- 2nd, Huacaya Junior Male Brown

TOFT LEANDER- 6th, Huacaya Junior Male Brown

TOFT IKRIT - 1st, Haucaya Adult Male Brown

TOFT RASTABAN -3rd, Huacaya Adult Male Brown

TOFT TITUS- 5th, Huacaya Junior Male Fawn

TOFT STALA- 4th, Huacaya Junior Female White

TOFT MARY QUANT- 3rd, Suri Junior Female Light

In addition we took 2 clients animals and they both got rosettes with one of them achieving a Championship Ribbon.

Terry and Liz Davis of Snapdragon Alpacas got 4th in the Huacaya Junior Female Light with Toft Bootes

Ben Harford of Ashcroft Alpacas achieved First in the Huacaya Junior Female Fawn and Champion Female Fawn with a Lavender Park Tulley girl- Ashcroft Tulley's Zephyrine.

And to top the lot we entered Timogen and Matilda in the Sires Progeny alongside Zephyrine on behalf of Lavender Park Tulley of Ashcroft alpacas and won the cup. Epic!

A great day for Team Toft and a big thanks to our herdswoman Linda Newport and our new trainee herdswoman Freya Shuttleworth for preparing and handling our alpacas throughout the show. It was Freya's first alpaca show and she took to it like a seasoned Alpaquero. Well done Freya!

British Alpaca Society Alpaca Judge Cathy Lloyd of EP Cambridge judged the show with great skill, clarity and professionalism at a pace that was very impressive. We may have had early starts but on both days we were done and dusted by 3pm. Thanks Cathy a great job well done!

The Supreme Champion Huacaya Alpaca was won by Houghton Bentley a beautiful fawn male owned by Liz and Mick George of Houghton Hall Alpacas.

A big Toft thanks to Lulu Oliver of Lusi Alpacas and Paul Stead of Saphire Alpacas for organising and running the show on behalf of the Heart of England Alpaca Group. Your efforts were much appreciated -thankyou. We are already looking forward to next year when we shall all meet up and do it all again. 

Well that's us done showing for 2014. We shall start shearing the herd on May12th and saying goodbye to the 'Teddy Bears' and welcoming the 'Pink Panthers' as we start preparing for the birthing season where we are expecting almost 60 cria before the end of July. It never stops at Toft Alpacas- Perfick!

Alpaca judging

Mary Jo Smith of Bozedown alpacas judging the Heart Of England Alpaca Fiesta 2013.
Congratulations Mary Jo you did a great job on a cold two days and thank for giving Toft Alpacas one of the best alpaca showing days In it's 16 year history. 15 entries, 13 rosettes and two reserve champion ribbons. Roll on the British Alpaca Society National Show at Bury Farm Equestrian centre on the 11th and 12th of May!!

Alpaca handlers

It's an art handling alpacas in the show ring. The handler has a massive effect on how the
alpaca will settle and present itself for the judge. A calm steady, unselfconscious handler who doesn't allow their own nerves to affect the alpaca is vital.
Linda our herds woman and her daughter Gemma handled our alpacas like real professionals and despite the cold weather in the shed they looked like happy handlers all day long. Thank you ladies.

Considering that Paul our helper and Judith our close neighbour at Willoughby Alpacas are new to the alpaca show ring they handled it like real pros yesterday. Paul use to show dogs and he is a man who certainly likes the ring as his happy demeanour shows. Alpaca showing should be fun and despite the weather being uncommonly cold for April lots of fun was had by all at the Heart Of England Alpaca Fiesta.

Much thanks to Paul Stead of Saphire Alpacas and Lulu Oliver of Lusi alpacas for the vast amount of effort that went into getting this lovely local alpaca event organised.

Alpaca showing Toft gets results on first day.

Great day of alpaca showing for Toft at the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta. A massive thanks to our handlers Linda and Gemma who did a fantastic professional job of handling our Alpacas and to heir trusty helper Paul who is new to alpacas but handles them with the calmness and professionalism of a man born as a natural Alpaquero!!!
Thanks team for making us look so good and hey look at these results!

Toft Ison- 2nd in the Adult Black Male
Toft Rastaban - 2nd in the Adult Brown Male and RESERVE CHAMPION
Toft Ikrit- 4th in the Intermediate Brown Male
Toft Jedi- 3rd in the Adult Fawn Male

Toft Madysen- 1st in the Junior Fawn Female and RESERVE CHAMPION
Toft Ambria - 2nd in Intermediate Fawn Female
Toft Gabbi- 3rd in the Junior Fawn Female
Toft Adele- 2nd in the Junior Brown Female
Toft Nubia- 2nd in the Intermediate Brown Female.

A fabulous set of results for Toft Alpacas and there's the white and lights to enter today. Fingers crossed!


Much thanks to Mary Jo Smith of Bozedown alpacas for judging and awarding toft such accolades.