Devon County Show with Mrs TOFT Alpaca Judge

Splendid Thursday and Friday this week at the Devon County Show in Exeter where Shirley was judging the alpacas and I was commentating on the proceedings and keeping exhibitors and public informed on the wonderful world of Alpaca. The weather heals off both days from being disastrous with a short break for rain on the Thursday when we went inside for a couple of hours. 

All in all the rain threatened throughout as it does in an English Summer but it never really materialised and a good crowd enjoyed the proceedings throughout. Jo Bridge was apprenticing with Shirley and together they kept up a cracking pace to get through 170 entries over the two days.

It was a great two days of Alpaca fun and the standard of alpacas seemed very high with a very large Suri entry making my job of keeping the 'rabbit' going fairly easy. Great crowd, great setting, fabulous alpacas and a great sense of camaraderie from the exhibitors makes this an unmissable event. Just look at the setting, a permanently fenced show ring, two huge back up marquees to house the alpacas and to keep the ring going in adverse weather. All this next to the main show attraction the Devon Eye! What's not to enjoy??

What a showcase for our magnificent creatures. Congratulations to all the winners, commiserations to those who didn't get placed. Well done Mrs TOFT Alpaca judge and her apprentice from....Suffolk!

Well done Devon!!

TOFT Hosts BAS Level 1 Judge training...

Busy old week on the Manor as we hosted the BAS level 1 Judge training course here at TOFT. Course Tutors were BAS Judges, Liz Barlow and Jay Holland, Shirley was observing so she can tutor in the near future and yours truly was on domestic duty, catering, handling and support service. A massive thanks must go to our herdswomen Linda and Freya who'd did a great job of organising the animals and to the handlers who came from far and wide to help lead and hold the alpacas for the prospective judges. A great three days of learning and fun on the Manor.  The delegates all went home exhausted but wiser than when they arrived. We thank then for their good humour throughout and wish them all the very best as they advance through the various BAS judging levels.

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...

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.

And the winners were.... Alpaka Show in the Allgau...

Champion and reserve at Buchloe.  Both young with fleece and form to die for. If I could have took them home I would- congratulations. If the young  male who won, with the blue ribbon, carries his fleece forward as he grows he will be a very famous male in Europe. Let's keep,our fingers crossed.

Alpaka Show Buchloe in the Allgau

Had a great four days in Southern Germany last week judging alpacas and fleece in a town called Buchloe.  A big thanks all round from Shirley and to the organisers Simon, Hienz and George for their wonderful hospitality. 

We arrived on Thursday and were taken out for the day by George  to visit the Bavarian Alps. The country is amazing. The views were to die for. We popped up a ski lift and spent an hour waiting for the wind to turn so that the Paragliders could terrify us mere mortals jumping off the cliffs. I was wobbly on the lift the very thought of jumping into the void hanging onto bits of nylon sitting in your rucksack is the stuff of nightmares. 

A big thanks to George of Alpaka Amada who was our driver and our host for the day. Thank you Simon and Hienz for an unforgettable day out. George got us back to the Show ground for 5pm where the jollies stopped and fleece judging commenced in earnest.

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.

All done and dusted and the girl done great...

95 alpaca fleeces and 180 alpacas later all the cups and rosettes are on their way to someone's farm and the judge is now all done and dusted. 

Shirley did a great job. For a first 'full on' halter show in a foreign country where she was working with four different translators through her oral reasons she loved it, as I always knew she would. She seemed to enjoy every second of ring time and worked with great commitment, accuracy and dedication. Thanks to all who invited us to take part and to all the exhibitors and organisers . 

And a very special thanks to Uta, big Pete, Daniel  and Annakris who organised the fleece show. 

And a massive congratulations to Jorge and Annett of Alpakahof am Czorneboh for organising such a splendid event and to the incredible lady on the microphone throughout whose name now completely evades me- you were terrific, now no speaking for a week! xxx a few action shots of the judge to finish - enjoy.

Loneliness of the long distance Ring Steward...

Andi Reidi from Switzerland performed the role of Ring Steward this weekend at the Alpaka Show Ost in Burgstadt and performed the role with real flair. 

Here he is in contemplative mood ready to kick off the first halter class of day two, knowing there are 120 alpacas to get through before 6 pm with a raffle, lunch break and a fashion show in the way. All was done and dusted bang on time which was a credit to all involved in making this a great alpaca showcase. Thanks Andi, safe trip home and see you soon.

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.

There really is no getting away from the fibre business...

The hotel we are staying in in Burgstadt whilst Shirley judges the Alpaka Show Ost is a converted textile spinning  mill. The fibre business chases you everywhere...The machines are no longer running but the place is packed tonight  with German Alpaca breeders, celebrating their annual show, all of whom wish they knew just a smidgeon of what has been forgotten here.

Oh Lordy ....alpaca judging just got a lot more colourful

 I suspect my good friend Cameron Holt has not yet visited.

The garden gnomes in Burgstadt are as big as me...

How about this bad boy? I. Met this dude hanging around in someone's garden in Burgstadt with a load of others of similar scale. (We are over here for the weekend while Shirley judges fleece and halter at the Alpaka Show Ost for Association e.v ) You don't find many of these mothers  in Dunchurch. 

You don't find many in the UK at all probably because your jocular Friday night youth would take him walkabout. I know I'd be tempted!  Imagine waking up on Sunday morning with this bad boy on your doorstep.

Alpaca judging action from the North Devon Show

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!

Alpacas at the Northumberland County Show draw big crowds

I love the Northumberland County Show. The wonderful thing about the Northumberland County Show is the genuine mix of town and country with country lovers from the City of Newcastle attending in droves to mix with the farmers from right across the North of England to appreciate the cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, cavies, horses and of course especially the alpacas.

The public just love the alpacas. There is a tremendous interest in all things alpaca and it made me realise yet again how much I miss the Alpaca Showing at the Agricultural Shows. Breeders only shows are fine for breeders but they are not a replacement for getting our alpacas in front of a new crowd. There is genuine excitement in being in front of large members of the general public with alpacas that is hugely rewarding. Also the promotional aspect for the Alpaca is irreplaceable. There will be a lot of enquiries coming NEBAG's way in the coming weeks I'm certain. I'm jealous to death!

Paul Rippon of Barnacre Alpacas did a sterling job of educating the public on all things alpaca with an informative running commentary throughout the judging. I dare say he'll go very quiet for the next few days having talked on the microphone non stop for almost eight hours straight.

The alpaca showing never had less than a hundred members of the public watching at any one time and for the climax of the Show Championship there were close to three hundred waiting for Shirley to announce the result.

The Supreme Champion Huacaya Alpaca was won by an intermediate light fawn female from Beck Brow Alpacas in Cumbria.  A bit more 'bling' for your cabinet Barb. 

The Reserve Champion and Best Bred Northumbrian Alpaca went to Fallowfield Alpacas.

A high standard was maintained throughout all the classes with an especially impressive entry in the white juniors both male and female. Congratulations to NEBAG on creating a great show with a lovely atmosphere. Congratulations also to the Northumberland County Show Organisers and their team for persevering despite the challenges caused by the weather on creating a genuine country event which was a joy to attend regardless of the mud on our boots. What else do you expect when you're out in field? Pavement? There's enough of that stuff in the Toon!