My new alpaca judging shoes had their first outing at the weekend at the South East Alpaca Group Halter Show at the South of England Spring Show. They performed beautifully.
I went all the way to Doncaster last week to try these on in a specialist shop called Shoe Healers. Unfortunately I have seriously wide feet and a trip to any shoe shop is never a short one. Last year judging in the wet I lost my favourite pair of R M Williams which literally gave up the ghost at the end of the season.
These bad boys are Alfred Sergeant brogues and are telling me that I better do a lot of alpaca judging in the coming years or I will be buried in them.
The South East Alpaca Show this weekend was a real joy with a very high standard of entries and a big crowd watching throughout. Shirley was asked to commentate on the proceedings and did a great job of keeping the general public informed. There was a great atmosphere at the show, a lot of happy exhibitors, an enthralled audience and a very relieved show organiser.
Liz Butler has run this show for the past ten years with a military precision that ensures a pleasant day for all and her experience was well rewarded this weekend by the reaction of the Show dignatories and celebrities who dropped in throughout the two days.
The Show Champion huacaya was taken by Houghton Hall alpacas with a superlative white junior female and the Reserve Champion by Herts Alpacas with a stonking Adult Brown Male. The Suri Show Champion was won by Houghton Hall white. Best of British Haucaya went to grey Male from Spring Farm Alpacas and Best of British Suri went to Pinkney Alpacas.
Thanks to the show organisers for inviting me and to the exhibitors for your patience and good humour and for allowing me the privilege of scratting through your alpacas.
I wish you all a great season with our alpacas.
