We are just home from The BAS National Show. And what a show it was. So well organised and such fantastic alpacas; the quality was just amazing.
We had four entries including our shared black male (we didn't take Poppet due to space in the van) and we have been smiling rather a lot!
The rematch:
Saturday morning saw Beck Brow Explorer in the ring. Not only were there 23 entries in his class, but the Bozedown male that beat him at The Futurity was there again. Well, when you get beaten it's always good to get the opportunity for a rematch; and this was it. I couldn't watch...I had my back to the ring...then someone said well done... he had been pulled forward... we were definitely in the ribbons...I had a quick glance...I still couldn't watch...look I can't drag this out any longer...he got 1st place and Reserve Champion Junior Male!!!!
Beck Brow Explorer
Roma just missed out again. She was also in a class with 23 entries. It looked like she was going to be pulled forward then some double checking between her and another female meant she was pipped. It will be good to see how she does at Northumberland Show.
What goes around comes around.
Sunday and it was Waradene St Patrick of EPC's turn in the ring. We had an idea that Bozedown Omen would be there; and he was. This guy already has a couple of fawn championships from large shows under his belt. It was close...the judge (Tim Hey) said that there really was nothing between the first 3 placed alpacas...he commended St Patrick on his brightness and his handle...but we got 2nd place. To come a whisker behind Omen is no mean feat...but we're up for a rematch! As Mary-Jo said 'what goes around comes around' after all we had beaten her junior white male!
Our shared black male. Anzac Viracocha Black Sabbath got placed 1st in his adult black male class. We hadn't seen him since we bought him, so we were eager to get our hands on him. He really is a true blue black with a very bright fleece. Our estimation of his third fleece is that it is still between 19 and 20 microns.
So we had a great show; 4 alpacas; 2 firsts; 1 second; and a reserve junior male champion.
And the winner was...
As I said the standard of entries was high. Tim (Huacaya judge) and Val Fullerlove (Suri judge) in their summing up both said that they had been stunned by the quality across all colours. However the huacaya winner was...a stunning male that we saw when he first arrived in the UK, and we were blown away by his fleece then...he is a truly stunning male...Eringa Park Lawbreaker!
I also need to mention another stunning male. I was dying to get a look at his fleece but as he kept winning everything, I had to wait until 5pm before I got to see...but he was worth the wait...he really is another stunner; Valley Alpacas The Diplomat. Congratulations to Sue who also took the medium sized breeders award.
As is always the case at these events, it was great to catch up with everyone, including Mark from Patou who came up today, and there was plenty of socialising, as well as the serious stuff of trying to win prizes!