Well, we had a fantastic day at Cardigan Show yesterday. Not only was the weather perfect - blue skies, lovely and warm but with a gentle breeze, but the location is simply stunning too. We set off early and were probably about the 3rd sheepy people to arrive, and were surrounded by lots and lots of empty pens. However by 9.30am there was a constant stream of vehicles and trailers off loading sheep of all colours, shapes, sizes, breeds and ages and all those pens very quickly filled up and people all around were snipping away with their dagging shears, polishing horns, spraying ??something onto the faces....not sure what, could have been water,
.. and busily titivating their sheep. Our girls were to be shown 'naturally' so didn't have to worry about too much fussing over ours (although we were only showing one, as the other one had just come along as companion
). All of sudden the classes seemed to commence all around us and I donned my new white coat and put my number on ready. We were in a class of 4 ewes in the Rare and Minority Breeds and against 2 Coloured Ryelands and a little Balwen. Much deliberation by the judge and lots of inspecting and we were called in 2nd. Absolutely overjoyed with this result and grinned from ear to ear. Steward then told us to be ready to come back fairly soon for the Championship. I didn't understand that one at all. Why would we come back when we were a 2nd place?
Anyway about 20 mins later we were called back and asked to wait on the sidelines. I then got to probe the steward a bit more and he explained that if the one that was placed 1st in my class was given the Champion, then one of the other 1st placers would automatically be picked as Reserve. But, if one of the others was placed 1st then I would be put into the line-up too. Hmmmmm.....oh well, we stood and watched more deliberation and then the judge made her decision and placed the Ram as Champion. She then turned to me and indicated to me to join the line up. After what seemed like only a few moments, she came over and gave us RESERVE - OMG - so excited. The judge clearly liked her and in fact said "she's beautiful and has a lovely top line". WELL, what a result. We're clearly hooked now and can't wait for the next show, although we do realise that the next judge may take one look and think she's rubbish
but that's their choice and decision. Brilliant, brilliant day.
