The sheep section of The New Forest & Hampshire County Show (NFHCS) is a real success story with numbers of entries rising every year. As all the classes are so well supported, the Show has had to extend the sheep section once again and whilst doing this, access for the public has also been extended and improved.
Success has required alterations to the running of the classes as well. Some have grown so much, such as many of the pairs classes, that this year they will be split into Commercial and Rare and Minority breeds to make judging more manageable.
Wool is also under the judges eye with the fleece classes that include the more harsh wool used in carpets production through to the finest wool found in clothing.
The sheep show once again returns to entertain the public, where Richard Savory and his 9 woolly stars of the show perform . This includes a sheep being shorn and the famous "sheep show shuffle". Yes dancing sheep.- 3 shows a day.
The public will also be able to enter a competition where the knowledge they have learnt will be put to the test as they are asked to identify a range of different breeds of sheep, with cash prizes for the winners.
In this momentous year for Britain, the Show has a theme for the first time - ’Best of British’ – in the sheep lines this will encompass a pen competition where competitors will be asked to ’dress’ their pens appropriately.
The NFHCS is fortunate to have a huge variety of sheep that come, not only to compete but to enjoy the whole atmosphere of a traditional agricultural Show. This year’s Show hosts the usual large variety of sheep classes including Hampshire Down, Suffolk, Texel, Wiltshire Horn, Charollais and Jacob breeds. Many are unaware that the Show is known as one of the foremost in the UK for their Rare Breed classes, numbers of entries increasing every year, and the superb sheep that travel from far and wide to compete are much appreciated here.
The public can not only wander through the pens in the sheep lines, but also have the opportunity to see the best of the best when the Champions of each day take part in the Grand Parade in the main ring.
With rising numbers, there is no shortage of expert judges, and they are travelling to be part of this Show from as far afield as Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Gwynedd in Wales, Anglesey, and West Yorkshire. The renowned commentator Peter Titley will again be officiating. His informative and interesting commentary draws big crowds and he exemplifies one of the aims of the Show, to educate in an entertaining way.
