Plans for an inaugural National Texel Show to be staged at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday, July 30, have been announced by the breed society.

Society chairman Roy Campbell said the event would offer members the opportunity to showcase the very best Texels from across the UK. The event will also host a gimmer sale, providing breeders the chance to buy and sell top class females early in the season.

“With many shows cancelled again this year or operating in a very limited manner, the society is delighted to give members this opportunity to showcase their best animals ahead of the autumn sales season.

“The event promises to be an exciting day for everyone connected to the Texel breed and is a date everyone should put in their diaries,” added Mr Campbell.

Society chief executive John Yates added that with the increasing popularity of the breed and a growing membership, the new event hosted by the society would support members who wished to promote their stock through the show ring, ahead of the autumn sales season.

“The society’s national sales will fall a month after this new event making it the ideal time to see a broad spectrum of sheep many of which are likely to be on offer at sales later in the season,” he explained.

Mr Yates said that for many in the farming sector the lack of events over the last 12 months had added to the isolation they had felt during the Covid-19 pandemic. “This will be a great chance to get together with like minded people and reconnect with old aquaintances as well as make new ones.

“Naturally, the event will be run in line with relevant Covid-19 guidelines in place at the time and could be subject to cancellation should it be deemed necessary to do so.”

Full details of show classes, judges and event and sale timings will be released in the next few weeks and will be available on the society’s website at www.texel.uk/nationalshow