APPLICATIONS are now open for the National Sheep Association's ‘Next Generation Shepherd Competition’, with the Northern Region heat due to take place at North Sheep 2019, being held at New Hall Farm, Rathmell, near Settle, North Yorkshire on Wednesday June 5.

This competition offers young, aspiring shepherds and shepherdesses the opportunity to demonstrate their shepherding skills. Sponsored by Carrs Billington, each entrant will be battling it out to take home a share of the competition’s £740 prize fund.

During the North Sheep event, competition entrants will be expected to carry out two compulsory tasks and a choice of three optional tasks from the list of five. The compulsory elements are:

• Give correct examples of foot care techniques/handling, vaccinating and dosing;

• Answer questions on flock management and health issues.

The choices for the optional tasks are:

• Shear two sheep – entrant must have a BWMB Blue Seal Certificate to be produced on the day;

• Compete in the EBLEX Lamb Selection Competition;

• Judge and place two pens of sheep in the correct order;

• ATV handling – complete a set course.

• Carrs Billington Feed Identification.

The first prize winner will be awarded with the Ali Johnson Perpetual Trophy, a £300 cash prize and will be invited to represent the NSA Northern Region at the UK finals, held at NSA Sheep, Malvern on July 28, 2020. Second place will receive £200, third will be given £100, and there will be small cash prizes for placings up to tenth.

NSA northern regional manager and events organiser, Heather Stoney-Grayshon, said: “The future of NSA lies with the younger generation and we know that there are so many across the north of England who have a considerable amount of talent. The Next Generation Shepherd Competition has been created to test the knowledge and skill of each candidate and to support our future sheep farmers. We are expecting an extremely exciting competition this year and there some excellent prizes to be won.”

To be eligible for this competition, competitors must be a maximum age of 26 (on July 28, 2020) and must reside within the NSA's Northern Region, including Cumbria, Northumberland, County Durham, Lancashire, Isle of Man, and North and West Yorkshire.

Entries are now open and have a closing date of Monday May 6, 2019. A maximum of 20 entries can be accepted, and those successful 20 will be chosen based on the quality of their entry form and the information they have supplied.

The 2017 winner of the Next Generation Shepherd Competition was 25-year-old Rob Walker, who farms at Brennand Farm, Clitheroe, Lancashire, and for him, winning was an ‘incredible accomplishment’, and it has greatly benefited his career.

“I had won the competition two years prior, so to be able to win it again and go through to the national event was a major achievement for me. To receive recognition for your hard work is great, and this award is something that cannot be taken away from you. It is a fantastic accolade to have on your CV.”

Robert then went on to compete at Malvern and in Paris for the European competition: “I came second in Paris in the European Competition. The competition and the way they handle sheep is very different compared with the UK. When moving the sheep, they pick up their back legs and move them like a wheelbarrow – it is a totally different style of sheep farming.”

For those looking to enter, Rob shared his advice to young shepherds: “All those who run the competition are extremely knowledgeable and industry leaders themselves, so even if you don’t win, there is a lot to learn from them. This competition gets you thinking outside the box and makes you think about why you do what you do. Go outside your comfort zone and enter the competition.”

Full competition rules and entry forms can be downloaded at www.northsheep.org.uk or for further information, contact Ms Stoney-Grayshon at heather@nationalsheep.org.uk or on 079666 99930.