With just a fortnight to go and having attracted 199 entries from 56 exhibitors, Texel breeders thoughts are rapidly turning to the Texel Sheep Society’s inaugural ‘Textravaganza’ National Texel Show at Carlisle on Friday, July 30.

Society chief executive John Yates said the event was set to be a day everyone associated with the Texel breed and the wider sheep industry will enjoy.

“With the show season significantly curtailed over the last two years due to Covid-19 this new event represents a great opportunity for everyone connected to the Texel breed to come together.

“There is, rightly, much to celebrate and be proud of as the breed closes in on its 50th year in the UK and the demand from new breeders shows no sign of abating, as new flocks continue to be established across the country.”

The main show classes will be judged by a brace of judges, with John MacGregor of the Allanfauld flock, Kilsyth, Glasgow, taking charge of the female classes and Richard Henderson of the Ballynahone flock, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, having the task of sorting through the males.

Both judges will then join forces to decide the championships.

Judging the young handlers classes for Texel enthusiasts aged under 16 will be Rachel Wilson of the Milnbank flock, Aberdeenshire.

Alongside the show classes the event will also host two sales, one for gimmers and another for ram lambs, with these attracting entries of 26 sheep from 22 vendors. “These sale classes will offer breeders the opportunity to source top quality stock ahead of the breeding season.

Mr Yates added: “The ram lamb sale in particular will present an ideal opportunity for breeders from Northern Ireland to buy ram lambs in time for use in this year’s breeding season, bearing in mind the need for 40 days continuous residency on a GB mainland holding prior to export to Northern Ireland as a result of export rules introduced under the Northern Irish Protocol.”