East of England sheep interbreed goes to Texel

Taking the interbreed sheep award at East of England was the Texel leader, Neil and Emma Pamplin’s shearling ewe. This homebred ewe, by Ettrick Jackpot and out of a dam by Cowell Maverick is one of 40 ewes kept by the couple at home at Ringstead, Northampton. She was previously interbreed champion at Suffolk last month and is destined for the breed’s premier sale at Worcester.

Standing reserve to the Texel was the Suffolk and Native breeds champion, a two shear ram from Merrick and Julie Pinny, Northampton. This one is a Baileys tup purchased privately in 2007 and is one of a team of tups used on the family’s 180 ewe Alloaks flock.

Reserve in the Continental section went to a Charollais shearling ewe from Graham Allenby, while the second spot in the Native interbreed was awarded to Basil Cooper’s Southdown aged ewe.