"The Terminal Sire
which Ticks ALL the Boxes"
Blue Texel Sheep Society

BLUE TEXEL TEAMS BATTLE FOR TOP HONOURS AT NATIONAL YOUNG STARS

Date Posted: 29th March 2016

Judges Pat Greany (Left) and Jonathan Long flank the winning team of Blue Texel Breeders Angharad Francis, Rhys Francis and Chris Davies Judges Pat Greany (Left) and Jonathan Long flank the winning team of Blue Texel Breeders Angharad Francis, Rhys Francis and Chris Davies
Ryhs Francis and Chris Davies hard at work in the clipping section Ryhs Francis and Chris Davies hard at work in the clipping section

Blue Texel Sheep teams were out in the force in the sheep section at this year’s National Young Stars Event, Malvern, with two finishing in the top three of the sheep challenge. Leading the way under judges’ Jonathan Long and Pat Greaney, were We’ve Got The Blues, a team made up from Chris Davies, Angharad Francis and Rhys Francis and supported by The Blue Texel Sheep Society. They excelled in all areas of the competition with judge Pat Greaney commenting they were the most consistent throughout, showing a thought process to every element of the competition.

Brother and sister Rhys and Angharad Francis run pedigree Jacobs, Zwartbles and Blue Texel sheep at home in Carmarthenshire. Angharad has won the young handlers section at the Royal Welsh Show in three consecutive years, while Rhys has won the sheep trimming competition at the Welsh and now trims other breeders in the region for shows and sales. Both avid young farmers, Angharad works for Cogent as a beef advisor and Rhys works at home on the family farm.

Meanwhile, Chris Davies, Brecon, farms at home with his parents while studying in his final year at Walford and North Shropshire College. Alongside the family’s Texel flock, Chris established his Beaconsview Blue Texel flock in 2012.

In third place was One Sheep Two Sheep Blue Sheep, again supported by the Blue Texel Sheep Society and represented by Aled Groucott, Rhys Cooke and Megan Watkins.

The event saw more than 140 young farming enthusiasts between the ages of eight and twenty four, showcase their skills in marketing and publicity, clipping, trimming and presentation, ring craft, auctioneering, butchering and their general knowledge of the industry. 

Commenting on the event, Chairman Neil Lloyd said: “In just two years this event has cemented itself as a showcase for young talent in this industry. The aim all along has been to put young people at the forefront of a farming event and give them the profile and credit they deserve.”

“The event has grown considerably with the addition of a headline sponsor in the form of the Allflex Group, for which the event organisers are indebted to for their valuable support. Equally, the sheep and dairy challenges have both more than doubled in entries, which bodes well for future growth,” he added.