HILL RADNOR NEWS. Welcome to 2013 and a Happy New Year to you all. Here is a roundup of the closing events of NEWSLETTER NO.

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1 HILL RADNOR NEWS Welcome to 2013 and a Happy New Year to you all. Here is a roundup of the closing events of The Annual Dinner After 2011 s record turnout and the resulting move to a new larger venue unfortunately our numbers dropped slightly for the 2012 dinner but attendance was still in the mid 40 s and an excellent meal was provided by the Castle of Brecon Hotel. A good mix of established and newer members made an appearance and hopefully some enjoyable mingling went on. Our Flock Judge Tracey Evans stepped into the breach when it came to presenting the cups in the absence of our President, David Jones. Tracey travelled the country judging flocks in the weeks leading up to the dinner and thoroughly enjoyed herself. She gave a small roundup of her travels and then announced the winners to be: Large flock Katie & Rhianne Jones Small flock Ellie Owens Ewe lambs Tony Bird The only winner present was Tony who happily collected Tracey Evans and Tony Bird his cup from Tracey. Katie and Rhianne Jones Ewes Tracey then presented other cups won during the summer to Maree Jones on behalf of her father Elvet for the Royal Welsh Female Champion and David Williams for the Show & Sale Champion. Tracey then also kicked the traditional raffle off drawing the first ticket - thanks once again to members for both donating many raffle prizes (without being asked to do so) and then purchasing tickets to win them back! This provides a welcome boost to Society funds.! PAGE 1

2 NEWSLETTER NO. 16 FEBRUARY 2013 Winter Fair and Fatstocks An excellent entry of 13 pairs were forward at the Welsh Winter Fair, mainly from Society members but they were all beaten to the honours by well known fatstock masters Brian and Geraint Davies with their pair of wether lambs bred by Owen Jones. The Hill Radnor was also represented in the Young Farmers untrimmed classes by Rhodri and Geraint Workman, again with a pair of wethers bred by Owen Jones no placing unfortunately but an all important presence for the breed. Winners at Winter Fair The Hill Radnor was also given its own class at the English Winter Fair this year, 3 pairs entering and Vivian Howells winning. Apparently, the breed generates much comment in such an event being so little known. Let s hope more exhibitors support it next year and put on a bigger display. Meanwhile, Lyn & Carol Williams tried their hand in the Brecon Livestock market competition for a pen of 4 or more lambs, coming out on top of 9 pairs in the Any Hill section with 5 Hill Radnor wethers, beating the more common numerous breeds in the competition. Young Farmers entry by Rhodri and Geraint Workman Sculpture The long awaited Hill Radnor sculpture is now available and the first models completed and sold. Jean Fowler of is taking orders for these at a cost of 100 plus postage. Personally, I think they are very good and I doubt you will get a Hill Radnor sculpture anywhere else. Many of you have said you are interested so please contact Jean direct either via her website or on to place your order.! PAGE 2

3 Logo It was good to see this appearing in various shapes and forms on members clothing last year but would be even better to see more and more of it. You can have this printed on pretty much any garment provided by the supplier (showcoat, T- shirt, sweatshirt, fleece, hoodie, hat etc) or even provide your own garment for embroidering. Why not add your flock name and personalise it. That s what some of us have done. Please contact Kayleigh at designs4ewe.co.uk or on for further details and prices SHOWS WITH HILL RADNOR CLASSES It won t be long before the summer shows are upon us and I expect exhibitors will already be making preparations listed below are those shows with dedicated Hill Radnor classes. Dates, contacts and judges to best of knowledge at this time. Show Date Contact Judge Smallholder 18/19 May Edward Lambert Cwmdu 20 Jul Royal Welsh July Owen Jones Gwenddwr 27 Jul 2013 Goronwy Davies Brecon 3 Aug Victoria Howells Lower Chapel 10 Aug 2013 Sarah Prothero Llyswen & Boughrood 17 Aug 2013 Richard Joseph Monmouth 29 Aug Ivor Davies Erwood 24/31 Aug? Sennybridge 7 Sep Arthur Pritchard Hill Radnor Flockbook Society Website: PAGE 3

4 Member profiles To reflect some of the changes we have had in the membership over the past few years, here are the profiles of two newer members of the Society, one very new! Perhaps, next time we will profile longer established members. Here goes: Paul Davis, Isle of Man Early in 2012, as an RBST member, I embarked upon a project to build up isolated herds/flocks of the most endangered British species, on the Isle of Man, to form a backup plan in case of disastrous disease outbreaks on the mainland. The plan was quickly endorsed by many interested parties including importantly the Isle of Man Government itself. Dubbed the Manx Ark project, two initiatives were started. Firstly, myself and Ruth Dalton from the RBST, set about identifying purebred native animals from the endan- gered list already on the island. Secondly, a project was launched to iden- tify island farmers willing to house animals within their operations, and ani- mals suitable for export to the island to start building the herds/flocks. Progress has been slow to date due to the complexities of health-related paperwork and I have so far only managed to import and establish a herd of half a dozen Northern Dairy Shorthorn cattle on the island. Hill Radnors were identified as the first breed of sheep suitable for replication, and with the assistance of the RBST, I acquired nine yearling ewes (Pontysgib, Court and Newhouse flocks) and one tup (Trawscoed Bernie) at the Show and Sale in September. Again health-related paperwork has slowed things up, and although the new flock was moved in November to an isolation facility near Rugby, they currently remain there waiting for a suit- able opportunity for transport to the island once formalities are completed and the sea is calm enough for them to sail. Then Hill Radnor strains will join the Northern Dairy Shorthorn cattle as breeds whose continuity is given a further guarantee of survival thanks to the presence of a growing block offshore. Onnyview flock of Hill Radnors - Rob and Allison Littlehales We graze a mixed flock of over 100 Hill Radnor and 30 Llanwenog ewes. Based at Ratlinghope in South Shropshire all ewes, rams and lambs are conservation grazed on heath, moorland and wildflower meadows for various trusts and organisations. The grazing is mixed, but in an unscientific assessment the Radnors do very well grazing on whatever pasture they are turned out on and have been observed eating heather, bilberry, blackthorn, broom, brambles, gorse - in fact, most things they come across. This is exactly what the ecologists require from our rare breeds as this type of grazing encourages greater biodiversity of plants and insects. Grazing amounts to 230 acres and is spread over a number of sites. Some grazing is free, some is paid for, some we get paid to graze. We take part in open days and training days for volunteers which involve sheep and Radnors have proved themselves superstars in how laid back they are. Conservation grazing is a great way for us to get our feet on the farming ladder. Rare and native breeds are part of that and after a brief (and never to be repeated) interlude with Balwens, Radnors proved an excellent choice. They are docile, easy to manage with few lambing and mothering problems. Our first ewes and ram were bought at the 2009 Show and Sale, since then ewes have been bought from Castell Du family, Tony Bird, Sarah Paterson and Kate Mayglothing. For us, Radnors produce a good sized lamb that can be sold to the premium rare breed meat market and through the local livestock market. We are still on a learning curve trying to balance a saleable finished lamb and have enough sheep to fulfil our grazing obligations. Lambing takes place indoors at home in March as none of the grazing is close enough to manage this realistically outdoors (plus Allison is a control freak and likes everything close by where she can keep an eye on things). Lambs are kept at home for a few weeks and then turned out on to site. Many of the areas have footpaths running through them so lambs need to be strong enough to get out of the way of marauding dogs and owners. By August the lambs are weaned and will start to go off to the prime lamb market from 36 kilos. Stores are sold on throughout the autumn.! PAGE 4

5 continued!om page 4 We are growing our flock and hope to be up to 250 Radnor ewes in the next few years, although this means holding back ewes that should go for slaughter. We only register ewe lambs that would make suitable breeding stock and hope to be able to bring some ewes and lambs to the show and sale in the next few years. Smallholder Stand It was agreed at the AGM that the Society would take a Breed Stand at the Smallholder Show on the weekend of 18/19 May. We will have live sheep on display as well as breed literature etc. If anyone would like to spare an hour or two to man the stand on either day, but Saturday especially, please get in touch to volunteer your services. Smallholder Social The Royal Welsh social although successful in the past has not happened the last year or two. This year we are going to try a similar event at the Smallholder Show on Sat 18 May where we will have more space and hopefully lots of visitors. This will be totally informal and commence around 5pm for an hour or so. It is hoped exhibitors will provide the drink and nibbles as in the past but if you are feeling very thirsty or hungry, bring your own! It would be great to see as many people as possible here, your chance to meet with other members, catch up with old friends, debate the day s judging and partake in general chit chat with like-minded folk. Buy or Sell Following the AGM, we are going to add a buy/sell/wanted section to our website. This will be open for members to advertise any REGISTERED sheep they have for sale or to source new stock whilst all interested purchasers can view what is on offer. Juliet Morris is currently preparing the page and it will be up and running soon. Please note, in order to encourage members and potential purchasers to support the Show and Sale the page will close over the showing period in the summer and re-open after the Show & Sale. To add your advert to the page, please Juliet Morris or David Williams with specific details of the stock, pictures if available too.! PAGE 5

6 NEWSLETTER NO. 9! DECEMBER 2009 Court Radnors in Hampshire Trawscoed Bernie Fatstock line-up at Winter Fair Show line-up If you have any contributions for future issues, or comments on this one, please contact: David Williams on or or Sarah paterson on or For comments regarding the website please contact: Juliet Morris PAGE 6