Four alpacas, five rosettes and a championship sash!

It was a very early start today, the alarm was set for 4am as we were heading off to the Wesmorland County Show. 

Paul has been working in London today but thankfully Carol and Dave were on hand to give me a hand.  Everyone should have a Carol & Dave, they are great!

The weather was not pleasant, by the time we arrived at the showground it was pouring down and there was mud everywhere.  Carol passed comment that it was the first time she had witnessed me panicking - I was worried about getting stuck in the mud with the trailer.

With the animals unloaded and the car safely parked (without getting stuck) and facing the direction for the messy exit it was time for the show.

Being a colour championship the running order was from Black to white so first up for us was Barnacre Meketaten in the Intermediate Brown Female class.  She has fabulous presence, a stunning fleece, good conformation and substance of bone with an impressive fleece length, in the words of the judge, Liz Barlow.  The judge was clearly impressed as Meketaten was awarded first place, and subsequently went on to win the Brown Champion (again! if you remember she was also brown champion at the 2011 Border Union Show).

Next up was the super friendly Lady Godiva, Dave was taking her into the ring and she behaved very well for him, other than sitting down bored at one point waiting for her turn to be judged!  This was another big class and we were very pleased to be awarded a second place rosette, I know this will be particularly pleasing for one very pleased couple???...

After lunch it was the turn of the whites, Casiphia was in the largest class of the day, Intermediate White female.  This was a very tightly contested class and there was lots of to ing and fro ing of judge Liz and apprentice judge Shirley Bettinson.  Casiphia was awarded second place, as was Niveous who was pipped to first place by the alpaca who went on to win supreme champion.

On the subject of champions, Meketaten was in close contention for Reserve Champion and being dark brown again a light fawn this is very impressive.  The judge said it was so close and they were so impressed she awarded a 'special award' of the show (the only one!) to Meketaten - what a superstar!  The judge described the feel of her fleece as running your hand through a silk carpet and suggested that breeders and public alike should check her out, which they duly did!

Hopefully (if Dave managed to work my camera) I will have some photo's to share with you tomorrow night, my bed is calling me now!