First up was the Great Yorkshire show. We set off with four Ryelands and three Coloured Ryelands for this three-day event in Harrogate.
Weather was fine when we arrived the day before the show and all was well. However, Tuesday morning saw persistent rain from the word go and it was at this point the manager realised how badly prepared she was for wet weather.
Nearly four hours in out of the show-ring with only an old waterproof and no hat, the manager could have given any drowned rat a run for its money!
Lulu and me? Well, we opted just to stay in the nice dry pen with the sheep - nae fun spectating in that! Here we are just chillin' in the pens.
But despite the rain, the manager said it was all worthwhile with another lovely lot of prizes in the ring. This time Wallander had to step back from the limelight as Bill (Hunland Viscount to give him his proper name) was male champion and reserve overall.
Bill in the ring ...
...and back in the pen with his rosette.
The manager was also delighted when ewe lamb Xandra won her class, exactly seven years since her mother Nula did the same at this show. (However, Xandra didn't get a visit in the ring from Princess Anne like her mum did!) Xandra joined up with Wally and Sheila to win the group class too so she had a great day.
A very soggy group class with expert handler Jim Arthur.
Here's the manager with the fabulous Scottish supporters Janet and Jim Arthur who braved the whole downpour to watch the judging and were still smiling at the end!
Ironically once all the judging was finished, the rain stopped at stayed off for the rest of the show.
We were very lucky to be staying in the fabulous tent of Debbie Bostock who kindly put us up for the whole show and her brilliant tent stayed cosy and dry.
So the next day we went exploring round the showground and looking to see if I could find anything as exciting as being on the champion showjumper at the Highland Show.
And I got very excited when I found something which would take me to new heights....
A Ferris wheel - yay!
But excitement soon turned to disappointment....
I wasn't tall enough to go on the ride on my own - and even more disappointingly neither the manager nor any of her friends would take me on it. What a bunch of fearties!
Anyway here are a few more snaps from our tour of the showground:
This is us having tea in Fodder restaurant with our neighbour Andrew Parker photobombing our picture. And no, apparently Debbie is not sleeping (just checking her phone, she says!)
Anyway we had a lovely time - as did the manager and Debbie, think the gin might have had something to do with that!
Cheers folks!
A less than a couple weeks later we were heading south of the border once more and this time the manager was well prepared for rain with a full set of waterproofs - and a hat!
Oh and boy did she need them.
If she got properly wet in Yorkshire, then she got absolutely drowned at Penrith. A makeshift canopy kept the sheep kinda dry until they went in the ring where, at times, the rain was of monsoon proportions!
Her's me and Lulu sheltering with the sheep.
And here's a few pictures from the judging:
And what has turned out to be a fab season carried on with Wallander winning the Ryelands and Whisper wining reserve champion in the coloureds, Both ewe lambs, Xandra and Dotty (coloured) also got firsts and Wally, Sheila and Xandra won the group class again.
Again, once all the showing was over, the rain eventually stopped and LB even managed the take her jacket off.
I have to admit that Lulu and me mostly stayed in the car (sensible, we are) but later we took the chance to meet up with friends Molly and Zebedee from the Orchard House flock.
Soon it was time to go home but it was a bit touch and go getting out of the field which had turned into a mudslide by this time. But despite a few slips and slids, the good old Renault Koleos managed to avoid the indignity of being towed out and managed to pull the trailer out onto the road under his own steam - phew!
But our travels that weekend were not over as the next day we headed to Kinross where Scottish Ryeland folk had a get-together at the home of Eddie and Janice Henderson. There were talks by a vet, advice of showing sheep, wool handling talks and a demonstration of spinning as well as a chance to see some fabulous garments made from Ryeland and Coloured Ryeland wool by the very talented Ricky Smyth.
Lula and me had a grand view of proceeding from the top of a round bale where we hung out all day with out Barony family friends
Tomorrow (Monday July 31) is the Scottish national show which this year is being held at Turriff Show in Aberdeenshire. Unfortunately, the manager can't go to this one (this damned work interfering with showing, she was heard muttering) but there is an amazing 104 sheep entered so we hope you all have a fabulous day - and may the sun shine on you!
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