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***NSA Sheep Event returns Tuesday 30th July 2024***
  • Tuesday 30th July 2024

    Three Counties Showground, Malvern, WR13 6NW

  • Tuesday 30th July 2024

    Three Counties Showground, Malvern, WR13 6NW

  • Tuesday 30th July 2024

    Three Counties Showground, Malvern, WR13 6NW

About NSA Sheep Event

NSA Sheep Event 2024 delights visitors with attractions, competitions, Defra Ministers and more

The National Sheep Association (NSA) Sheep Event 2024 drew crowds from across the UK to enjoy a fantastic day out at the Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire yesterday (Tuesday 30th July).

Focussing on a sustainable future for the sector, the Association’s flagship event attracted prominent names from industry to lead seminar discussions including new Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner who joined NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker ‘in conversation’ for the NSA Breakfast Club Live.

With questions asked of the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), food security and the threat to upland sheep production, the seminar provided much for both the audience and the Minister himself to take away for further thought.

The event also saw the launch of a new exciting NSA report. ‘Sheep Farming and the Sustainability Agenda’ brings together evidence to demonstrate the UK sheep industry’s positive role in sustainable agriculture, identifying what more can also be done to progress the sector and further improve its credentials. The report was welcomed by another packed seminar tent with a buzz around the showground of what the report highlights for a positive farming future.

Workshops providing practical advice on issues from parasite prevention to grassland management, talks and demonstrations including a popular ‘agri-influencer’ forum and a cookery theatre were also popular features at the showcase event.

As crowds enjoyed the opportunity to speak with more than 250 agricultural trade stands to learn about the latest products and innovations to benefit their sheep farming businesses, many competitions took place around the showground, the centrepiece of these being the finals of the NSA Next Generation Shepherd of the year competition.

Having qualified at NSA regional heats, 18 competitors were put through their paces in six shepherding challenges in the contest that is sponsored by the Texel Sheep Society. Scoring the most points across the board and taking the prestigious title plus £1,000 prize money was 22-year-old Tom Garlick from Herefordshire. Tom comments: “I am really pleased to take the top prize. The competition included some very skilled fellow young farmers who I was honoured to compete alongside.”

Close behind on the scoresheet was 24-year-old Michael Hogg from Tyne & Wear in second place and 25-year-old James White from Derbyshire in third place. Taking first prize for the highest placed under 21 competitor was 20-year-old Ben Edwards from Herefordshire.

Another hard-fought contest took place at yesterday’s event as teams of fencing specialists competed in the popular Tornado Wire fencing competition requiring a section of stock fencing to be erected to a professional standard in just three hours. The winner this year was James John Agri Fencing from Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

And with much focus on farm sustainability a new competition at the event rewarded three young farmers who demonstrated business planning skills for the future. Dafydd Owen from Abergele, Conwy took first place winning £400 in the NSA Next Generation ‘Future Farming Competition’ kindly sponsored by Kepak.

Further competitions also rewarded skilled sheep shearers, trade stands and the popular sheepdog demonstration and sale also took place led by auctioneers Clee, Tompkinson, Francis. A sale report will be available from them soon.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “What a fantastic day we all had at NSA Sheep Event! Thanks go to all involved in the organisation of such a valued industry event and to the event sponsors and exhibitors who of course help to make the event an essential date in the diary of the nation’s sheep farmers.”

NSA Sheep 2024 was supported by Major sponsors AHDB Beef & Lamb, Elanco, MSD Animal Health, Rumenco and Shearwell. For more information on these and other event sponsors visit go.nationalsheep.org.uk/eventsponsors.

With the event’s future firmly set, NSA looks forward to welcoming visitors to the 2026 event, to be held once again at the Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire on Tuesday 28th July 2026.

2024 Competition Results

NSA Sheep Event 2024 Competition Results

 

Stand Competitions

Best Outdoor Stand

1st        IAE.

2nd       Farmsense Ltd.

3rd        Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd.

 

Best Indoor Stand

1st        Oliver Seeds.

2nd       Pickstock Foods Ltd.

3rd        Shearwell Data.

 

Best Breed Society Stand

1st        Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Association.

2nd       Suffolk Sheep Society.

3rd        South Wales Mountain Sheep Society.

 

Best Pen of Sheep

1st        Hole Farm Rams.

2nd       British Texel Sheep Society.

3rd        Welsh Mule Breeders’ Association.

 

NSA Next Generation Sustainability

Winner            Dafydd Owen, Abergele, Conwy.

Runner Up      Ben James, Cerdigion.

Runner Up       Richard Seed, Carmarthen.

 

NSA Next Generation Shepherd of the Year

1st         Tom Garlick, Herefordshire (NSA Marches Region).

2nd       Michael Hogg, Tyne & Wear (NSA Northern Region).

3rd        James White, Derbyshire (NSA Central Region).

4th        Ian Armstrong, Aberdeenshire (NSA Scottish Region).

5th        Tilly Abbott, Suffolk (NSA Eastern Region).

6th        Ben Edwards, Herefordshire (NSA Marches Region).

Highest Placed 21 year old – Ben Edwards, Herefordshire (NSA Marches Region).

 

Tornado Wire Fencing 

1st        Jeff Joines Fencing and Agri Fencing & Development from New Zealand

2nd       HVB Fencing (Simon Gibbs) & Morgan Fencing (John Morgan), Stoke on Trent.

3rd        Samson Fencing, Parkgate, Dumfries (Rory & Duncan Samson).

            

NSA & NFYFC Team Shearing

1st        Ben Edwards & Tom Garlick, Herefordshire.

2nd       Sarah Dunn & Daniel James, Gloucestershire. 

3rd       Tilly Abbott, Suffolk & Jack Fletcher, Suffolk.

4th       Ben Powers, Worcestershire  & Rollo Deutsch, Warwickshire.

Highest Under 21        Ben Edwards, Herefordshire.

            

Fleece

Class 1 – Fine (Including Down, Down Cross & Portland)

1st       Yvonne Hoskins, “Sandigo”, Woolaston, Gloucestershire. (91)                                 

2nd      Pippa Green, Hudgemoor Farm, Cliffords Manse, Newent, Gloucestershire. (90)                                                                  

Class 2 – Medium (Including Halfbred, Kent, Texel & Lleyn)

1st       GL Boulden & Sons, Court Lodge Farm, Aldington, Kent. (89)                                   

2nd      Horne & Son, Nash Court, Westwell, Kent. (86)                                                         

 

Class 3 – Cross (Including Masham, Mule & Greyface)

1st       Tilly Abbott, Hilltop, Ipswich, Suffolk. (91)

2nd      Tilly Abbott. (90)

 

Class 4 – Lustre (Including Wensleydale, Lincoln, Devon, Cotswold & Bluefaced Leicester)

1st       DJ Parker, Chilton Grounds Farm, Chilton, Aylesbury, Bucks. (94)

2nd      GJ Hacking, Birches Farm, West Malven, Worcestershire. (92)

 

Class 5 – Hill (Including Radnor, Improved Welsh, Cheviot, Exmoor, Gritstone & Lonk)

1st        GJ Hacking. (89)          

2nd       GJ Hacking. (88)

 

Class 6 – Mountain (including Swaledale, Dalesbred, Blackface, Rough Fell & Welsh)

1st       Elfyn Owen, Ffrith Arw, Llanddoged, Denbighshire. (90)      

2nd      Elfyn Owen. (88)                                                                                             

 

Class 7 – Natural Coloured (Including Jacob, Herdwick, & Black Welsh Mountain or any other natural coloured pure bred or cross bred fleece)

1st        Yvonne Hoskins. (95)

2nd       Yvonne Hoskins. (93)

 

Champion Fleece –  Yvonne Hoskins, “Sandigo”, Woolaston, Gloucestershire. – Class 7 Merino Cross (95)                                        

Reserve Champion Fleece – DJ Parker, Chilton Grounds Farm, Chilton, Aylesbury, Bucks. – Class 4 Wensleydale (94)

NSA Sheep Event Major Sponsors