News

5th May 2010

With three crops on the ground, we have now sold our Longhorn stock bull, Underknoll Quest, and this year will be running two home bred bulls, Gorse Quantum and Gorse Quotabroker. For the future we were pleased to be able to buy a nice heifer at Chris and Ceri Morgan's dispersal sale last week with a very promising bull calf by Blackbrook Maximus at foot

5th June, 2010

After a break of several years, it was good to have a successful return to the showring with the Oxford Downs at the Royal Bath and West. After winning the Group of Three class and seconds in both Shearling Ram and Shearling Ewe, to be called out in the last six in the Interbreed Groups of Three was a particular thrill.

2nd July, 2010

Following a successful Three Counties Show with similar placings to Bath & West, our show season, apart from new Oxford Down classes at Thame at the end of July, ended on a high note at the Royal Norfolk. First prize, Male and Reserve Breed championship with the shearling ram and Third prize with the shearling ewe was followed by winning fifth prize in the interbreed pairs, rounded off by winning both male and female wool on the hoof classes. The "show team" (two shearling rams and two shearling ewes) will now be offered at the Breed Sale at Worcester Market on 7th August. Full catalogue now available to download from McCartneys website or the Oxford Down Sheep Breeders Associatiom website (see LINKS)

2nd August, 2010

At our final show, Oxfordshire County and Thame on Saturday, the previously unshown shearling ram was second in the class and the shearling ewe third in the Wool-on-the-Hoof open to all the sheep in the show. A satisfactory outcome with the Worcester sale coming up next Saturday (see STOCK FOR SALE page)

9th August 2010

We sold both the shearling rams on Saturday at Worcester and came home with a ram lamb from the Barley Park flock to replace our stud rams which both had to go in the spring. Barley Park Rex is a smart lamb with very correct conformation, locomotion and clean wool, the most important considerations in a pedigree breeding ram. Shorn out on Sunday morning, he did not disappoint which is pleasing as skilful trimming can sometimes flatter!