Alpaca Showing UK
At TOFT we have been major supporters of the alpaca show circuit since its inception. Indeed we were at the first ever UK alpaca show around 1999 at Purston Manor. Where we can remember some exhibitors actually carrying their alpacas in and out of the showring. The techniques of Alpaca halter trainiing were in their infancy in those days.
Today there are probalby 2000 alpacas entered into the showring throughout the UK each season. Competition is fierce and he standard of alpacas entering the ring is phenomenal adn improving every year.
Rob was one of the first qualified British Alpaca Society Judges qualifying in 2004 and has been busy every since judging alpacas and fleece thoughout the UK and Europe.
Shirley qualified in 2012 and has been in huge demand both in the UK and Europe ever since she qualified. Shirley has now retired as a BAS judge to spend more time with our Grandchildren.
Rob continues to judge throghout the UK and Europe. Check out News & Events to find out where Rob is Judging this season
There and a numerous annual alpaca shows established in the calendar. The first show of the season is normally the British Alpaca Society National Show which is the highlight of the showing season. Normally this takes place in February/ March time and is a two day open entry show with normally over 500 entries.
We enter our largest show team at the BAS Nationals and schedule permitting follow this with two other shows throughout the year.
The Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta which is organised and run by our local regional group. is well supported and usually acheives over 300 entries. In addtion we try and attend Alpaca Showtime at the end of October which is a short fleece show hosted by Mick and Lix George of Houghton Alpacas.
There are many other shows throughout the season, East of England, Three Counties, NWAG Championship, Scottish Championship, Northumberland Show, South of England, Devon Country, North Devon, Cornwall, Ringwood and Ellingham, Yorkshire Alapca Group Show, and many other events throughout the UK. There are also alpaca shows in Eire and Northern Ireland. Click here to find the British Alpaca Society Shows nearest you.
There is also a rapidly expanding show circuit developing throughout Europe Shirley and I have judged alpacas and fleeces in Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Eire, France and Spain in recent years and we have yet to be invited to Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Denmark and all the other European countries that are breeding alpacas.
Be assured that if you decide to breed alpacas you will be joining a very exciting and rapidly expanding European community of like minded breeders who are determined to acheive a sustainable long term presence in agricultural landscape for the Alpaca.
