Sheep Shearing at Staffordshire County Show
A global boom in sheep shearing competitions has sparked the launch of a brand new era at Staffordshire County Show – ranking it as one of the top shearing events in the country.
Sheep shearing entries at the show have steadily increased in recent years, along with interest from the public, and the record-breaking success of last year’s event has led to further enhancements for the 2020 show.
This year’s competition will take place in a much larger area to house competitors, spectators and sheep, an extra event has been added and two new shearing stands are being created to make it a six-stand show.
Other exciting news sees the show included on the British Isles Shearing Competitions Association (BISCA) Welsh Shearing Circuit for 2020. The show already features on the English Circuit – one of just 10 venues on the calendar nationally.
Angela Cope, Sheep Shearing Secretary, said: “This is the beginning of a new era, these are very exciting times for sheep shearing and Staffordshire County Show is at the very heart of it.
“For years we had no more than 20 competitors but last year we had a total of 84, a record, and about 800 sheep. This year we are looking at 120 competitors and about 1,000 sheep.
“The sheep shearing has shared the Annex 1 building for years with the pigs, we had between a quarter and a third of the space, but this year the pigs have been relocated and we have the whole building. This will make a massive difference to ensure there is space for everyone including room for interested spectators to catch all the action.
“We have also been granted permission to construct two new shearing stands which will greatly benefit the smooth running of the events.
“The competition takes place on the first day of the show but we also have a full educational programme planned for the second day – shearing and wool handling demonstrations, spinning, felting and wool themed displays, making it an area of both entertainment and education for all. We are particularly keen to involve children and many of our sideshows will be hands-on activities for them.
“The show is on the BISCA English Circuit and, for the first time this year, the Welsh Circuit where points are accumulated towards the English and Welsh Shearer of the Year Awards, making Staffordshire County Show one of the best sheep shearing competitions in the UK.
“Circuit winners form the basis of the selection process to the English and Welsh national teams for the following year’s Six-Nations competition which also involves Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and France. The next World Championships will be held at the Royal Highland Show in 2022 with teams chosen at the end of next season. So the Staffordshire County Show will feature strongly in the battle for places next year.”
Mrs Cope added that sheep shearing was now recognised as a sporting event.
“Last year the World Championships were held in France and we saw a number of competitors coming to our show for practice. World and British records have been broken in the UK this year and a Welsh shearer is the current World Champion,” she said.
“Staffordshire County Show recognises the skills required for this sport and it is our aim to provide facilities, sheep and personnel to preserve the reputation of British competitors.”
The show takes place at the Weston Road showground on Wednesday and Thursday, May 27 and 28. For more information, please visit: www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk.
