Although not from a farming background my interest in agriculture stemed from an early age, regularly visiting the local Auction mart with my dad on sale days in the school holidays. I got my first sheep as an early teenager with 5 commercial pet lambs which I reared in my back garden at home, this soon moved on to helping a local farmer and building up my flock over a number of years, aquiring land through friends and council tenancies. We now have a growing flock of 150 commercial sheep which are mainly 3/4 bred Texels, we also run some cattle during the summer months.
The Hurrsdale flock of pedigree Jacob sheep was established in 2004 with 2 un-registered ewes from a commercial breeder in Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Over the past 8 years the flock has increased and improved to consist of both 2 and 4 horn sheep. The present flock stands at 20 breeding ewes plus followers and is growing steadily with a mixture of bought in foundation ewes and improving home bred sheep which
will hopefully one day take over the majority of the flock.
We are striving to breed a strong well boned sheep with a quality fleece and good temperament. We have introduced quality rams from such notable flocks as Hyndshaw, Border and Pentrenant all of which have added their own particular quality's to our flock.
We enjoy the social and competition side of the show ring and are regular attendees of local and national shows both in the ring and on the outside as supporters of the breed. Since starting showing we have gradually improved to the point where we won our first then second Championships in 2008 at Wensleydale and Kilnsey shows with a home bred gimmer lamb.
At the end of 2008 I was nominated onto the provisional judges panel for the society, a position which I class as an achievement and an honour for someone who has only kept this breed for a reasonably short time, and an indication to us that our sheep are now at a competitive standard. At the end of 2011 I was accepted onto the full judges panel which now enables me to judge some of the larger shows across the country.
For the past four years myself and Becky have organised and run the Northern Area Show and Sale at Skipton auction mart. This is an ideal opportunity for potential new members to see quality animals and talk with experienced breeders who will be more than happy to pass on advice.
I was also involved as representative for the Northern Region on the societies breed promotion committee for 6 years. This group of members helps promote the breed across the country. The work they are involved in includes updating the breed stands for shows, producing a society calendar and Christmas card.
In the summer of 2011 I took over from Howard Walsh as the Northern Area Representative on the Jacob Sheep Society Council, a role which I have found to be good fun aswell as requiring a number of skills to help promote our breed across our vast Region and beyond. If I can be of any help during my term in office please dont hesitate to contact me.
We hope you enjoy our site.
Gavin & Becky
The Hurrsdale flock of pedigree Jacob sheep was established in 2004 with 2 un-registered ewes from a commercial breeder in Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Over the past 8 years the flock has increased and improved to consist of both 2 and 4 horn sheep. The present flock stands at 20 breeding ewes plus followers and is growing steadily with a mixture of bought in foundation ewes and improving home bred sheep which
will hopefully one day take over the majority of the flock.
We are striving to breed a strong well boned sheep with a quality fleece and good temperament. We have introduced quality rams from such notable flocks as Hyndshaw, Border and Pentrenant all of which have added their own particular quality's to our flock.
We enjoy the social and competition side of the show ring and are regular attendees of local and national shows both in the ring and on the outside as supporters of the breed. Since starting showing we have gradually improved to the point where we won our first then second Championships in 2008 at Wensleydale and Kilnsey shows with a home bred gimmer lamb.
At the end of 2008 I was nominated onto the provisional judges panel for the society, a position which I class as an achievement and an honour for someone who has only kept this breed for a reasonably short time, and an indication to us that our sheep are now at a competitive standard. At the end of 2011 I was accepted onto the full judges panel which now enables me to judge some of the larger shows across the country.
For the past four years myself and Becky have organised and run the Northern Area Show and Sale at Skipton auction mart. This is an ideal opportunity for potential new members to see quality animals and talk with experienced breeders who will be more than happy to pass on advice.
I was also involved as representative for the Northern Region on the societies breed promotion committee for 6 years. This group of members helps promote the breed across the country. The work they are involved in includes updating the breed stands for shows, producing a society calendar and Christmas card.
In the summer of 2011 I took over from Howard Walsh as the Northern Area Representative on the Jacob Sheep Society Council, a role which I have found to be good fun aswell as requiring a number of skills to help promote our breed across our vast Region and beyond. If I can be of any help during my term in office please dont hesitate to contact me.
We hope you enjoy our site.
Gavin & Becky
