What a weekend!

I can contain myself no longer so despite battling the mother of all hangovers I am posting my views and news of the 2010 British Alpaca Futurity.

First of all a massive thank you and a huge well done to the organisers who worked very hard to put on a fabulous show weekend. I loved it. They deserve our thanks and our support and I am looking forward to next year already.

Right now to the boasting, I mean now to the reporting.

I arrived on Thursday evening with a soaking wet Penny and a miraculously dry and lovely looking Amelie. Quite how she remained dry is beyond me, the weather travelling up was torrential and Penny was just dripping. It was not a good start.

Friday morning was interesting, I spent nearly three hours standing in a doorway with Penny bouncing around on the end of a halter. It was the only place in the hall with a draught and it was my only chance to get her dry. Sadly due to that I missed all the grey and black judging. I did have a nice view of a wet and windy car park though. At the last possible minute I went back and Penny and I entered the ring. Naturally we were in first and I was a bit bit miserable as she looked in a bit of a state. In fact I just wanted it to be over so I could get the immaculate Millie, who was in the next class. The judge, Jude Anderson, immediately commented on how wet Penny was and my mood deepened. I felt like leaving. I was eyeing up the ropes surrounding the ring. I figured that even with my stumpy legs I could run, clear the ropes and be away. Imagine my surprise when Jude gave Penny third place. Go on, just for a moment try and imagine how jaw droppingly surpised I was. Yes, can you see it? Now just imagine how Penny may have done if she had been dry!
Anyway I started smiling and I don't think that smile has left my face yet.

I was straight back in with Millie. She looked good and I knew she was in with a chance. I then looked to my right and saw a very nice looking Bozedown girl and to my left was the equally impressive looking Cinnamon from Amiryck. This was going to be tough. I started to get very nervous. The judge gave the line up a good inspection and then walked away to confer with other people. What was going on? A few minutes later she was back and Bozedown took the 1st place. Who was going to get second? Millie was that's who! I was very close to kissing everyone within range. Karen and Cinammon picked up third which was good. I made it quite clear beforehand that I wanted revenge but I didn't want to beat them by more than one place.

I was back in the ring a few minutes later for the brown female championship and was delighted when the Bozedown girl got the top prize as it meant we were in with a shout. When we were awarded Reserve Champion I'm afraid I almost lost the plot. I couldn't speak and was fighting back the tears of complete and utter pride. I still get emotional now writing about it. What a wuss!

Anyway in way of appreciation of how well Karen took the crushing defeat I thought I should put a picture of her on the blog doing what she does very well. She is pictured below with one of Moonsbrook's Suris.


Next for the benefit of those of you who didn't go to the show is a picture of the huge building that we were in and the space that was between the pens. It was very well planned and with a larger than usual show ring it meant the alpacas were kept apart all of the time.


Here are the mighty twosome back relaxing in their pen. I really can't explain in words how proud I am of those little munchkins. They were bred here at Patou and considering we only have a herd of 15 alpacas it was a real shot in the arm for the small breeder. The bigs boys are there as an example for us and without them there wouldn't be an alpaca industry but they need to know that we are on their heels and that has to be good for everyone.
No, sorry, that sounded too sensible.


How about this?
Big breeders can you hear that noise? That noise is the distant rumbling thunder of the mighty Patou hunting you down. We are coming for you big boys and we will not stop until we stand side by side! The mighty Patou and others, like the mighty (not quite as mighty but nearly) Amiryck, are coming for you! Yes that's better, that's more like it. I got far too sensible for a moment there, almost like a grown up.



Now just look at that girl Millie together with our first ribbon. Doesn't she look stunning? Shame the fat bloke was in the shot but hey ho!