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We started the Southdown flock in 1998 with the purchase of two ewe lambs from Mrs. Marion Harts 'Springbank' flock. We used Springbank W8 (Derek), Marlton U8 (Frank) and for two years our own ram Stoneridge Eric X2. Eric had proven himself to sire quality stock, as shown when two ram lambs were sold at Melton Mowbray Traditional Native Breeds sale, in September 2003, for the top prices of our breed that day. Sadly Eric is no longer with us and his son Stoneridge Ernie has taken his place. In 2006 Ernie was joined by Mulberry Chester as are other stock ram.
We usually have a few lambs for sale each year as we are limited to the amount that we can keep. All our flock has been scrapie tested and all are ARR/ARR , so that any lambs born will be of the same geno type. We are NSP registered , Category A (green),( NSP Type 1 Rams and Ewes ). Flock registration No. FR 00 0010.
Since the foot and mouth crisis Keith has sheared the sheep (no don't laugh), and he says he's getting better the more he does it. Well at least the wool is off their backs even if does take ages.
We have also started showing our sheep with successes in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009
Earlier this year we decided to give the showing a break for this season therefore we did not shear our sheep until June.However after looking at our shearlings we decided we may do a few local shows towards the end of the season.We have a couple of ewe and ram lambs that were born mid Feb. that are promising, so showing later in the year will give them time to catch up a little on the earlier born lambs.(Showing is addictive and we miss the contact with like minded people)
Preparations for the showing season
All the sheep we show are normally shorn in February. This is necessary so that the wool is long enough to trim for the early shows. Having been sheared this early they need to be kept in. To keep them that bit warmer we fit them with some of our old fleeces until their wool starts to grow.
When you are showing lambs it is better to have them born as close to the 1st of January - thus giving them plenty of time to grow before showing. The old adage ' a good big'un will beat a good little'un' nearly always stands true.
The process of deciding which shows we should enter starts early in the year. Then its a matter of sending for the schedules, filling in the forms and sending them off in time. Usually shows that you entered in previous years send you their schedules automatically. For a list of shows that have classes for Southdowns or rare breeds, shortwool etc. check out the list on the Southdown Societys web site.
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This site will be updated when we have more news
Results from 2004
Stoneridge Ernie came 1st in the ram lamb class at the Staffordshire County Show
Stoneridge Ernie came 1st in the rare breeds lamb class at the Ashby show
Stoneridge Ernie came 1st in the Commercial - any other breed ram lamb and 2nd in the Shortwool ram lamb classes at the Whitacres and Shustoke show
Stoneridge Ernie came 3rd in ram lamb class at the Anglesey County Show
Stoneridge Molly and Stoneridge Millie came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the ewe lamb class at The Vale of Evesham Autumn Show (their one and only outing for 2004)
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Sadly our stock ram Stoneridge Eric had to be put down after a very short illness on Sunday August 8th 2004. He wasn't just a sheep he was one of the family and he will be sorely missed.
A short poem for Eric
You brought us joy You made us laugh in every way We hope your lambs will do the same And we will miss you every day
The one and only Eric 23.02.00 - 08.08.04
by Annette
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On a happier note Ernie has now taken the place of his father as our future stock ram. Photo of Ernie taken 20/02/05 (note his orange colour due to the red clay in the soil in our area).
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Results for 2005
The Leicestershire Show
British Native Breeds
1st Shortwool Ram - Stoneridge Ernie
1st Shortwool Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
1st Group of three - Stoneridge Ernie, Millie and Molly
Overall Champion - Stoneridge Ernie
Res. Opposite Sex - Stoneridge Molly
Ernie and Keith with The Mill on the Soar Challenge Trophy
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The Staffordshire County Show
3rd Shearling ram or older - Stoneridge Ernie
1st Shearling ewe or older - Stoneridge Molly
3rd Shearling ewe or older - Stoneridge Millie
1st Group of three - Stoneridge Ernie, Millie and Molly
Breed champion - Stoneridge Molly
Supreme interbreed champion - 4th Stoneridge Molly
Interbreed Group of three champion - 3rd Stoneridge Ernie, Millie and Molly
Annette with Molly at the Staffordshire County Show
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The Ashby Show
1st Shortwool Ram - Stoneridge Ernie
1st Shortwool Ewe - Stoneridge Millie
2nd Shortwool Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
Shortwool Champion - Stoneridge Ernie
Reserve - Stoneridge Millie
Rare Breed Reserve Champion - Stoneridge Ernie
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The Whitacre & Shustoke Show
Rare Breeds Shortwool
1st Ram - Stoneridge Ernie
1st Ram lamb - Stoneridge Richard
2nd Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
3rd Ewe lamb - Stoneridge Judy
Shortwool Reserve Champion - Stoneridge Ernie
Reserve Best in show - Stoneridge Ernie
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Commercial Any Other Breed
1st Shearling Ewe - Stoneridge Millie
2nd Shearling Ram - Stoneridge Ernie
2nd Ram lamb - Stoneridge Richard
3rd Ewe lamb - Stoneridge Judy
Reserve Champion - Stoneridge Millie
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Canwell Show
Any British Breed (other than Suffolk)
1st Shearling Ram - Stoneridge Ernie
2nd Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Richard
1st Theave (Shearling Ewe) - Stoneridge Molly
3rd Theave (Shearling Ewe) - Stoneridge Millie
2nd Ewe Lamb - Stoneridge Judy
1st Group of Three - Stoneridge Ernie, Millie & Molly
Reserve Champion Any British Breed - Stoneridge Molly
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Results for 2006
The Leicestershire Show
British Native Breeds
1st Shortwool Ram - Stoneridge Richard
2nd Shortwool Ram - Stoneridge Ernie
1st Shortwool Ewe - Stoneridge Judy
3rd Shortwool Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Gez
4th Shortwool Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Jay
1st Group of three - Stoneridge Richard, Judy and Molly
Overall Champion - Stoneridge Judy
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The Staffordshire County Show
5th Shearling Ram and older - Stoneridge Richard
1st Shearling Ewe and older - Stoneridge Molly
2nd Shearling Ewe and older - Stoneridge Judy
1st Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Gez
4th Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Jay
4th Ewe Lamb - Stoneridge Peggy
2nd Group of three - Stoneridge Richard , Judy and Molly
Breed Champion - Stoneridge Molly
Supreme Interbreed Champion - 3rd Stoneridge Molly
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The Ashby Show
Rare Breeds
1st Shortwool Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
1st Shortwool Shearling Ewe - Stoneridge Judy
3rd Shortwool Ewe Lamb - Stoneridge Peggy
1st Shortwool Ram - Stoneridge Richard
1st Shortwool Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Gez
3rd Shortwool Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Jay
2nd Rare Breeds Group of three - Stoneridge Richard, Judy and Molly
Shortwool Champion - Stoneridge Molly
Rare Breeds Champion - Stoneridge Molly
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The Whitacres and Shustoke Show
Rare Breed
1st Ram - Stoneridge Richard
1st Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Gez
3rd Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Jay
2nd Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
3rd Ewe - Stoneridge Judy
1st Ewe Lamb - Stoneridge Peggy
Champion Rare Breed - Stoneridge Richard
Commercial Any Other Breed
1st Shearling Ram - Stoneridge Richard
1st Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Gez
2nd Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Jay
1st Breeding Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
2nd Shearling Ewe - Stoneridge Judy
2nd Ewe Lamb - Stoneridge Peggy
Champion Commercial and Best in Show - Stoneridge Molly
Keith holding Molly, Judge Mr.Graham Hall and Annette holding Richard
© Central Independant Newspapers
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Canwell Show
Any British Breed (other than Suffolk)
3rd Shearling Ram - Stoneridge Richard
1st Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Jay
2nd Shearling Ewe - Stoneridge Judy
3rd Ewe Lamb - Stoneridge Peggy
1st Aged Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
2nd Group of Three - Stoneridge Richard,Judy and Molly
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Results for 2008
The Leicestershire Show
1st Shortwool Ram - Mulberry Chester
2nd Shortwool Ram - Stoneridge Ed
3rd Shortwool Ewe - Stoneridge Peggy
3rd Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Bill
2nd Group of three - Stoneridge Ed, Peggy and Molly
3rd Interbreed Group of three - Stoneridge Ed, Peggy and Molly
Southdown Champion - Mulberry Chester
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The Staffordshire County Show
2nd Shearling Ewe and older - Stoneridge Molly
5th Shearling Ewe and older - Stoneridge Peggy
2nd Shearling Ram and older - Stoneridge Ed
4thShearling Ram and older - Mulberry Chester
2nd Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Bill
1st Group of three - Stoneridge Ed, Peggy and Molly
3rd Interbreed Group of three - Stoneridge Ed, Peggy and Molly
1st Wool on the Hoof - Stoneridge Ed
Res. Champion - Stoneridge Molly
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The Ashby Show
British Native
1st Ewe - Stoneridge Peggy
2nd Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
2nd Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
3rd Ewe Lamb - Stoneridge Louise
1st Ram - Stoneridge Ed
6th Ram - Mulberry Chester
2nd Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Bill
2nd Group of three - Stoneridge Ed, Peggy and Molly
Best Southdown - Stoneridge Peggy
Champion British Native - Stoneridge Peggy
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The Whitacres and Shustoke Show
Rare Breed
1st Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Bill
1st Shearling Ram - Stoneridge Ed
British Native Shortwool
1st Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Bill
1st Shearling Ram - Stoneridge Ed
1st Breeding Ewe - Stoneridge Peggy
2nd Breeding Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
1st Pair of Breeding Ewes - Stoneridge Peggy & Molly
Shortwool Champion & Best in Show - Stoneridge Peggy
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Canwell Show
Any British Breed
1st Aged Ram - Mulberry Chester
1st Shearling Ram - Stoneridge Ed
1st Ram Lamb - Stoneridge Bill
1st Aged Ewe - Stoneridge Peggy
2nd Aged Ewe - Stoneridge Molly
1st Group of three - Stoneridge Ed, Peggy and Molly
Champion - Stoneridge Peggy
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