The most anxious part is the waiting around just as you are about to go on

After lunch (roast lamb, Yorkshire pudding, Maris Piper roast potatos grown in the county, spinach grown in the county, carrots from Norfolk, some boiled kale) I went to a livestock show. Because of all the precautions that have to be taken (against bluetongue, foot and mouth, other endemic diseases) many livestock shows have struggled to survive. This one was much smaller than previous years and mainly had sheep on show - with a few cattle.



Above: I watched the show jumping.



Above: The cattle had already been judged and, feted by rosettes, the winners were relaxing in their pens.



Above: I watched the sheep being judged (lots of serious conferring).



Above: Greyface Dartmoors. Descended from ancient breeds of Dartmoor sheep, they have very strong constitutions (able to withstand the Dartmoor winters). Traditionally the lustre wool was used for blankets, serge and carpets.



Above: Leicester Longwools. Direct descendents of Robert Bakewell’s Dishley Leicesters, but developed to fatten more easily. The high-quality wool is mainly used for spinning.



Above: Lincoln Longwools. One of the classic nineteenth-century breeds (but has ancient origins). Not only the biggest breed of sheep, but also carries the greatest weight of wool.



Above: Ryelands. Small traditional breed of docile sheep - very easy to manage (which makes them suitable for smallholders). They prefer grass feeding (without the need for additional feed), and so are popular among organic farmers.



Above: Wiltshire Horn. Has little wool, and is naturally self-shedding, so there are low shepherding costs. Probably introduced by the Romans, the sheep are traditionally associated with Salisbury Plain.



Above: Hampshire Downs (the characteristic black face is just visible through the straw). My favourites. The blood of the Southdowns was merged with the Knots of Berkshire and Wiltshire to produce this superior breed. Developed by the local farmers rather than wealthy breeders. Praised by Sir Joseph Banks when he was President of the Royal Society. One writer in 1861 said: “The Hampshire -Downs are the glory of the county as respects live stock.” Large head with a Roman face. Long neck. Unusually well set shoulders.



Above: Probably the most anxious part is the waiting around just as you are about to go on.



Above: At the end of the show the hunt brought the dogs into the main ring. Everyone clapped and cheered. The children rushed into the ring to see the dogs.