Border Union show at Kelso takes place on the 24th and 25th July. So far we have only got a few entries. Closing date for your entries is 10th July so there is a bit of time yet, but as everyone is so busy it is easy to forget about it. Remember it is a composite show so you will need to get the fleeces skirted and they will then also be entered into the separate fleece show that is running at the same time.

National Show update

I thought as I was left at home wondering how things were going down south, and maybe some of you out there were doing the same, I would update you with the progress of NEBAG members.

You will have to bear with me as I am relying on Paul (who is showing our animals) to fill me whilst I am home on birthing duty - which before you ask still hasn't happened.

The junior white class was a big one with 32 animals Barnacre Lualeni was placed 3rd with Fallowfield Isadora 4th.

We had two rosettes heading back up the A1 from the intermediate fawn females, Fowberry La-Luna was placed 2nd with our own Barnacre Chiquita 5th.

Nero Black have won 3rd place in the Intermediate black female class, and Woodhall Alpacas have won two 4th places.

I'm sorry if I have missed anyone off!

The northern members have come away well in the fleece show too. In the intermediate white class we (Barnacre) have won 3rd & 4th place with Northumbrian Alpacas getting 5th. We have also won a 2nd place in the adult grey class.

With more judging tomorrow the rosette haul for NEBAG members could increase further, fingers crossed.

Debbie Rippon
Barnacre Alpacas
www.barnacre-alpacas.co.uk

North East Alpacas feature on BBC Countryfile

Make sure you tune in to BBC One at 11am on Sunday morning, Barnacre Alpacas have a feature on this weeks Countryfile programme. It is a great showcase for the British Alpaca industry, and a fantastic advert for the Northern breeders.

It is the first time in the programmes 20 year history that they have featured alpacas and I am privileged they contacted me to help.

Debbie Rippon
Barnacre Alpacas
www.barnacre-alpacas.co.uk

British Alpaca Futurity looms

As the British Alpaca Futurity looms I have posted off my entries into the Craft Competition. Ladies who were at our recent felting day may recall I had entered some felted slippers - not that I was sure how to make them!!

Anyway I'm pleased to say that I managed to make them and was quite pleased with the result, I will share the photo of them with you after the event. I also entered a couple of other items in different sections, so fingers crossed the judge will like them.

Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to take animals down to the show once our own studs have cria on the ground. In the meantime I will have to settle for entering some of the Barnacre herds finished products.

Debbie Rippon
www.barnacre-alpacas.co.uk
barnacre-alpacas@hotmail.co.uk

Felting Day

Although I am quite late in posting this blog, I'm sure it is better late than never. Firstly thank you and well done to Paul for setting this up this system of communication and hopefully anyone else like me who had never blogged before will soon take the plunge. It should prove to be an excellent way of communicating with other members but only if we all help to get things moving and use it.

I just wanted to say what a great day we all had on Sunday 25th January in the very capable hands of Jenny Pepper, she proved to be a very effective felting teacher, making the day really enjoyable and creative. Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy making both a vessel and flat piece of felt, usually using fibre from their own alpacas.

Well done to Melanie for all her hard work in organising the day. If anyone has any other ideas for talks or workshops for NEBAG could they please let either Melanie or myself know.

Kathryn Shrimpton
Nero Black Alpaca

New package of 2 imminent birthing females for sale

These girls will be of interest to new and existing breeders, full details can be found on our website. They are both from the world class stable of EP Cambridge Alpaca Stud. Aria (dark fawn) is pregnant to the renowned Accoyo Killawasi, sire of champions. Molly (white) is pregnant to the stunning Accoyo Remarque.

The girls are due to give birth very shortly, with both expected to produce stunning cria which will be an assest both in terms of genetics and fleece quality, which is after all what we are breeding alpacas for.

For more information or to arrange to see them please give me a call or drop me an email.

Debbie Rippon

01670 772499

barnacre-alpacas@hotmail.co.uk

http://www.barnacre-alpacas.co.uk/

Felting frenzy

Today was the NEBAG felting day which I must say was superb, we were taught by Jenny Pepper who was fantastic, her website for anybody interested is http://www.jennypepper.com/index.htm and well worth looking at.

We have all come away with a piece of flat felt and a bag, hat or vessel depending on your own 'interpretation'! I also now have an idea who to make the felted slippers I've been longing to make for ages.

Whilst the ladies were being creative most of our partners were left in charge of the animals back home, numerous phone calls were made at lunchtime to make sure all was well back home and if this http://barnacre-alpacas.blogspot.com/ was anything to go by are you surprised!!

Debbie Rippon
www.barnacre.alpacas.co.uk

Scanner update

Following on from my recent posting about ultrasound scanners, firstly thanks to those who kindly left comments. I have made an appointment for the 'scanning man' to come and show me the equipment and give me a demonstration. I am assured they are easy to get to grips with.

Gee whiz are they expensive, maybe I should offer alpaca scanning services to help fund the purchase!! My sheep farmer friend has already lined up a number of sheep for me to practise on.

Ultrasound Scanners

I'm thinking about getting my own scanner, as our herd is growing it would make more sense to have one of our own, but I'm not sure which would be best.

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

Debbie Rippon
www.barnacre-alpacas.co.uk
barnacre-alpacas@hotmail.co.uk

Alpacas for Sale

I have finally managed to get my act together and I have started the process of advertising some of our alpacas for sale on the Alpaca Seller website - some photos yet to go on and some entries still to be made, including some of our top females. So if anyone out there is looking for an alpaca (or we could put a package together) then please get in touch- if you can't see what you are looking for, just ring on 01434 681276 and we may well be able to help you. You won't get any pressurised selling from us, but lots of help and support at all levels.

Melanie Douglas
Fallowfield Alpacas
e. md@fallowfield-alpacas.co.uk
www.fallowfield-alpacas.co.uk

Congratulations

Congratulations must go to Paul Rippon for setting up this excellent Blog. We are very lucky to have such expertise within NEBAG - thank you very much Paul.

I must confess that I haven't actually used a Blog before as I am a bit of an old fogey, but since I was the one who suggested it at the AGM, It would be truly remiss of me not to give it a try. Come on all you lot out there - if I can do it I'm sure most of you can give it a try. I suspect it will become quite addictive!

We must all remember that this is to be a replacement for our regular newsletter, so it will be a great way of keeping everyone updated with tips, news, photos, details of events, etc.

Melanie Douglas
Fallowfield Alpacas (www.fallowfield-alpacas.co.uk)

NEBAG joins the blogging revolution

Following a unanimous vote at the 2008 AGM, NEBAG has decided to joing the blogging revolution. Posts will be made by various members on a variety of subjects - enjoy!

Paul Rippon
Barnacre Alpacas (www.findanalpaca.co.uk)
NEBAG Webmaster