By Debbie James

A SMALL-SCALE Hampshire Down flock based in Pembrokeshire and established less than two years ago has won a series of national awards.

Alison James’ Castlepill flock was named top small flock in the UK southern region of the Hampshire Down Society’s flock competition and fourth overall in the UK. It also clinched the top spot in the UK’s Novice Flock competition.

Former teacher Alison runs the flock at Sunnyhill Farm at Castlepill, Milford Haven, where her husband, Mark, who works at Valero, has the Ripperston Texel flock.

She was keen to have a flock to run alongside his and when she was researching breeds, the Hampshire Down was a good fit because they lamb early, in December and January, whilst Mark’s Texels are later lambing, from mid-February.

“It allowed us the opportunity to double up on the lambing shed,’’ Alison explains.

The flock was established in June 2015 with ewes sourced from the dispersal sale of Carmarthenshire breeder, Robert Vincent’s Whitehead flock.

Alison how has nine ewes with another five ewe lambs set to join the flock this year.

She was delighted with her win. Judge and top Hampshire Down breeder, Jim Cresswell, who visited the farm, was very complimentary about the flock.

“He commented that the stock ram was extremely good and that his progeny had carried through the flock. He also said we’d made a good investment in the five ewes from the Whitehead flock,’’ says Alison.

Both Alison and Mark sell pedigree shearling rams, at local sales and at the annual NSA autumn sale in Builth Wells.