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Showing Guidelines
For Judges
The Manx Loaghtan is one of the larger, northern, short tailed, primitive sheep breeds, mature ewes weighting around 40kgs and rams 55kgs. They are fine boned, agile sheep.
Ewes and rams can have two, four or six horns, which should not grow into the face or impede grazing. Ewes can be naturally polled.
The face should be evenly brown with no lighter fibres around the eyes to give a Moorit “spectacles” look. The forehead, cheeks and legs should be clean of wool. The tail end should be above the hocks, not docked and not woolly.
Four and six horned animals are at risk of split eyelids. The eyelids should be specifically checked to exclude any evidence of splitting.
The wool can be of long or short staple, but should be evenly brown, bleaching to a mouse brown towards the end of the fibres, without white fibres or excessive kemp.
The objective of this brief guidance on showing Manx Loaghtan sheep is to encourage the maintenance of the breed, as a primitive, hardy animal with a range of genetic characteristics, that does not need embellishment to promote it’s qualities.
Manx Loaghtan are fine boned, agile, primitive sheep.
On the UK mainland, they should be shown halter trained.
On both the UK mainland and Isle of Man, they should be shown in a clean but NATURAL, UNTRIMMED fleece. Any sheep found excessively washed or brushed, coloured or tinted, backed down, clipped or trimmed with be considered FAKED.
Horns may be lightly oiled a day or two before a show. The judge should be able to examine the animal without transference of the oil to the judge’s hands or clothing. Horns ideally should be untrimmed, as an animal with trimmed horns would not be a natural survivor, without the intervention of their keeper.
Four or six horned animals with any degree of split eye lid should not be shown.
Senior ewes, with lambs at foot, may be accompanied by their lambs, if the lambs are haltered and in the care of a handler, separate from the ewe’s handler.
The handler should be dressed in a clean, white coat with the sheep class entry number clearly displayed.
The judge’s decision, on the day, should be respected and accepted without challenge.
For Exhibitors
Judges approved by MLSBG
(alphabetic order)
Mrs Lyn Arrowsmith*, 2 Raskelf Farm Cottages, Raskelf Farm, York, North Yorkshire, YO61 3LG. Tel: 01347 824 767
Ms. Cathy Cassie*, Rose Dale, Aiketgate, Armathwaite, CUMBRIA, CA4 9TH. Tel : 07979 602847
Mr. Jeff Clarke, Woodbine Farm, Grandborough Fields, Rugby, CV23 8BA. Tel: 01788 521469.
Miss Joanne Corrigan*, Tel: 07850 812305, e-mail: joanne.corrigan@btinternet.com
Miss Jayne Drinkwater*, 23 March Place, Clare, Suffolk, CO10 8RH. Tel 01787 278941
Mr William Hammond, The Old School House, Astwood Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AU. Tel 01234 750427
Mrs Judith Hawkhead*, Glebe Farm, Church End, Raskelf, NORTH YORKSHIRE, YO61 3LG. Tel: 01347 824 534, 07722241339
Mrs Joanna Hobson*, Kirby Farm, Pury End, Towcester, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE,NN12 7NX. Tel: 01327 811390, 07753 910589
Mr Barry Lewis*, Lodge Cottage, Whilton Locks, Daventry, Northants, NN11 2NH. Tel: 01327 842016
Mrs Caroline Lewis, Lodge Cottage, Whilton Locks, Daventry, Northants, NN11 2NH. Tel: 01327 842016
Mrs. Carole Muddiman*, 2, Biddlesden, Brackley, Northants, NN3 5TR. Tel: 01280 850677
Mr Mark Platts, Lutra Holt, Penninghome, Newton Stewart, Wigtonwshire, DG8 6RD. Tel: 01539 560 779
Mrs Sue Taylor, Orchard House, Main Street, Peatling Parva, Leicestershire, LE17 5QB. Tel: 01162 478470 Mrs.
Beryl Thompson, New Maybeck Farm, Sneaton, Whitby, North Yorkshire, Y022 5JE. Tel: 01947 810537
Mr. Jason Whybrow, 296 Southill Road, Cardington, Bedford, MK44 3SZ. Tel: 01234 838193
Mr Robert Wood, 4 Burns Road, Royston, Herts, SG8 5PT. Tel: 07813 804 441
(*= primitive as well as Manx Loaghtan)
5th February 2023
Approved Judges