Popham Gabine, an alpaca owned by Roger and Elaine Clarke has hit the top spot, securing a first place medal in Europe’s largest alpaca show, in Telford, England.
The local couple likened this achievement to ‘winning Crufts’ in the dog world. There was also cause for great celebration as it is the first time that this accolade has been awarded to anyone in Ireland.
Roger and Elaine have reared alpacas at their farm, Amberly Alpacas, based outside Fivemiletown, for over 10 years.
“We started in 2006 with three animals. We got them after Elaine and I got married. We had a few acres around the house and we wanted something a wee bit different and unusual to graze that,” Roger explained.
Since then Roger, a trainee judge, admits that their love for alpaca’s has grown. “What we have been trying to do over the years is to focus on our breeding to try and get the best quality that we can. We’re not interested in stacking animals up numbers wise, we just want to breed the best,” he said.
Speaking about the award he noted that there were over 600 entries to the show. “To win this is a huge achievement. It’s very sought after, you have all the big breeders in with huge show teams. We were very privileged, we had one entered and we came out with the top prize. It was unexpected but we are thrilled. It’s a really big honour. It may not mean much to someone on the ground but in that world it’s the holy grail.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere