Farmers work to get sheep pristine for county show

Two farmers have put countless hours into washing, shearing and preening sheep ready for a county show.

Stephen Cobbald, 80, is in charge of a farm at Acton Hall near Sudbury, Suffolk, and gets help from his farmhand Amy Byford, 20.

The pair recently had to choose 28 of their 300-strong flock to present for judging in the upcoming Suffolk Show, but still have a few more days to ensure the sheep are looking baa-rilliant.

This year's event, on Wednesday and Thursday at Trinity Park in Ipswich, will be the 64th time Mr Cobbald has presented at the show.

The pair explained they first started washing the sheep on Monday.

"We put them on the stand, Amy washes them and then you have to leave them two or three days. Then I start doing the trimming," Mr Cobbald explained.

"It's a big day - we've got 28 sheep to wash."

Mr Cobbald and Ms Byford look after three breeds of sheep - Suffolk, Texel and Southdown.

Ms Byford, who started looking after sheep four or five years ago, said she found the upcoming showcase "exciting".

"I prefer doing the lambs because they're easier to handle," she said.

"I quite enjoy washing them, getting them tidied up. They look a lot smarter when they're clean."

Choosing the sheep was a difficult task, the pair said, but they kept a close eye on the herd over the year to decide which ones to present.

Mr Cobbald said the Suffolk Show was his favourite time of year.

"I hate to think about it, but the first time I went into the ring with a Suffolk sheep at the Suffolk Show was 64 years ago," he said.

"I've had a lot to do with the show over the years.

"It's a good show, it's a good day out for anyone who wants to come.

"Sometimes as farmers you forget that people can't get up close to animals and it gives them the opportunity... to see pigs, cattle, sheep.

"It's a great thing for them."

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