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The Derbyshire Gritstone Sheepbreeders Society |
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The Derbyshire Gritstone Sheepbreeders Society |
NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2010
Secretary – Mrs Susan Coppack
5 Bridge Close, Waterfoot
Rossendale, Lancashire , BB4 9SN .
(01706) 228520
A buoyant and successful show with an upward trend on last year whereby we were impeded with transportation restrictions. A strict rule that all entrants must be fully paid up members of the society kept tup quality good and emphasis was given to mouth inspections which is a strong feature within the Gritstone sheep.
All show results will be posted on the website as they are received from the relevant personnel. Anyone not having access to the internet can obtain results from the secretary.
The website is still attracting visitors offering information to prospective customers and keeping members up-to-date. If members have any news that they wish to share, please forward the details to Susan and these can be included on the website. Anything from awards, business developments or personal events. Any suggestions toward the website are welcomed.
A decision was taken at the 2007 committee meeting to increase subscriptions to £15 and members were asked in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 newsletters to amend their standing orders to facilitate this. There are still a few members who have not instructed their banks to increase this payment and can you please ensure that the 2010 payment is for the correct amount of £15.00, A decision was taken at the 2008 committee meeting that the secretary ensure subscriptions are up-to-date to allow registrations for the Show and Sale to be taken. Members in arrears will not be allowed to enter.
Members are being lost to retirement and the poor farming status but new memberships this year have been taken. Please do your best to promote our breed and attract new memberships.
Importation of infected animals is a serious threat to the UK and Btv1 is circulating in France . There were 25,000 cases of BTv8 in France in 2008 and there should be a free market for vaccine in UK in 2009. All new cases reported in Germany has been unvaccinated stock and as the only method of control of the spread is by zones, it is prudent to vaccinate.
Representation by NSA against the compulsory introduction of EID continues but is still deemed as impractical and too expensive for the majority of producers to justify. A letter has been sent to Hilary Benn voicing our objections and we urge members to also write themselves. A copy of the Derbyshire Gritstone letter is available on the website.
Now that it has been accepted that the risk to human health is negligible, NSA is pushing to remove SRM at the slaughterhouse to be relaxed. However the French still perceive it as a threat.
NSA is still pressing for a solution that does not require collection and the NSA is also against members having to pick up the bill for consequences of something over which we have no control.
The date for this event has now been confirmed as Saturday 9th October 2010. Please note that subscriptions must be fully paid for registration to this event.
For the first time last year, due to financial implications we decided to sponsor categories within Clitheroe Show and it has been decided to follow this route again. If anyone has connections who may be interested in a small sponsorship or indeed, would like to sponsor a category themselves, please advice the secretary so this can be followed up.
The venue of the Annual General Meeting alternates between Rossendale and Derbyshire and the 2010 meeting falls in Rossendale and therefore will be held at The Rose and Crown Pub, Manchester Road, Haslingden, Rossendale on Wednesday 13 th October at 3 p.m. Anyone wishing to voice any matters must put this in writing to the secretary at the above address no later than 31 st July 2010. It was also discussed that refreshments will be covered by members present at a cost of £5 per person.
As discussed at previous meetings, all Committee Meetings will now be based in Rossendale as this is where the core of the committee are based. This will therefore be held at The Rose and Crown, Manchester Road , Haslingden. Date to be confirmed. Buffet to be ordered and cost covered at £5 per member present.
Susan Coppack
25th June 2010