Young farmers win big for UK in European 'Olympics'

 UK young shepherds take gold, silver and bronze in European "Olympics"
UK young shepherds take gold, silver and bronze in European "Olympics"

Four young farmers from across the UK have dominated the European ‘Ovinpiades’ Young Shepherd Competition in Paris.

The farmers were required to demonstrate sheep husbandry and industry knowledge in quizzes and practical tests, including use of electronic identification (EID), sheep movements and finished lamb assessments.

The winner of the whole competition was 18-year-old Dafydd Davies, from Bala, Gwynedd, a student at Glynllifon College, North Wales.

He qualified for the European competition following success in the National Sheep Association (NSA) Next Generation Shepherds’ Competition, and gets practice working with more than 1,100 Welsh Mountain ewes on his family farm.

Mr Davies said the competition was "challenging", but he was "really pleased" to win the European section.

He said: “I am now looking forward to competing in the final of the NSA Next Generation Shepherds’ Competition at the NSA Sheep Event in Worcestershire in July.”

'Credit to the industry'

Representing England, 24-year-old Robert Walker of Clitheroe, Lancashire, took second place, and Northern Ireland competitor Iain Wilson, a 21-year-old from Larne, County Antrim, was third.

Not content with just taking the gold, silver and bronze places, the entire UK team was placed, with Scottish representative Farquahar Renwick, of Ullapool, Rossshire, coming sixth.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, said the young farmers are a "credit" themselves and the sheep industry.

“It is heartening for the UK sheep sector to know we have such enthusiasm and skills coming through for the future,” Mr Stocker said.

“The NSA Next Generation programme is all about encouraging individuals such as these, and we are proud of the opportunity NSA Next Generation Shepherds’ Competitions offer at a regional, national, European and international level.”

Ovinpiades Young Shepherds

All nine of the NSA’s regional sheep events run an NSA Next Generation Shepherds’ Competition.

Two people qualify at each of these for the biennial UK final, and top placed competitors from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are also selected for the European and International finals, which tend to fall every four years depending on the host country.

France hosted the most recent European final as part of the Ovinpiades Young Shepherds Competition, which it runs for agricultural students aged 16 to 24 each February at the Paris International Agricultural Show.

Over 700 students took place in regional heats across France, with qualifiers meeting European counterparts for the finals in Paris.