Member Article

Alpacas heading to the Ricoh Arena

The British Alpaca Futurity 2015 has lined up top international judges Peter Kennedy from Australia and America’s Wade Gease to attend its prestigious show at the Ricoh Arena.

More than 350 alpacas are expected to take part in the halter classes from 8am on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 and there will also be an international fleece show.

The two-day show from the British Alpaca Futurity will also include an innovative textile event called the Plush Show which will feature over 70 stands and workshops run by the UK’s brightest young designers and makers which will be hosted by designer Belinda Harris-Reid and theatre director Rachel Vowles. This will showcase all sorts of natural fibres from wool and mohair to silk and vegetable fibres.

Designers, makers, hand dyers, people working in the world of fibre, textile artists and companies selling exquisite hand-made objects and designs will be exhibiting at the show which aims to promote the British making and designing industry.

There will be a series of workshops where innovative makers will teach visitors how to knit, crochet and embellish.

Knitters are invited to take part in the Sit-n-Knit-a-Bit campaign running up to the show by making something using special scarlet Plush needles and crochet hooks to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer.

These are on sale on the Plush website and buyers are asked to get knitting and post pictures of themselves on social media linked to the Plush website.

Chas Brooke, of The British Alpaca Futurity, said: “The show is hosted by a group of British breeders, Classical MileEnd Alpacas, The Alpaca Stud, Bozedown Alpacas, Houghton Hall Alpacas and EP Cambridge UK, to showcase British alpaca breeding to the rest of the world.

“It is a great opportunity for alpaca breeders to network with other breeders from Europe, the USA, Australia and, of course, the UK.

“We are looking forward to holding the show at the Ricoh Arena and we are delighted Peter Kennedy and Wade Gease are able to join us to judge the best of British breeding with halter classes as well as the fleece show which will be open to all European breeders.”

Chris Owen, senior events manager at the Ricoh Arena, said the Jaguar Exhibition Hall was a perfect location to host the exciting show while the Legends Lounge will be the location for an awards presentation and dinner.

He said: “The British Alpaca Futurity champions the best of British alpaca breeding while the Plush Show will promote the best of the British making and design industry.

“The two elements fit neatly together and this will be the first time we have had alpacas at the Ricoh Arena.

“Breeders from across the UK are expected to come along to take part and this once again underlines the versatility of the Ricoh Arena.”

Sponsorship opportunities, application forms for trade stands and booking forms for nominated males are available from www.p-lush.co.uk and www.britishalpacafuturity.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .