Sunnybank Stud

 

The article below was written by Chris Humphreys for the Welsh Lop Circle YearBook. 

LION LOPS COME TO WALES

Written by Chris Humphreys - Lynbrook Stud

Machen show held on 5th July 2008 made history as it was the first show in Wales to schedule classes for the Lion Lop.  The Welsh Lop Circle show (judged by Sue Fisher) also had Self & Non Self classes scheduled and the very first Best of Breed at a Welsh show out of a fantastic entry of 9 was won by Phil Williamson, of Penrhyndeudreath, Nr Porthmadog, with his super Blue eyed White -`Crystal`  in the Welsh Lop Circle show.  beating my own Sooty Fawn  `Womble` for the honour.  The placing was reversed in the host show with Womble winning the breed CC and my u/5 Bitza winning the u/5 class under Dave Fisher. 

In both shows the winners were placed well up in the duplicate classes too for good measure. The breed attracted a terrific amount of interest by fellow exhibitors and members of the public alike. 

For future shows the Welsh Lop Circle are including classes for this lovely breed and Anglesey & the Welsh National at Barry are also catering for them. Donna, sec of the South Wales show at Castleton is also willing to include them in her schedule. If there are Lion Lops entered in 2 or 3 of her shows she is more than willing to cater for them as a separate breed. 

Other shows within reach of Welsh exhibitors are also willing to include them in their classification as soon as possible including Hednesford, Staffs.   Malvern & Hereford have also included classes for them. We appreciate the classification catering for them and ask everyone who can to come and support the classes. 

The first Lion Lop to come here was `Fluff` a REW, Fluff came with the express purpose of using with my REW mini Lops which proved to be compatible with the lines to produce some stunning additions to increase the gene pool.  Her first litter by that wonderful Champion Grand Champion Ruskin`s Gucci produced 3 very useful bucks. The 2nd litter Fluff produced mustered 6. 4 does & 2 bucks by `Lynbrook`s Himself` a Gucci grandson out of an imported doe.

These have also gone to  well know studs to further the breed/colour. A doe is going to Jane, a 2nd doe to Phil at Castle Bunnies, a 3rd to the well known stud of Becky Hughes on the Isle of White & the 4th is being retained. The bucks have gone  to the well known  Mini stud  - ‘Sunnybank` (Amanda & Dave White) the other little fellow is going up to Scotland. My sooty Fawn Womble joined Lynbrook. 

A lovely Upton Agouti buck is now with Andrew Lipski flying the flag in N.Wales. Castle Bunnies also have a lovely Black buck and the superb BEW from Brampton stud, a Sooty buck from Stephen Salmon and a pair of coloured from Becky,( IOW )via myself as I am concentrating on the REW & possibly an odd Sooty as they come along.

 We have worked hard at getting the breed established in Wales by bringing in the Creme de la Creme of the bloodlines & we are now beginning to see the results of our efforts. 

The Welsh Lop Circle have increased the number of shows a year they are holding for 2009 and will, of course, be including classes for Lion Lops in their schedule. We know the colours already here but welcome suggestions or colours we need to cater for in future. Hopefully, we will also be welcoming Lion Lop exhibitors from across the borders to our show as well. The Lion Loppers from Wales willingly support the Lion Lop UK and encourage new members to join.       

If you would support the classes here and have colours you would like to see catered for we will do our best for the Welsh Lop shows held in South Wales - Welsh National show, Castleton and Machen ,North Wales  Anglesey (2 shows scheduled)  and Mid Wales -The Royal Welsh show. Please let us know.

 Either contact Becca Ryan, Sec Welsh Lop Circle, Tel- 01639 886240 / 07888839510. e.mail: becca13020@aol.com or myself - Chris Humphreys, Welsh Lop Circle-North Wales Rep & BRC District Advisor, Tel: 01970 820636.

e.mail. chrishumphreys@needlework.fsnet.co.uk We will listen to your ideas and do our best to work with you.

www.lionlopsuk.co.uk