Welcome

Welcome to the British Alpaca Futurity 2012 on Friday March 16 and Saturday March 17. We are delighted to announce that our new venue is Hall 3A at the National Exhibition Centre. The NEC is ideally situated as it is close to motorways, adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and the British Rail station.

The British Alpaca Futurity will be the first major show of 2012 featuring alpaca halter classes, an international fleece show, special ‘Introduction to Alpacas’ presentations for visitors, trade stands presenting alpaca products, workshops and seminars on textiles, alpaca health and genetics.

For those of you who do not have alpacas and would like to learn more about them, or if you are seriously thinking about ownership then join us at the Futurity. Our free of charge Introduction to Alpacas presentation will be running throughout both days and you will be able to see over 250 of the very best of British Alpacas, meet their breeders and find out what is being done with their luxury fibre.

Entrance is only £5 per family per day.

Purchase Family Tickets Right Here!

Friday Family Pass Only £5 each:
Saturday Family Pass Only £5 each:

All alpaca enthusiasts, whether they are showing or not, are encouraged to come along and take advantage of the seminars and workshops that are run on both days. We welcome entries for the art, craft and photography competitions and, of course, the international fleece competition. You will find the entry forms for these and booking forms within the forms section of this website.

A new feature for the Futurity is a Fibre Arts Village where fibre artists, whether alpaca breeders or not, can take a low cost table for the two days to display and sell their product. The ‘village’ will encourage hand spinners, weavers, knitters and crochet makers to come and practise their art in public. There will be plenty of tables and chairs and a knitting table stocked with yarns, needles and patterns where anyone can come and have a go.

Changes for 2012

Large halter classes will be split so that each class is restricted to a maximum of 12 animals. This will mean less waiting time in the ring and as rosettes will be awarded to six places, more entries will have the benefit of the judge’s oral reasoning.

There will be unrestricted public access to all penning areas and those with Breeders Promotional Pens will be positioned to the front of the hall giving them the opportunity to have a small trade space to display their promotional literature and promote their breeding.

The awards for the Most Successful Medium and Large breeder are withdrawn.

There will be no Junior Herdsire Award. The perpetual trophy for ‘Judge’s Choice’ award for Huacaya and Suri halter entries will be awarded in the show ring at the time of judging. This award is open to all entries participating in the halter classes.

The Select Auction will be run by Harrison and Hetherington Auctioneers. Additional four lots now available to all alpaca owners.

Addition of hand dyed yarn classes in the Craft competition.

Workshop and seminar price structure changed.

Subject to the conditions indicated, prize money will be paid to colour reserve and champion winners in the shorn fleece competition.

Addition of Fibre Arts Village.

The Futurity will be showing off the best of British breeding with show classes on the Friday and Saturday judged by Val Fullerlove (UK) The hugely successful fleece show, judged by Liz Barlow (UK) will be open to all European breeders and we once again look forward to seeing a large number of fabulous fleeces, proof that the breeding programmes in the UK and Europe are bringing us closer to the ideal alpaca and achieving good returns from their fleece in the commercial market place.

It is also a marvellous opportunity to meet and network with other alpaca breeders from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. Exchange ideas, find out how they run their businesses and make some excellent contacts.

A number of trade stands will be selling fashion garments and textiles along with those associated businesses selling feed, handling equipment and essential tools of the trade.

There is a fantastic range of textiles produced by alpaca enthusiasts in the UK and Europe and entries are invited for the fashion show. We hope you will show off your latest creations and prove what can be made from alpaca fleeces by entering the Fibre Craft competition that features hand spinning, knitting, dyeing, weaving and felting. The Photography and Art competition is another opportunity to impress with your skill and imagination. There is a section for young people and we hope as many children and teenagers as possible will take part.

For those able to attend the Saturday evening entertainment programme, the Futurity professional fashion show will inspire again, along with the Select Auction which this year will be conducted by auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington. As well as the Gold Sponsor reserved lots there will be four open lots available to all breeders so please make your early nomination to guarantee a space. The prize draw, awards presentations and celebration dinner will complete the two days of the British Alpaca Futurity 2012 at the NEC.