British Alpaca Futurity 2010
Online Auction

The silent auction is now live.

All Closing Dates Have Been Extended to January 31 2010

Download entry forms here.

Welcome

Welcome to the British Alpaca Futurity 2010. The Futurity organising group are raising the bar again by moving this premier event in the alpaca calendar to Hall 2 at Stoneleigh Park. This 4500sq m modern facility will enable ALL events except the Celebration Dinner to be held under the one roof and on the same floor. Stoneleigh Park is close to major motorways and main roads and within a short ride from international airports and main line stations.

All alpaca enthusiasts are urged to come along and take advantage of the seminars and workshops that run over both the Friday and Saturday even if they are not showing alpacas. This is your chance to find out everything from understanding pregnancy loss to creating exciting textiles from your fleece. A single low price ticket will cover all the lectures with a small supplementary charge for the workshops.

It is also a great 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.

The Futurity will be showing off the best of British breeding with show classes on the Friday and Saturday judged by Jude Anderson (USA) and shorn fleece classes judged by Tim Hey (UK). Craft exhibits will be judged by Jean Field (UK) with art and photography by Jeff Brooking (UK).

This will be the first year that the Futurity has staged a fleece show and we look forward to seeing a large number of fabulous fleeces, proof that the breeding programmes in the UK are bringing us closer to the ideal alpaca.

We have great pleasure in bringing the eminent veterinarians Claire Whitehead and Ahmed Tibary to our seminar and workshop programme together with Liz Clay on Felting, Jean Field on hand spinning and Doug Herrmann on Photography.

• Ahmed Tibary is one of the world’s foremost experts on camelid reproduction and will be flying in from the USA to deliver two seminars, one on pregnancy loss and the other on why crias die in the first week of life
• Claire Whitehead, from the Royal Veterinary College, will conduct a ‘wet lab’ and seminar titled ‘Birthing Alpacas: No Need to Panic’
• The haute couture felter Liz Clay, whose creations can be found in the collections of Givenchy and Stella McCartney, will give two seminars and a workshop on felting
• Jean Field, an expert spinner, invites those who want to learn to spin or improve their technique to bring their spinning wheels and have a go, while
• Doug Herrmann will not only take fabulous pictures of the champions but will conduct a photographic workshop on how to get those eye catching pictures of your alpacas

The seminars and workshops provide an opportunity to learn a wide range of new skills from managing difficult births to felting an extraordinary hat. We urge you to book promptly as places are limited.

A number of trade stands will be selling fashion garments and textiles along with those associated businesses selling feed and handling equipment. A craft section will also be available for those wishing low cost space to display and sell craft items.

There is a fantastic range of textiles produced by alpaca enthusiasts in the UK and Europe. We urge you to 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, 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.

A professional fashion show, select auction, champagne reception, prize draw and celebration dinner will complete the two days of The British Alpaca Futurity 2010.

This is the event in the year for all who are interested in alpacas, not just those participating in the show classes. The British Alpaca Futurity and its associated educational seminar programme offers both an enjoyable two days and an educational opportunity for all.