The society's history began 20 years ago

Press, 8 April 1988, Page 10

The society's history began 20 years ago

The story of how the • breed of sheep got! its name and why farmers | formed what is now (the ! Coopworth Sheep Society ! began 20 years ago v]hen i 11 people attended a semi-formal meeting! in! Wellington. i That was on July! 1,! 1968, and one of them), Mr ! Eric Williams of Cam-1 bridge, later recalled that they “got quite excited about establishing a society which would en-1 able breeders throughout) the country to share in-) formation, and to find bet; ter methods of collecting

and.processing records." ! But although the 'society | had its beginnings) in the ) enthusiasm of those early ) converts to the brped, at ) their first meeting, they did not even have a narrie that they could 'agree on, for the animal. 1 | i Nine possibilities were considered: Rombord, Bolero, Border-Romney, Morlam, Coopdale, Coopjbred, Coopworth', Cooplea, [and Brolesdale. 11 i Obviously, “Coop” was (an important element, because farmers ;W io were (aware of its rea] advantages over other sheep, (were keen to honour the

man, Professor lan Coop, of Lincoln, who had done so much development work. !,’

Early discussion favoured the name Coopdale, to differentiate the breed from the then fairly new Perendale, but after a lot of discussion and a preferential paper ! vote, Coopworth came ' out an easy winner.