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| For Immediate Release | ||
| Contact: | Trudy Handel
West Coast Lama Breeders Sweepstakes Committee 23395 0 Avenue, Langley, B.C. Ph. 604 533-3220 Fx. 604 533-3230 email: [email protected] |
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The Family Farm in Langley, B.C. was transformed into a sea of tents on August 8, 1998 as the first annual West Coast Lama Breeders Sweepstakes took place under sunny skies. Over 150 animals, including llamas and huacaya and suri alpacas were in attendance, competing for over $14,000 in prize money.
The event was judged by Carol Hicks, ALSA judge, Jerilynn Booher, DVM, an alpaca breeder and apprentice ALSA judge, and Dennis Abreu, a U.S. llama breeder. Dennis, who owns the Lion of Bolivia, also gave a very informative talk after the show on marketing of animals.
Show organizers, Marilyn Ross, Barb Eslake, Trudy, Carly and Shannon Handel were very pleased with the turnout.
"We thought that in our first year we might get a smaller turnout, until the event became established. Obviously that’s not the case, and its an event that breeders in the West are extremely interested in attending," said show secretary Marilyn Ross.
The Grand Champion in each category of male/female llama, male/female huacaya alpaca, and male/female suri alpaca received a trophy, ribbon and cash award. The trophies were constructed of slab glass in a "mountain" shape with the West Coast Lama Breeders logo sandblasted into the back surface, and a slab glass base. Ribbons and cash payouts were given to the top 10 animals in each category.
The show was opened by Langley Township mayor John Scholtens, and then the first – and largest – class took place. The female llama class consisted of 68 animals. Grand Champion
Perfection’s Captivation, bred by Perfection Llamas, Deone and Val Townsend, Sylvan Lake Alberta, and owned by the Towels, Canadian Mystic Meadows, Margrath, Alberta, took home over $2600 in prize money. The male llama class was slightly smaller, and Grand Champion CDN Ferrari, bred by the Canadian Llama Company, Kent and Penny Govett, Kamloops, B.C. and owned by Campbell Valley Llamas, Dennis and Dianne Cooney, Langley, B.C., received over $1700.
Rick and Laura Avdich, High Country Llamas and Alpacas, Summerland, B.C. had a very good day. Laura took home all four Grand Champion awards for huacaya & suri alpacas. Grand Champion Female Huacaya was HCL Lambchops, bred by High Country Llamas and Alpacas and owned by the Bijou family, Alberta Rose Alpaca Farm, Morinville, Alberta. Grand Champion male huacaya alpaca was HCL Puff Daddy. Grand Champion female suri alpaca was HCL Carol, Grand Champion male suri alpaca was HCL Private Stock.
Later that evening during dinner, Laura Avdich continued her winning streak, as her name was drawn for both the sponsor’s draw, a ¼ page ad in Llama Life II plus a subscription; and the exhibitor’s draw, a beautiful fringed shirt donated by Llamas Del Sol.
An auction followed conducted by Ken Metherel, led off by a male llama generously donated by the Canadian Llama Company, Kent and Penny Govett. CDN Prince Valiant was auctioned off several times, finally going to new llama owners Bill and Pam McGregor.
The final event of the evening was a parade of herdsires, giving participants a chance to look at many of the top male llamas and alpacas in Canada.
Public attendance at the event was phenomenal, and breeders had many opportunities to meet prospective llama owners. Several participants reported that they had made sales during the Sweepstakes.
"Next year we’re going to have an additional herdsire parade during the afternoon, which will also give the public an opportunity to see these tremendous males," said organizer Carly Handel.
Marilyn Ross added, "Feedback on the event has been very positive. Obviously there will be a bit of fine tuning for next year since this was our first event but we were very pleased, and we were thrilled by the incredible support from our sponsors, both Canadian and U.S – we couldn’t have done it without them. And, as was evidenced by the large public attendance during the Sweepstakes, there’s an enormous amount of public interest in llamas and alpacas".
And what about the 1999 Sweepstakes? "The postal strike created a tremendous problem for us," continued Marilyn, "as our mailout with the first nomination 1999 forms was disrupted and in some cases even seems to have been lost completely. Because of the confusion that arose over missing forms, we’ve decided to re-open nominations for the 1999 Sweepstakes until December 31st, 1998. If individuals have already nominated, they can change, withdraw or add to their nominations without penalty until December 31st, 1998. This is a one time only opportunity. First nominations for the year 2000 will be going out soon as well, and will also be due by December 31st, 1998. Anyone requiring additional forms for either year should contact me."
The date for the 1999 West Coast Lama Breeders Sweepstakes is August 7, 1999. See you all there!
Female Llamas
Exhibitor Owner
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Perfection’s Captivation | Perfection Llamas | Towels |
| Reserve Champion | SW Satimella | Southwinds Farm | McRobbie |
| 3rd place | CDN Savannah | Canadian Llama Company | Govett |
| 4th place | CDN Sweet Dreams | Canadian Llama Company | Govett |
| 5th place | HPR Precedence | Hidden Pasture Ranch | Clauson |
| 6th place | CDN Evita | Canadian Llama Company | Govett |
| 7th place | Minmist Magician’s Apprentice | Minmist Animal Services | James |
| 8th place | OTE Koko | Oak Tree Enterprises | Chase/Walsh |
| 9th place | LaRaya’s Lady Victoria | LaRaya Llamas | Beierbach |
| 10th place | GU Hello | Eagleview Farm | Guyn |
Male Llamas
Exhibitor Owner
| Grand Champion | CDN Ferrari | Campbell Valley Llamas | Cooney |
| Reserve Champion | Northwest Nanuk | Northwest Llamas Inc. | Klone |
| 3rd place | Rocky Peak Benson | Rocky Peak Llamas | Metherel |
| 4th place | Sudden Impact | High Country Llamas and Alpacas | Hillman |
| 5th place | Sea Flannigan | The Llama Farm | Seale |
| 6th place | LaRaya’s Totem | LaRaya Llamas | Beierbach |
| 7th place | Mt.Baker | Bosma Llama Farm | Bosma |
| 8th place | Northwest Sekani | Northwest Llamas Inc. | Klone |
| 9th place | Salmon River Delaney | Salmon River Llamas | Banner |
| 10th place | Mr. Ulysses | Cashman Creek Llamas | Gojevic |
Female Huacayas
Exhibitor Owner
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HCL Lambchops | High Country Llamas and Alpacas | Bijou |
| Reserve Champion | Westwool Frieda | West Wool Alpacas | Anthony |
| 3rd place | Ginger | Rainbow Forest Acres | Eslake |
| 4th place | RFA Morning Star Surprise | Rainbow Forest Acres | Eslake |
| 5th place | RFA Puddin | Rainbow Forest Acres | Eslake |
| 6th place | WRLA Chenille | Wild Rose Llamas and Alpacas | Houston |
| 7th place | Rockette | International Alpacas of Canada | Sawyer |
| 8th place | Pretty Woman | Canadian West Coast Alpacas | Giesbrecht
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Male Huacayas
Exhibitor Owner
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HCL Puff Daddy | High Country Llamas and Alpacas | Avdich |
| Reserve Champion | Saltspring Winston | Saltspring Island Llamas and Alpacas | Krieger |
| 3rd place | Golden Fleece Picasso | Golden Fleece Alpacas | Caton |
| 4th place | Renfrew | International Alpacas of Canada | Sawyer |
| 5th place | WRLA Extreme | Wild Rose Llamas and Alpacas | Houston |
| 6th place | Saltspring White Out | Saltspring Island Llamas and Alpacas | Krieger |
| 7th place | El West Wool | West Wool Alpacas | Anthony |
| 8th place | RFA Snowman | Rainbow Forest Acres | Eslake |
| 9th place | Saltspring Goblin | Saltspring Island Llamas and Alpacas | Krieger |
| 10th place | Golden Fleece Golden Boy | Golden Fleece Alpacas | Caton |
Female Suri
Exhibitor Owner
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HCL Carol | High Country Llamas and Alpacas | Avdich |
| Reserve Champion | HCL Emma | High Country Llamas and Alpacas | Avdich |
| 3rd place | Elsie | International Alpacas of Canada Inc. | Sawyer |
Male Suri
Exhibitor Owner
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HCL Private Stock | High Country Llamas and Alpacas | Avdich |
| Reserve Champion | HCL Lord Steven | High Country Llamas and Alpacas | Avdich |
| 3rd place | Alabaster | International Alpacas of Canada Inc. | Sawyer |