Review of 2009

Many groups joined us throughout the Summer for some trekking fun – we crossed rivers, crept through woods and even explored an old railway line (no trains though).

We shared the llama experience with crowds at the Toyota Eco Day, where around 100 families had the chance to walk with a llama, so even the very young got a chance to find out what a llama is really like. Basil, Gordon, Porridge and Flash took it in turns to walk – at least they got a rest between walks which is more than we did!

Village events kept crowds entertained, including Kingstone, Bramshall, Rangemore and Whittington all in Staffordshire.

At Kingstone Flash and Porridge got to meet pygmy goats and donkeys, at Bramshall Sid, Flash and Porridge helped to get the churchyard ready for a special competition and at Rangemore a Victorian Christmas Fayre took on a whole new meaning when Sid and Flash got to meet villagers in Victorian costume and even see a traction engine for the first time!

Whittington Countryside Fair was a grand event – an annual country event held not far from Lichfield.  Porridge and Flash were again proudly interacting with the crowds.  We hope to be there again in 2010 – a date for your diaries Saturday 4th September 2010.

In September three of the boys (Sid, Gordon and Flash) went to the Royal Berkshire Show for the first time.  Here the British Llama Society has a marquee.  The boys entered lots of classes and swept many prizes, including first, second and fourth in the fleece on hoof and a third in the gelding (clever Gordon) - Sid took the most ‘firsts’ and was even voted most handsome llama by the crowds.  He was one of the few llamas chosen to go into the main ring for the Grand parade finale.

Also in September Llama Adventures was asked to support the village cricket Twenty20 Finals at Derby County Cricket Ground, supporting Reigate Priory Cricket Club with mascots (they are called the llamas).  Sid and Flash supported very well, enjoying the crowds, the cricket and exploring all areas of the ground.  They starred on Sky Sports 3 who provided the TV coverage for the day. Sid, deciding that a camera might make a tasty snack managed to put his nose right into the cameraman's lens!

Christmas 2009 proved to be a very cold, snowy experience for all.  We are not sure what the llamas thought of the snow – did they wonder where their field had gone to?  We spent a few days over Christmas and New Year constructing a field shelter for them – and just look at the pictures – Gordon especially couldn’t wait to try it out, even when it was still flat on the ground in pieces!