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When I'm calling ewes --- |
Two hundred ewes have been specially selected and rounded up by Farmer Bob and his trusty sheepdog Fly. They are being brought into the farm steading so that the sponsors number can be sprayed onto each of them. |
Ian McHarg one of the local volunteers drafted in for the day gets to work spraying a different number on each of the ewes backs as they pass through the sheep pens.
Check out the video of the ewes being numbered here. |
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Click the photo to see full size
"Now what you have to do is ---" |
Jane, the organiser of the Dumfries and Galloway "Are Ewe Being Served" events and Farmer Bob show off the specially selected Tup (who just happens to be called Mac), and Mac gets some last minute advice on chat up lines from Farmer Bob, whilst Jane holds him steady. |
| Farmer Bob has painted red grease paint (raddle) on Macs chest so that the winning ewe can be identified from the rest of the flock. You can tell by the grin that Mac is really excited about being selected. Farmer Bob seems a tad excitable as well. In "chest a minute" the action will begin. |
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"Hold Me back" - the Tup not Farmer Bob! |
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Mac is loaded into the four wheel drive bike trailer by Farmer Bob and Ian McHarg ready to go out to the field of dreams. Fly the sheep dog keeps an eye on proceedings from the seat of the bike. Mac said he was so keen that he would drive the bike himself. |
| The ewes are moved out from the sheep pens and back into the field closely followed by Farmer Bob and Mac the tup. Mac didn't get to drive. |
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Click the photo to see full size
Macmillan & wives |
Mac is let loose and very quickly makes the aquaintance of one or two of the ewes. The crowd of volunteers wait expectantly a short way off. |
| Time passes slowly for Fly as he waits for Mac to get down to business. Fly has been told by Farmer Bob to wait on the bike as he may upset the ewes if he runs around. |
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"Get a move on we don't have all day" |
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Mac lets the ewes know that he is there but seems a little slow himself. At least twenty minutes have passed and the crowd of volunteers begin to think that Mac is all mouth and no trousers.
Mac does the deed and seals it with a kiss, who wins? Check the video here |
| Well Mac has done his bit for charity but Farmer Bob has to find out the winning number. After racing around the field Farmer Bob catches up with the winning ewe (the one with the red mark on her bottom) and identifies the number. |
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Click the photo to see full size |
Yep that is definitely her but she isn't letting Farmer Bob get too close, she is sticking with her friends in the herd, however he knows her number and lets Jane know that we have a winner. |
And finally the ewe was so happy that she just had to write to the paper and let her feelings out. Click here. |
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