As Blacknose Beauties celebrates its 10th anniversary, it provides an opportunity to look back at the early days of both the event and the breed’s development in the United Kingdom.
A decade ago, the UK Valais Blacknose community was very different to what we know today. Numbers were small; the breed was still establishing itself and there was no national event to bring breeders together. As interest continued to grow, so too did the ambition to create an event that would showcase the very best of the Valais Blacknose.
From those early discussions came the idea of Blacknose Beauties.
The ambition was simple but significant: to create a national event dedicated entirely to the Valais Blacknose breed, where breeders could have sheep graded, compete in the show ring, market stock through a dedicated sale and, most importantly, come together as a community.
The first Blacknose Beauties was organised under the banner of the then Valais Blacknose Sheep Society UK (VBSSUK), founded by Jenni McAllister, Raymond Irvine and Jamie Wood. Together, they shared a vision of creating a dedicated national event that would celebrate the Valais Blacknose breed, promote breeding excellence, and draw inspiration from Switzerland’s renowned Miss Visp show, bringing a taste of Swiss show tradition to the United Kingdom.
While nobody could predict quite how quickly the breed would grow in popularity, there was a shared belief that the UK needed a flagship event worthy of this remarkable sheep.
In those early years, close links with Switzerland played a vital role in shaping the show. Swiss graders travelled each year to Carlisle to grade and judge sheep, bringing with them expertise, experience and a direct connection to the breed’s homeland. Their involvement helped establish the standards and grading principles that continue to influence breeding decisions today.
Like many successful events, Blacknose Beauties has continued to evolve. While the 2020 event could not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spirit of Blacknose Beauties lived on through online Young Handlers and Fancy Dress competitions, keeping members connected during an unprecedented time.
In 2021, the Valais Blacknose Society was formed following the merger of the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society UK and the Valais Blacknose Breed Society, creating a single organisation to support the continued development of the breed across the UK. Blacknose Beauties continued under the newly formed Society, building on the legacy of the show’s founders while uniting breeders and enthusiasts under one organisation.
That same year also marked an important milestone, with UK graders officiating at Blacknose Beauties for the first time while continuing to follow the recognised Swiss grading methodology. In 2022, the Society established its UK grading team, further strengthening the grading programme and ensuring the standards shaped by the breed’s Swiss heritage could continue to be upheld in the UK.
Since 2024, Swiss graders have worked alongside the Society’s UK graders, continuing the longstanding collaboration between the Valais Blacknose Society and the Oberwalliser Schwarznasen Schafzuchtverband (Upper Valais Sheep Breeders’ Association). As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Blacknose Beauties, we are delighted to welcome a full team of Swiss graders.
Yet despite all the changes, the heart of Blacknose Beauties has remained the same.
It continues to be a place where friends are reunited, new connections are made, knowledge is shared and the results of years of careful breeding are showcased. Above all, it remains a celebration of the community brought together by a shared passion for one of the world’s most distinctive sheep breeds.
Looking back over the last ten years, Blacknose Beauties has grown beyond anything that could have been imagined in those early days. What began as an ambitious idea has become the flagship event in the Society calendar, attracting exhibitors from England, Scotland and Wales, and welcoming spectators from across the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Through the Society’s livestream and social media channels, the event now reaches thousands more around the world, giving it a truly global audience.
The success of Blacknose Beauties has been made possible by the dedication of exhibitors, organisers, graders, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who have contributed their time, knowledge and enthusiasm over the past decade.
As we celebrate this anniversary, we look back with pride on the journey so far and look forward to writing the next chapter together.
Here’s to the first ten years of Blacknose Beauties – and to many more to come.
