The countdown is on for the 10th anniversary of the Blacknose Beauties National Show & Sale, the UK’s flagship event for Valais Blacknose sheep, set to return to H&H Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd August 2026.
What began in 2016 as the first National Show & Sale dedicated to the Swiss breed has grown into one of the leading Valais Blacknose events outside Switzerland, attracting breeders, buyers and enthusiasts from around the world.
Originally established by the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society UK (VBSSUK) before the merger of the UK breed societies in 2021, Blacknose Beauties was created to showcase and promote the breed within the UK, but over the past decade has grown into an internationally recognised event helping establish British Valais Blacknose breeding on the global stage.
Since its inaugural event, Blacknose Beauties has continued to grow in both scale and reputation. Visitors from countries including the USA, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe have travelled to Carlisle over the years, while recent events have also been livestreamed internationally to growing audiences of Valais Blacknose enthusiasts.
Over the last decade, the show ring has become one of the most prestigious and fiercely contested in the breed. During that time, only five flocks have claimed the coveted Supreme Champion title – a reflection of the exceptional standard of competition and breeding seen throughout the event’s history.
From the beginning, the Society has continued to strengthen its close relationship with the breed’s homeland in Valais, Switzerland. Swiss grading experts have supported the show from its earliest years, helping maintain the highest breed standards within the UK and, in recent years, have worked alongside UK graders, reflecting the continued collaboration between the UK Society and the Oberwalliser Schwarznasen Schafzuchtverband, the Swiss Upper Valais Sheep Breeders Association.
Charity fundraising has also become an important part of the Blacknose Beauties weekend, with more than £25,000 raised for charitable causes over the years through auctions, raffles and member donations.
The sale ring has charted the extraordinary rise of the Valais Blacknose breed in the UK over the past decade. At the 2016 event, the top-priced sheep sold for £3,600 before values continued to rise year after year as the breed gained momentum across the UK and overseas.
A major milestone came in 2020 when the event achieved its first five-figure sale at 10,000gns. In 2021, the overall breed record climbed to 14,000gns, before rising to 18,000gns in 2023.
The 2024 sale proved truly historic, with three new records set in a single afternoon. Ayrshire Ingrid set both a new female and overall breed record when she sold for 30,000gns, while Deepdale Luca reached 22,000gns to establish a new ram lamb record and Lacock Karter achieved a new shearling ram record at 20,000gns.
The countdown to the 10th anniversary follows another memorable year for the event in 2025, where the Cheshire flock achieved five of the six major championship titles in Carlisle – further highlighting the exceptional quality and competitiveness now seen across the breed.
VBS Chairman Raymond Irvine said:
“Looking back over the last ten years, it is incredible to see how far both the breed and Blacknose Beauties have come. What started as a vision to showcase this remarkable breed in the UK has grown into an internationally recognised event that brings together some of the very best breeders, sheep and supporters from across the globe.”He added:
“Blacknose Beauties has always been about more than competitions and sale records – it’s about community, passion and bringing people together. As we celebrate this major milestone in 2026, we look forward to welcoming familiar faces and new visitors alike for what promises to be our biggest and most memorable event yet.”
Notes for Editors
Event: Blacknose Beauties National Show & Sale
Dates: Friday 21st – Saturday 22nd August 2025
Venue: H&H Borderway Mart, Carlisle, CA1 2RS
Format: Grading and showing across both days
Sale: Saturday afternoon (live & online)
Mainline Sponsors: Caisley Eartag Ltd and SCCL
Media Contact
For further information, interviews, or press enquiries, please contact:
📧 info@valaisblacknosesociety.co.uk
🌐 www.valaisblacknosesociety.co.uk
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