Press Releases 2008

9 May 2008

Our Family Profiles:
The Exhibitor

For many breeders the Royal Show is the main event of their year, and Percy Tait is no exception. Percy, from Broughton Hackett near Worcester has been exhibiting his prize winning sheep at the Royal Show for decades - which often meant missing out on the other passion in his life – motor bike racing!

To the farming world Percy, now 79, is a champion sheep breeder, with almost too many awards to mention but to the motor cycling world Percy was a top rider, with wins at Le Mans and the Isle of Mann 1972 to his credit. He also won the British Championship 750cc and 125cc, the Superbike Championship and the Shell Sport Championship!

Over the years, Percy, with the help of his wife Diana and shepherd Jan, juggled the exacting demands of breeding award winning sheep with testing motor bikes for Triumph and riding (and winning) many of the world’s top motor cycle races.

The common link is competition. Naturally competitive in whatever he does, only the best is good enough for Percy.. It is an attitude that has brought success in sheep breeding and riding motor bikes. Just last year Percy won the title of Champion of Champions for the Rouge de L’Ouest and Interbreed Supreme Champion with Feodra Fame, also a Rouge.

Percy and Diana are involved with several breeds of sheep including Charollais and Bleu de Maine. As the Royal Show approaches they will be spending hours each week making sure that the sheep look nothing less than perfect for their big day. Preparation includes painstakingly dipping each sheep to make sure they are the right colour, then trimming the coat at exactly the right time before cleaning and trimming the feet.

Percy has very clear ideas as to what makes for a perfect sheep: He says: “The perfect sheep is ‘table leg square, has a good jigget (that’s backend to you and me!) with a good loin, top, mouth and feet.” He adds it is also important that the animal has sharp features and looks ‘sparkly’.

But there is also sound business sense behind all this work. Winning at events like the Royal Show raises the profile, and ultimately the value of Percy’s sheep.
These days Percy’s sheep are in high demand for their own breeding potential.

For Percy though, the main reason for exhibiting at the Royal Show is simple:
He loves it!

The show starts on Thursday 3rd July, and runs until Sunday 6th July for further information on the Royal Show or to book tickets please visit www.royalshow.org.uk.

- Ends -

For further media information contact:

Naomi Barry
The Ceres Partnership
T: 01189 475956
M: 07920 098498
E: naomi.barry@ceres-pr.co.uk

Simon Frere-Cook
Director, Royal Show & Technical Events
T: 02476 858282
E: simonf@rase.org.uk

Notes for editor

The Royal Show is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE). RASE is an independent charity with over 6,000 members including the general public and the farming community. RASE works towards a sustainable, vibrant future for British Agriculture and the rural community.

For more information about RASE, please contact: 02476 696969 or visit the website www.rase.org.uk