Our eagerly awaited cria, the first sired by Marconi, and from our top black female, NightShade was still born this morning. A sad loss, both for our mourning mother, and for us.

In the past we have managed to save many cria against the odds, but sadly this one was not to be.

Masterton A&P Show held its 5th Alpaca Show on Saturday, and what a great day it was for us! We took 7 alpacas to the show, and they all came home with ribbons. And our 4 fleece entries also did well, with 2 2nd placings and 2 firsts, two championships (NZ Eikon Topaz II (White) and NZ Eikon Charisma (Light Fawn) and the best result of the show for us – Supreme Huacaya fleece won by Liz’s NZ Eikon Charisma.

The Alpaca Place won 3 of the available 6 breed championships, while our stud, Highway Star Gold Flash sired the brown champion as well. NZ Eikon Topaz won White Champion, Huari Sculptor’s Image took Light Fawn Champion, and Black Jack BT Lord Shachor was Black Champion. In addition our NZ Eikon Charisma and Sierra Vista Ma Chere were Reserve Champions respectively in the Light Fawn and White Championships.

Not so glamorous, but still important were the first placings won by NZ Eikon Crusader’s Envoy (White Intermediate Male) and NZ Eikon Chico (Junior Grey Male).

Charisma, Supreme Champion Fleece, Reserve Champion Light Fawn Alpaca	Black Jack, Champion Black Alpaca	Sculptor’s Image Champion Light Fawn Alpaca	Chico, 1st Junior Grey Male
A winning Family – Ma Chere,	Supreme huacaya & Suri fleeces masterton 2016	Topaz – Champion White Fleece & Champion White Alpaca	Also winners on the day: Sierra Vista Ma Chere, 1st Senior White Female, Reserve Champion White, and NZ Eikon Crusader’s Envoy, 1st Senior White Male

Quintessence, aka Essie, gave birth to a lively male cria last week. This cria has some impressive ancestry, so we will watch his development with interest. Provisionally named Quinn (for his mother and grandfather, Forest Glen Tarquin), he is sparkling white, so needs some protection from our hot summer sun, including sunblock on his delicate pink nose.

This week also saw us add to our “memories” by having some aerial photos taken of The Alpaca Place – this was a spontaneous decision when the photographer made a “cold call” on Tuesday, and we took advantage of the opportunity. The photos were taken by a very silent drone, and we received about 60, so will have plenty to choose from if we decide to frame one in the future.