Three young farmers from South Wales have contradicted their team name, We've Got The Blues, by winning the two-day Sheep Challenge at the recent National Young Stars event in Malvern. Each collected a £350 set of Heiniger livestock clippers as their prize.

Chris Davies from Felinfach near Brecon is aiming to spend time working as a shearer in New Zealand and said of his prize, 'this kit will really give me an edge.' Siblings Angharad and Rhys Francis keep Jacob, Zwartble and Blue Texel sheep at their family farm in Carmarthenshire, from which Rhys provides a trimming service to other breeders, preparing sheep for shows and sales. Angharad is a beef adviser for a national cattle breeding company.

Sheep Challenge judge Pat Greaney commented that "They were the most consistent team throughout, showing a thought process to every element of the competition." National Young Stars is sponsored by Allflex UK Group, "to encourage the farming industry's next generation." The event's chairman Neil Lloyd emphasises the importance of encouraging young people interested in livestock farming to pursue it as a career choice. "Without new genetics, any herd or flock has an uncertain future and it's the same for farming itself," he said. "Enabling young people's talents to be exhibited and voices to be heard are critical to attracting them into the industry."