The Team
Ross is originally from a dairy and sheep farm in South West Wales. Attending Usk Agricultural College and then the University of Wales, Aberystwyth to study Agriculture, he then began working on the family farm in West Wales and also offering relief milking services. From the relief milking grew other services - cattle foot trimming, clipping and sheep shearing and from this ,Ross Anthony Livestock Services Ltd was born. Attending the UK Dairy Academy's course on the Dutch method of foot trimming in 2004, Ross became a Category 3 foot trimmer affiliated to the National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers (NACFT), Ross then bought a mobile crush and began trimming out on farm. With cattle foot trimming then being predominantly winter based, Ross undertook a British Wool Board shearing course which led to him joining another established sheep shearer in Wales and forming a partnership. After shearing in this partnership for 2 years Ross travelled to New Zealand to shear for a season with Deaker & Gillespie Shearing in Ashburton on the South Island. He returned there for a second season before settling back in Wales to further develop his Livestock Services business. Ross also acheived the next 2 shearing competence levels with the British Wool Board during this time. Moving to the North of England in 2008, Ross began shearing for Brian Nutter in Sabden Fold, Lancashire and also gained his Gold level shearing qualification. After a season, Brian's retirement led to Ross taking over the shearing run and the business has grown steadily since and continues to do so. During the shearing season Ross Anthony Livestock Services Ltd employs full time and part time shearers and operates 2 shearing trailers to cater for both large and small flocks. Alongside the shearing Ross began offering his cattle foot trimming service in Lancashire. This, as with the shearing has grown quickly and has now expanded into North & West Yorkshire and South Cumbria.
Ross continues to look for ways to improve existing and offer new services (see Our Services page). During his spare time Ross enjoys travelling, walking, photography and music.
Laura is also from Wales and comes from an agricultural and equine background. After moving from North Wales, Laura spent much of her childhood on a small dairy farm in West Wales and was an active member of the Young Farmers Club (YFC) movement for a number of years including a period as club secretary. Competing regularly on a club and individual basis at club and county level and winning the Pembrokeshire Stockman of the Year in 2002. Laura began riding aged 10 and had her first pony 2 years later. Competing in most disciplines over the years Laura now focuses on dressage and is currently training her homebred TB x WB horse. Having successfully competed 4 times at National level in dressage, Laura competes to Elementary level and has taught since 2004, teaching both children and adults from novice to advanced level. Specialising in flatwork and dressage training, with competition preparation and nervous riders a speciality. Achieving a Higher National Diploma (HND) and BSc. (Honours) Degree in Equine Studies and Postgraduate Diploma in Equine Science from the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, Laura has since worked on a number of successful and prestigious equine establishments both in the UK and abroad including time spent as groom to dressage star Laura Bechtolsheimer. Working as yard manager on showing, eventing and dressage yards has provided a valuable and comprehensive grounding in the equine industry. As well as competing herself Laura has frequently judged at horse shows and dressage competitions. An active British Riding Club member, Laura was chairman of West Wales Riding Club and also Dressage Manager for 3 years, organising and running all dressage competitions including a BRC regional dressage qualifier. She has also assisted with competition stewarding at club and regional level and has both coached and competed in teams at National level.
Several years on-farm and industry experience and having attended a DairyCo mobility scoring workshop with Ross, Laura is also responsible for the mobility scoring on farms to complement the cattle foot trimming service and help farmers reduce lameness issues. Laura enjoys travel and her trips include a trek through the Himalayas and summiting Kilimanjaro. Also a keen walker and photographer, the local countryside offers ample opportunity for both.
Born in Yorkshire and living in Lancashire, Seth has been with the team since 2010. He began shearing with the team but now that he has his own shearing run, Seth now belly clips with us at Dunbia (Bamber Bridge). He gained his National Diploma in Agriculture at Bishop Burton College near Beverly in East Yorkshire and is also an active member of the YFC movement, often competing in stock judging competitions, Seth is currently chairman of Slaidburn Young Farmers Club. In 2011 Seth acheived a highly credible and impressive 3rd place in the BBC Young Farmer of the Year programme in which the finalists had to undertake a series of tasks including sheep shearing, foot trimming and pig judging. Seth began shearing in 2010 and has his blue, bronze and silver shearing certificates. He has sheared competitively at the Great Yorkshire Show since 2010 and achieved 3rd place in the Junior section in 2012. As well as belly clipping for Ross Anthony Livestock Services Ltd, Seth also has his own shearing run with Chris Cornthwaite which he began in 2012 and he also carries out the belly clipping at Gisburn Auction Market. Alongside this Seth works on the family farm where they run 30 suckler cows and 200 breeding ewes.
Anthony hails from Ashburton in New Zealand where he was born and raised. Anthony grew up on his parents sheep and arable farm at Lyndhurst and has been involved in the agricultural industry all his life. After leaving school he worked as a Shearing Shed Hand for 2 years, followed by a year as a Wool Presser before becoming a Shearer and so he has an extremely well rounded knowledge of the shearing process. Anthony was a keen competition shearer for a number of years in the Junior and Intermediate grades. Having sheared with Ross in New Zealand, Anthony decided to visit the UK and spend a shearing season with us in 2012. The weather wasn't kind and it was a trying season dodging the rain but Anthony enjoyed the experience and he braved the elements again for the 2013 season! When in New Zealand, Anthony shears in Waiau, North Canterbury in New Zealand, where the weather seems kinder!
Also from the Southern hemisphere Ben joins us from Perth in Western Australia. Currently based in Settle in Yorkshire Ben joined the team in 2012 having already sheared for James McNeil in Northern Ireland, Neil McFadgen in Scotland and Brian Hart in England since his arrival in the UK in 2010. Ben began shearing in Australia in 2006 and is highly experienced. He has his shearing certificate III from TAFE in Western Australia. Working for the same contractor in the Wheatbelt area of Western Australia, Ben would travel to each farm to shear, doing approx. 170 sheep each day. Then at the end of each shearing season in the North Ben would then head to Wave Rock in the South West to carry out another months shearing. Ben has competed at the "Toodyay Speed Shear" coming 3rd in the Intermediate section and also in the "Cranbrook Speed Shear" competition where he achieved 7th place in the Open. As well as shearing with us, Ben also assists with the lamb belly clipping at Dunbia (Preston) during the winter and along with other members of the team has completed his animal welfare and handling course. As well as shearing Ben is a qualified Personal Fitness Trainer, who enjoys keeping himself and others fit. He has competed in several marathons and a duathlon and when in Australia likes to surf each weekend. As well as sport Ben also enjoys travel and socialising with friends. Ben sadly leaves the team in 2013 to return to Australia where we wish him all the best. James Tatham James farms at Fence, near Burnley where he runs 300 ewes. He has worked with RALS Ltd since 2010. Prior to this James worked alongside Ross for Brian Nutter at Sabden Fold for a season. Having attended Myerscough college to study Agriculture, James is also a member of the YFC movement and attends Pendle YFC, and has competed to National level at stock judging competitions. James has been shearing since 2009 and has achieved his blue level shearing certificate. He has also competed in the Junior and Intermediate sections at the Great Yorkshire Show each year. Whilst he no longer shears with the team he does carry out lamb belly clipping with us at Dunbia in Bamber Bridge. In his spare time James can be found working on the farm and he also enjoys going out walking.
Mick Handley, born and bred in Lancashire lives at the family farm in Slaidburn. He has recently finished studying for his final year of a BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture, at Bishop Burton College, Yorkshire. Having previously worked on a local dairy farm, Mick now focuses on working on the home farm at weekends and holidays, which is a hill farm, running sheep and beef. Mick learnt to shear aged 15, on a British Wool Marketing Board shearing course hosted by their farm, and since then he has gained his silver seal in shearing. He has been part of the RALS Ltd team since 2011. In 2013 at the Great Yorkshire Show, Mick was on the winning team for the North of England Colleges competition. Also a keen member of Slaidburn YFC, where he has competed in a range of competitions, previously reaching the Nationals for Stock judging. In his spare time Mick also enjoys showing Lleyn sheep and Belted Galloway cattle (see picture) and he competes at the local Hodder Valley Show. Mick has left the home farm and RALS Ltd to take up a sheperding position at Lilburn Estates in Northumberland where we wish him all the best.
Pete also lives and helps out on the family farm in Slaidburn. He has worked with RALS Ltd on a part-time basis as his other work commitments have allowed since 2010. Having previously worked as a wool scourer and merchant he is extremely knowledgable regarding wool, having dealt in numerous different qualities of wool from around the world and buying wool throughout England, New Zealand and Southern Ireland. As with Mick, Pete also began shearing during the British Wool Marketing Board shearing course hosted by their farm, and since then he has gained his gold seal in shearing. Pete has also done some shearing in New Zealand. Impressively, Pete gained 2nd place at The Larches Shearing competition in Ireland in 2011 and like Seth and James, he has also competed at The Great Yorkshire Show.
Ross Anthony Livestock Services Ltd was pleased to welcome Ruari to the team in the Spring of 2013. Ruari was born in Northumberland and now lives in Longridge. He has worked on a number of farms including beef, sheep and dairy since the age of 15 and has been lambing at one farm every year since then. Ruari's love of farming led to a move to Lancashire in September 2011 to study towards a BSc. in Agriculture at Myerscough where he achieved a first class degree. At the same time he began working on a local dairy farm and he is also a qualified boom sprayer. Ruari accompanies Ross out on farm to assist with drafting cattle into the crush for trimming and other tasks and he also belly clips lambs and cattle with the team at Dunbia, Preston and is now working his second shearing season with us after achieving his Bronze and Silver Seals. Ruari also has an interest in sheep dog trialling and is currently in the process of training his Border Collie pup "Dougal" to work stock. Dougal made his very successful debut into trialling in Autumn 2013 and we wish him all the best for his future competitions. Ruari has now begun training another collie pup "Fern". With a keen love and interest in sheep breeding, Ruari hopes to run a small sheep flock, breeding and raising top quality replacement ewes to sell and he would also like to run his own suckler herd. We wish him all the best in realising these ambitions and are very glad to have him on board in the meantime.
James (Jim) White (No longer with the team) Jim joined the team in June 2014. Jim hails from Dumfries & Galloway in Scotland, he grew up on a hill farm where his father was shepherd to a flock of Scottish Blackface. After school Jim studied Agriculture at SAC Auchincruive and whilst there completed his PA1 & PA2 in pesticide spraying and also undertook a Semex DIY AI course. After leaving college Jim began working for Craig Wilson Ltd (Auction mart) in Ayrshire as well as working on several farms undertaking shepherding and lambing duties and tractor work for a number of seasons. Like fellow team member Ruari, Jim also has an interest in sheep dog trialling which he enjoys taking part in when time allows. Jim has spent two ten week seasons in Norway and will return there later this year, here he works as a line shearer in a slaugtherhouse. It was here that Jim really caught the shearing "bug" and he headed to New Zealand where he spent four and a half months improving his shearing skills and learning how sheep farming is carried out down under. He completed a beginners Tectra level 1 shearers course out there to which he has now added both his Bronze and Silver shearing seals. Jim also took up show shearing whilst in New Zealand to improve his speed and technique. This he has continued with success on his return to Scotland. Starting at junior level he qualified in 2014 to represent Mauchline YFC at the Royal Highland Show and he has also been a finalist at Lesmahagow and the South of Scotland shows. He continues to shear competitively and we always wish him the best of luck We are enjoying having Jim on the RALS Ltd team.
Abi Wilkinson Abi joined the team part time in 2013 and has returned for each season since. Born and raised in rural Lancashire, Abi now continues with her studies, undertaking A levels in maths and science, but until then she wraps fleeces for RALS Ltd during the summer. An avid climber in her spare time, Abi plans to join the army and bring her love of the outdoors into her working life full time. Abi has joined the agricultural scene relatively recently working for a local farmer. Here her work included sorting lambs and preparing them for shows. Abi has also enjoyed time spent with her sheepdog pup "Tramp" who has now moved onto pastures new...
Shane King Shane joined RALS Ltd in the latter half of the 2014 shearing season having already completed the shearing season "down South" in Northampton with previous team member Ben Harris and he came well recommended. A born and bred country boy, Shane lives in Darkan, Western Australia, a few hours drive south of Perth. He grew up on the family farm and left school a year early to pursue his passion of shearing, he did much of this alongside his father, also a shearer. He has spent the last 20 years shearing mostly around his local district. As well as shearing, Shane brought his own flock at age 14 and developed the bloodline over time to produce a well adapted sheep with a high quality fleece. This superfine merino wool would usually feature in the top prices due to its low micron and high yield. Quite a challenge given the harsh hot, dry summers experienced there. For the past nine years prior to 2014 during the Southern Hemisphere winter seasons Shane has travelled to Spain to continue shearing there, thus enjoying the opportunity to experience different parts of the world and meet people from different cultures. Shane has enjoyed shearing in the UK in 2014 after a slow start due to the wet weather. He returned to Australia in August 2014 but we have been happy to welcome him back to Lancashire again this season.
Anna Blakey Anna has wrapped fleeces for RALS Ltd part time for a number of years. She has recently completed a BTEC in Business at Craven college and hopes to go to Harper Adams university in September 2014 to study Agriculture and Business. As well as helping out on the family farm Anna also helps at lambing time on a local farm. A keen and active YFC member, Anna is currently secretary of Slaidburn Young Farmers Club. She competes in a number of activities including stock judging and has competed at national level in cookery.
Andy Haythornthwaite Andy began working with the RALS Ltd team in November 2014 carrying out belly clipping and cattle clipping at Dunbia (Bamber Bridge), and quickly became a valued member of the team. At present, Andy divides his time between working for us, a local contractor and the family farm in Fouridge near Colne. Here they have a milk herd, suckler herd, sheep and pigs. Andy spent 3 years studying for his Level 3 Diploma in Agricultural Mechanics at Craven College in Skipton, North Yorkshire where he aslo gained additional welding and spraying qualifications. An active member of Bolton-by-Bowland YFC, Andy has been vice chairman of the club and particularly enjoys competing in the rural skills events. Summer finds Andy helping a friend showing his pedigree texels and Andy also has a few pure breed texels of his own.
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Working as an Animal Welfare Inspector for Pembrokeshire County Council from 2006 - 2012 Laura was able to expand her agricultural experience further and undertake a number of relevant training courses. Since 2009 Laura has stewarded the Jacob sheep section at Pembrokeshire County Show for a number of years. Laura moved to Lancashire and joined Ross Anthony Livestock Services Ltd in 2012. As well as the equine services offered, Laura also helps wraps fleeces during the shearing season when required and assists with cattle clipping and penning up for lamb belly clipping at Dunbia (Preston) during the winter. Laura is also responsible for the faecal egg counting side of things, assisting with the cattle foot trimming and carrying out the company administration duties.
