Full Staffs County Show report and results

Former National Sheep Association chief John Thorley injected commercial realism to the interbreed title amid swollen sheep lines at Stafford Show  putting a fit, but small-headed Suffolk shearling as champion and an early lambing Poll Dorset as reserve.

 

“I’m thrilled to find a Suffolk that’s what I’d call traditional; a reasonable sized head and conformation,” said Mr Thorley of Keith and Yynda Thomas’ homebred entry. “We’re in a carcass market and these characteristics will take both the industry and the Suffolk (breed) forward.”

The couple’s 60 pedigree Suffolks run 16ha (40ac) at Hilderstone, Staffs, and hadn’t expected a breed, let alone interbreed, title. “We didn’t expect it, letting Samantha, our daughter, lead it for the breed classes,” explained Mrs Thomas.

 

The homebred Poll Dorset shearling of  David Eglin of Bulkington, Warks, stood reserve interbreed in competitions that saw numbers up from 262 last year to almost 500.

 

Mr Eglin’s 160-head Poll Dorset flock lamb in September with offspring sold from February onwards. “They’ve made £90-160 apiece this year hitting the top of the market,” he explained.

 

Cattle entries were also up from 260 last year to 400 on the back of the Society’s successful inaugural English Winter Fair, said chief executive Richard Williams.

 

Interbreed championship went to partners David Cormack and Gaina McDowell’s  Limousin cow Newstart Cinderella. Shown five months in-calf to Grahams Unbeatable this smart cow completed four interbreed titles from four shows with just three animals; Gaina’s Charolais adding to title takers.

Taking the reserve overall honours was the Simmental champion, Roger Birch’s cow Treetops Talluliah.

 

Native beef championship went to Leek-based Messrs Spooner’s Hereford bull Westwood Advancer that is owned in partnership with its breeder RT Davis. On its first outing for 2009 this 1250kg plus sire had previously only been shown as a calf at the breed’s national show where it took the reserve junior championship and is set to next appear at the Three Counties Show, Worcs.

 And the impact of animal disease made Shrops farmer Ed Seaton’s win in the dairy interbreed all the more rewarding having lost 150-head to bovine TB. His entry, Ternbridge Rosalind 90 was bought from fellow Shrops farmers Tim & Brenda Preston’s dispersal last October. “Tim said she’d be the one to have,” explained Mr Seaton.

Now five months calved with a heifer, Rosalind was still giving 55 litres of milk. Praised for a strong top line, the win put Staffs-based Jersey supporters Messrs Wright’s cow Maximus Pineapple into reserve.

However, all was not lost for the Wrights – stalwart supporters of Staffs Show – who took the Group of Four dairy title over Holstein and both overall champion and reserve in the sheep carcases with their renowned Texel X butchers lambs.

 

In the pig section Cheshire-based Deva Durocs romped home with the interbreed ticket from a field of 19 breeders.

BEEF

Interbreed Cormack McDowell Partners’ Limousin cow Newstart Cinderella; res R Birch’s Simmental cow Treetops Talluliah

Hereford Messrs Spooner’s bull Westwood Advancer; res DE ED & AL Jones’ bull Dendor 1 Equinox

British Charolais Impey & Davis’ heifer Congress Balgva; res ED Marshall’s bull Killadeas Barny

Simmental R Birch’s cow Treetops Talluliah; res D Donnelly’s cow Atlow Lucinda

Limousin Cormack McDowell Partners’ cow Newstart Cinderella; res M Phillips’ heifer Millington Devotion

British Blue D & J Wyllie’s bull Ballygrange Alex; res J Mawer’s cow Immediate ET 2840 De Mehonge

Highland Edwards & Price’s heifer Mari 4^th of Kynerdor; res Edwards & Prices’ cow Caleag Ghrinn 7^th of Tain

Longhorns EM Hallifields’ bull Dunstall Hector; res AJ & J Richardson’s heifer Bollin Grace

AOB (Beef) P Nash’s Aberdeen Angus bull Coul Priority; res A Plumbley & Co’s Welsh Black heifer Calveley Ellie

AOB (Rare & Minority) JD Silverwood’s Gloucester cow Trentside Harebell; res Edwards & Price’s Belted Galloway bull Michrum Kintyre

Commercial B & CE Wilson’s Angus X heifer Black Bettie; res G Jones’ steer Sotty

 

DAIRY

Interbreed Seaton Farms’ Holstein cow Ternbridge Rosalind 90; res ME & AW Wright’s Jersey cow Fxs Maximus Pineapple

Dexter S Hunt’s bull Saltaire Jentian; res SW Adcock’s cow Toad Hole Portia

Holstein Seaton Farms’ cow Ternbridge Rosalind 90; res Wilfred Maddocks Ltd’s heifer Wyndford Jordon Contentel 384

Jersey ME & AW Wright’s cow Fxs Maximus Pineapple; res DP Manning & Co’s cow Windyridge Astronomer Radience

Dairy Shorthorn N Madeley‘s cow Nejay Erin; res IRG Collins & Prtns’ cow Churchroyd Heather 30

 

SHEEP

Interbreed K Thomas’ Suffolk shearling ewe; res D&S Eglin‘s Poll Dorset ewe

Suffolk K Thomas’ ewe, res TS Cox’s ram lamb

Texel P Johnson’s shearling ram: res F Rushton’s ewe

Charollais S&S Murray‘s ram; res, RS & JA Gregory’s ewe

Shropshire A Harvey‘s shearling ram; res AL & ME Webb’s ewe

Beltex D, M & S Prince’s ewe lamb; res D Thorney’s shearling

AOB (Native) D & S Eglin’s Poll Dorset ewe; res E Pocock‘s Poll Dorset shearling ram

AOB (Continental) S&S Murray’s ewe; res D&S Eglin’s Charmoise ram lamb

Non Accredited E Lambert’s Hill Radnor ewe; res P Robarts’ ewe

Rare/Minority/Primitive HR Arthan’s Hebridean ewe; res A Pickstone’s ewe

Jacob DJ Prince’s shearling ewe; res Ridout & Higginson’s ewe

Ryeland C Shaw’s shearling ram; res AG ANslow’s shearling ewe

South Down D, E & V Hulme’s ram lamb; res C Rhead’s shearling ewe

Kerry Hill R&R Powell’s yearling ewe; res DJ Prince’s yearling ram

Wool on the Hoof Messrs Webb (Shropshire); res Messrs Price (Kerry Hill)

 

PIGS

Interbreed (TBC) A&J Walton’s Duroc Hover; res RJ Herbert’s Middle White boar

Modern A&J Walton’s Duroc gilt Hover; res A&J Walton’s Duroc boar Deva Jerry

Middle White J Herbert’s boar Dappleheath Rajah 8^th; E Paddock’s sow aves Dorothy

British Saddleback JR & ML Wreakes’ gilt Victoria Lottie; res SJ & AL Booth’s sow Stoke Doyle Octavia 35

Gloucester Old Spot SJ & AL Booth’s boar Chapel Patrick 10; res SJ & AL Booth’s gilt Chapel Dolly 17

Large Black GG Wickstead’s sow Chadston Diana 2; res S Merrill’s Constable Malcolm 311

AOB Traditional M Horsley’s gilt Horbeck Louise; res S Ashcroft’s gilt Barlings Stonebow 409

BPA Pig of the Year CD Vaughan’s Vinery Empress 4450; res SJ & AL Booth Chapel Patrick 10