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Limousins reigned supreme in the beef classes at Countryside Live with a steer sired by a Limousin taking the title of supreme beef champion in Harrogate today.

 

 

 

Following on from being crowned steer champion and Limousin breed champion, Jager Bomb from Tecwyn Jones, Wales, triumphed overall.

 

This one is by a British Limousin bull and out of a British Blue x cow.  It is the 8^th show of the year for this beast which won champion steer at the Royal Welsh Show.  Mr Jones is no stranger to Countryside Live, and lifted the title of reserve supreme beef back in 2008.

 

He now plans to take Jager Bomb on to Agri-Expo before judging the beef classes at Smithfield.

 

Taking reserve supreme beef champion, as well as reserve Limousin breed champion and heifer champion, was heifer Minni M from Mr M L Howatson & Son.

 

 

This one was presented by Glyn Howatson and is homebred by a Limousin bull Hartsidenew Crackerjack, and out of a Limousin x Blue cow.  Today's success follows on from Minni being crowned champion baby beef and Reserve overall commercial at the Royal Welsh earlier this year.

 

Judge Phillip Sellers said of the championship:  "These are two outstanding animals.  The bullock is 654kg but it's all quality.  He is what I like from a bullock.  The heifer is very fine and very feminine, and eyecatching from the word go.

 

"I have gone for the bullock as the champion because I think he is more fleshy on the loin and has more length and strength."

 

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE BEEF CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Two pairs of Beltex x lambs dominated the sheep championships at Countryside Live today, with the title of supreme champion pair of butchers lambs going to last year's winners Joanna Hall and Johnny Aiken, who run 2,000 ewes in Carlisle.

 

The pair won the title of champion pair of continental lambs before lifting the overall title for supreme pair.  Ms Hall said they plan to take stock to Agri-Expo next week.

 

Judge Phillip Houldey said of the pair:  "They are what I call the perfect pair.  They were evenly fleshed throughout and the right weight - 75kg - for today's trade."

 

Taking reserve supreme champion pair and reserve champion pair of continental lambs, was another pair of Beltex x lambs from friends George Cropper and Harry Wood.

 

Mr Cropper said:  "This is the first time we have come here, and we plan to take them on to English Winter Fair."  The friends brought a lamb from each of their farms, where they farm pedigree Simmentals and pedigree Beltex.

 

Meanwhile, the title of champion pair of native lambs went to Mr A L Thompson's pair of Suffolk x lambs.  The family run 300 ewes in Lancashire, and plan to take the pair on to Agri-Expo in Carlisle next weekend.

 

The title of reserve champion pair of native lambs was awarded to B & M Watkinson's Suffolk x Texel lambs, born in March this year.  This follows on from them winning first in their class and reserve champions at Masham Sheep Fair last month.

 

And last but not least, the title of champion single butchers lamb went to Messrs R Hall & Son's Beltex lamb.  Reserve went to A M & H V Brown for their Beltex x.

Reigning supreme in the baby beef championship was last year's beef judge Michael Alford's steer Pokemon.  He was presented by Mr Alford's daughter Charlotte, and is by a British Limousin and out of a British Blue x.  This is Aberdeen-bred Pokemon's first show outing, and the Alfords plan to continue with him on the winter show circuit this year.

 

 

 

Judge Phil Sellers said of the beast:  "It's got good presence and its character shows through.  It walks well and it's well meated through the top for a calf."

 

Taking reserve was Mr N E Slack's baby beef heifer Swagger Jagger, described by the judge Mr Sellars as a "very sweet heifer".  She was bred by Mr Slack, and is by a British Limousin and out of a British Limousin cross.  The Slacks also plan to take her on to further winter shows this season.

 

FOR RESULTS FROM THE INDIVIDUAL BABY BEEF CLASSES CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

The sheep interbreed championship kicks off at 1pm today.  Here are the results from the individual classes yesterday.

 

Class 12: Pair of Shortwool Native Crossbred Lambs Mr A L Thompson's Suffolk x; res, B & M Watkinson's Suffolk x Texel.

 

Class 13: Pair of Longwool Lambs B & M Watkinson's Mule; res, A M & H V Brown's Mule.

 

Class 14: Pair of Horned Lambs Messrs K R & J Flintoft's Scotch Blackface; res, Messrs J H & J Ryder & Sons' Dalesbred.

 

FOR MORE RESULTS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

And here are the results for the breed champions in the beef classes at Harrogate yesterday.

 

Champion Limousin Steer Mr T Jones' Jager Bomb; res, Mr & Mrs M J Alford's Im Your Man.

 

Champion British Blue Steer J E & G Bell's Bob; res, Mr R J Wilkinson's Take That.

 

Champion Charolais Steer Mr T A Lyon's Snoop Dog; res, Mr W M Owen's Dazzler.

 

Champion Continental Steer Mr F H & Mrs J R Fairburn's The Machine; res, J A Stoney & Son's Mr Softie.

 

Champion Limousin Heifer Mr M L Howatson & Son's Minni M; res, Mr & Mrs M J Alford's Real Thing.

 

Champion British Blue Heifer Mr B E Williams' Party Girl; res, the Rice Family's Butterfly Flip.

 

Champion Charolais Heifer Miss C J Cropper & Mr J A Mellin's Champagne Charlie; res, R & L Roberts' In a Minute.

 

Champion Continental Heifer Mr A D Bishop's Dawn Run; res, Mr D Hall's Penny Lane.

 

Champion Beast sired by a British Native Sire Mr B E Williams' Black Bill; res, Mr J R Clayton's Mr Mac.

 

Champion Beast bred, owned & shown by a Yorkshire based exhibitor J A Stoney & Son's Hanky Panky; res, Messrs Wilkinson & Lawson's Buster.

The judging for the beef interbreed championship is set to kick off later this afternoon.  In the mean time here are the results from the beef classes yesterday.

 

Class 1A - Steer, sired by a Limousin T J Commercials' Blackjack; res, Mr M L Howatson & Son's Pluto.

 

Class 1B - Steer, sired by a Limousin Mr & Mrs M J Alford's Im Your Man; res, Mr D Thomas' Just William.

 

Class 1C: Steer, sired by a Limousin Mr G R Fountain's The Butcher's Boy; res, Sedgewick & Slack's The Real Deal.

 

Class 1D: Steer, sired by a Limousin Mr T Jones' Jager Bomb; res, Messrs' Anderson & Fenwick's Stamper.

 

FOR MORE RESULTS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

I will be heading up to Harrogate tomorrow for Countryside Live so follow the blog on Sunday for results from the showing and hopefully some video interviews with the interbreed championship winners.  If you're at the show come and say hello!

Phil and Sharon Sellers have added to the imperious record here at Harrogate, taking their third supreme beef title at Countryside Live.

This year's winner was Lady Big Bucks,a  British Blue cross heifer bred by the Richardsons of Ghyll House. She weighed in at 596kg and is out of a Limousin dam. Phil declined to comment on how much she cost, but I believe she is the £8000 heifer from the Penrith sale this spring.Judge Michael Alford said she was a cracking show beast, with a great depth of loin and the pefect cover for a butchers beast. "She is coming fit right now and would kill out beautifully." This one is likely to reappear at the East of England Winter Stock Festival and the Royal Highland Winter Fair.

Reserve overall was the reserve heifer and reserve British Blue beast at the show, Cheeky Girl from Dylan and Yvonne Hughes. She weighed 582kg and was bought from Geraint Williams at this spring's Ruthin show potential sale for £2400. She is now destined for Agri Expo and the Welsh Winter Fair.Taking the steer championship were Richard and Judy Fountaine with their Limousin steer Cothi Eyecatcher. This was bred by Mr Lewis and is by Pengelly Bart. He tipped the scales at 566kg.Reserve overall steer was Charolais cross Nugget from Colin and Wendy Phillips. This homebred beast weighed 646kg.

British Blue champion was the overall title winner, with the reserve overall reserve.

Limousin championship honours went to the steer champion as mentioned above, with  Elfed Williams Limousin steer Hanky Panky reserve.

Then the Charolais championship was the reserve steer champion, with Les Wilson's heifer Poppy in reserve.

And the AOB champion was Blonde cross heifer Gypsy Queen, reserve was J A Stoney's Blonde cross heifer Trev's Girl.

The top places in the sheep championship hereat Countyside Live have both been taken by Beltex lambs, with the top spot going to the Hall family, Carlisle, with their pair of lambs by a tup bought out of Carlisle. These weighed in at 100kg the pair and are out of homebred seven eighths Beltex ewes. This was a first win for the Halls at Countryside Live, with the lambs shown by John Hall's daugher Joanne Skelton assisted by dresser Jonathan Aiken.Reserve overall spot went to the reserve champions in the Continental section, a pair of Beltex from Hannah Brown which had earlier been YFC champions too. This pair weighed in at 48kg each with one being by a 10 year old Belgian bred tup and the other by a homebred two shear ram.Taking the championship in the single lamb competition was Robin Slade with a Dutch Texel lamb.

Native championship was one by Anthony Thompson with a pair of Suffolk x Dutch Texel lambs which weighed 120kg the pair. Reserve here was a pair of Mashams from A C and L Bailey.

The top award in the Baby Beef classes here at Countryside Live has gone to Neil Slack with a Fieldson Alfy-sired steer, Alfie. This one weighed in at 346kg and was born in March of this year. He is out of a Limousin cross dam and was on his third outing, having been shown twice in the summer. His next appearance will be at Agri-Expo, Carlisle, next week, followed by the East of England Winter Stock festival.Reserve was a heifer from the Richardson family, Ghyll House. This was sired by Rossignol and is out of a Limousin cross dam.This May born calf tipped the scales at 313kg and was brought out of the Richardsons by David Cormack and Gaynor McDowell.

The domination of Phil and Sharon Sellers in this season's primestock show cattle championships and Andrew and Becky Bishop in the sheep championships has got me thinking about whether such exceptional runs of form are a good or bad thing.

Does the continual winning by one exhibitor serve to encourage others to try and beat them or turn potential exhibitors away from events because they don't beleive they have a chance of winning?

I sit fairly firmly in the first camp and strongly beleive that anyone, no matter what they're showing is always able to be beaten provided you put the effort in. Now, obviously in the commercial cattle scene there is the small matter of money too, with many of the top animals often costing a pretty penny (I think my thoughts on this are well enough known).

But overall while the big spenders may have the upper hand when it comes to buying, they still have to feed the cattle right and bring them out in top condition on the day. After all there have been plenty of big money cattle which have never grown into their potential or been overdone - and that's true of the pedigree world too!

When it comes to the sheep lines, there is first and foremost, a darn sight less money floating about, with most of the lambs being homebred, or bought at reasonable store lamb prices. But once again the same skill in feeding is needed to get the lambs to be spot on - particularly in making them handle as pairs.

I sincerely hope the great success enjoyed by both the Sellers and Bishops doesn't deter others from having a go, after all it may just be that next year is your year, or maybe even next week at AgriLIVE Smithfield!

 

Phil and Sharon Sellers have won the overall beef championship here at Countryside Live with their British Blue cross steer Dick Turpin.

This one, by Auchenlay Vagabond, was bought privately from John Richardson and family as a six month old calf for an undisclosed sum. This was Dick Turpin's second outing, having been champion at Brailsford Ploughing Match. He now heads for Agri-Expo at Carlisle next week before going on to the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Dick Turpin weighed 510kg on the day and made it two in a row for the Sellers after they collected the overall award here at Harrogate 12 months ago.

Standing reserve overall was Elfed Williams with his Limousin cross heifer Ting Ting. This one tipped the scales at 560kg this weekend and was bought for £10,000 at Penrith in the spring, also from John Richardson. She now heads for the Royal Welsh Winter Fair and AgriLlVE Smithfield.

Taking the reserve steer title was Bob the Builder, a Limousin sired steer from W D Davies, he's  out of a British Blue sired dam. Reserve heifer was Tecwyn Jones with his Limousin sired entry Ginger Spice. This is out of a British Blue dam.

Champion overall Limousin was Ting Ting, while reserve was Ginger Spice.

Taking the British Blue title was Dick Turpin, with Neil Slack with £13,000 heifer Sidewalk Sally, also bred by John Richardson.

Leading the way in the Charolais were Phil and Sharon Sellers with their heifer Fantasia and reserve was Robin Roberts and Eleri Hughes with Mister Snazzy a steer.

And lifting the Blonde award was Collins Farming Enterprises with their heifer Thats My Girl. Reserve spot here went to J A Stoney and Son with their heifer Blondie.

Taking the overall sheep championship here at Countryside Live were Andrew and Becky Bishop, Gloucestershire, with their pair of purebred Beltex. This duo, which tipped the scales at 44kg/apiece, are by Luggsmill Laney, the same sire as the couple's interbreed winner at this year's Great Yorkshire Show, and out of homebred pure Beltex ewes.

Standing reserve were last year's championship winners Martin and Val Brown, Bedale, with another pair of Beltex sired lambs. This pair tipped the scales at 51.5kg each and are by a homebred Beltex tup and out of 3/4 Beltex dams.

Taking the native championship was A Scarborough with a pair of Suffolk lambs, while reserve was Alan Duffield with his brace of Wensleydales.

The first of the overall titles has been decided here today at Countryside Live, with the Baby Beef championship being taken for the second year in succession by John Smith Jackson, Haltwhistle.

His winner was from the lightweight steer class, a May-born Limousin cross Super Trouper. This one is by Shire Apollo and is out of a Limousin cross dam and is a full brother to last year's title winner Mamma Mia. Super Trouper tipped the scales at 258kg.

Reserve spot went to Neil Slack and his nephew and niece, Bradley and Elizabeth Haughton, with their heifer Boom Boom Pow. This is a January-born daughter of British Blue bull Auchenlay Vagabond and is out of a Limousin cross dam. This one weighed in at 378kg.

After a hectic start to the week in Perth, Taking Stock is rounding off the week with a day at Countryside Live, Harrogate.

Today see's the championship's decided in all the main sections, with the Baby Beef getting underway at 10 this morning, followed by the main beef championship this afternoon, with the sheep championship decided at 1pm.

So, check back here later for results from all the judging...

Hi, well having made it home late last night from Countryside Live I've now managed to get the photos from the event into a gallery for you all to take a look at, so check them out and see who you can spot lurking in the background!

Phil and Sharon Seller's British Blue sired heifer has just clinched the overall beef championship at this weekend's Countryside Live, Harrogate. The heifer, Limited Edition, took the championship having earlier clinched the heifer championship under judge Kevin Ludgate.

The winner, bought out of Ruthin suckled calf sale for £2500, weighed in at 580kg and has been shown seven times this year, picking up a red ticket on every single outing. She now heads for Agri-Expo at Carlisle, the Royal Highland Winter Fair and the Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair.

Bedale-based Martin Broan has just clinched the Farmers Weekly/Taking Stock sheep championship at this weekend's Countryside Live, Harrogate, with a 91kg pair of Beltex lambs from the 600-ewe flock he runs with his wife Val and daughter Hannah.

Judge Steve Gibbons, Hay on Wye, said the lambs were presented on the point of perfection and had been firm favourites from the moment they won their class.

The same pair of lambs had taken the champion ticket at Skipton's show of Beltex sired lambs in early August said Mr Brown and he also took the overall title at the Great Yorkshire Show in July with another team of Beltex.

Mr Brown also took the reserve Continental championship and reserve overall titles with another pair of Beltex crosses, this time a duo which tipped the scales at 78kg. He also clinched the best single lamb award with one from the winning pair.

Taking the native championship was Mike Allen with a pair of Suffolk x Texel lambs from his 200-ewe flock. These tipped the scales at a combined weight of 105kg.

Northumberland show calf breeder John Smith Jackson of Haltwhistle has just take the Baby Beef title here at Countryside Live with a Limousin x Limousin cross heifer weighing in at 309kg. Sired by Shire Apollo and out of a homebred cow, Mamma Mia was botn in April and was on her first show outing. John intends to sell her next spring at one of the leading calf sales, although I have a feeling there might be a rash of offers coming in before then for her.

 

The second day of Countryside Live has dawned and its championship day here in Harrogate, but before that the Baby Beef section gets underway at 10am.

Sheep champions are under the spotlight at 1pm, with the beef champions entering the ring at 2.15pm, so check back later for results and photos.....