Taking Stock

Despite fears last week that the Great Yorkshire Show would be cancelled, true Yorkshire determination showed that the 'show would go on'. And on it did, with record livestock entries (there were nearly 3000 sheep on the showground) and by the looks of yesterday, record attendance on the second day of the event.

Soon to be a TV star as well as a regular show stopper, the Crawford Brothers' Limousin bull, Sauvignon took the coveted Interbreed beef title.

Commenting on the win, Raymond disclosed to Taking Stock that after an appearance at the Royal Welsh in a couple of weeks time, Sauvignon would return to Northern Ireland to feature in a BBC/UTV documentary.

Placed reserve was the outstanding Charolais bull of Dermot Small, shown by David Cormack and heading for the Royal Welsh Show for another head to head with Sauvignon.

Results

Beef

Interbreed Crawford Brothers’ Limousin bull Sauvignon; res, D Small’s Charolais bull Cretlavane Albert

Beef Shorthorn M A Holmes’ bull Holmeere Alastair; res, J L Dunlop’s Tarrant Yucca

Lincoln Red H M Needler’s bull Walmer Jenson; res, H M Needler’s cow Walmer Lobelia F2

Aberdeen Angus T Rennie’s cow Mosston Muir Jennifer Erica; res, T Rennie’s bull Warrenho Emperor D140

Hereford B Ellis’ cow Leo’s Pride 1 Chance; res, P T English’s heifer Churchlands Estate 1 Leslie BT1

Galloway J and S Ross’ cow Doon Of Urr Nerys 42nd; res, J and S Ross’ heifer Daisy 308 of Romesbeoch

Belted Galloway M Arbib’s bull Howemill Indigo; res, J E Taylor’s cow Tobergill Heidi

Highland K Logan’s cow Ban Iarla Morag 3rd of Munlochy; res, J Price Edwards’ bull Robbies 2nd of Hellifield

South Devon W H D Scott’s cow Grove Willowherb 34; res, J P Harrison’s bull Brafferton Starbuster 9

Longhorn D and A Blockley’s heifer Southfield Gypsy; res, J Close and Son’s cow Linton Dwynwen

Of nearly 3000 sheep entries at the Great Yorkshire Show, it was the second year a North Country Cheviot ewe took the Interbreed title.

William Thomson's homebred, four year old ewe out of a Crookstone sire was a fine example of the breed, with good udder and strong mouth, according to the panel of judges.

Kelso-based Mr Thomson commented that after taking breed and Interbreed at the Royal Highland Show he was tempted to retire her, but she still seems in fine fettle!

Northern breeds were represented well in the competition, with a Swaledale two-shear ram taking the reserve.

Bought for £8500 at Kirby Steven Market in October, this was the first outing for John Bradley's tup, part of a 500-strong flock based in Skipton.

Interbreed W Thomson’s N.C.C ewe; res, J Bradley’s Swaledale ram

Leicester B W and D J Glaves and Son’s shearling gimmer; res, D A Goodman’s shearling gimmer

Teeswater D A Chandler’s shearling ram; res, A J Fisher’s shearling gimmer

Bluefaced Leicester G Shapiro’s ewe; res, H J Stenton’s ewe

Lincoln J C Nichael’s yearling ewe; res, M D and J Coney’s shearling ram

The final of the 2007 NPA Pig of the Year competition culminated with what must have been a record ringside crowd at the Great Yorkshire Show with Selby-based judge, William Gregory, placing Steve Loveless' Large White Boar, Port Bredy Prince overall champion for the second year running.

Sponsored by Cranborne Estates, the traditional breed meat company of the Marquess of Salisbury, heats are held at County Shows around the country from which pigs qualify for the final at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Prince reigned triumphant at the Royal Cornwall Show, qualifying him for the competition and also took the breed championship on Tuesday.

Full results of the show classes are below:

Interbreed C D Vaughan’s Welsh boar Vinery Workman; res, J Newth’s Large White sow Prestleigh Beryl II

Any other pedigree breed (modern) R and P M Horsley’s Hampshire sow Blencarth Judy; res, N L G Hunkin’s

Any other pedigree breed (traditional) C Turners sow Farlane Clare 6; res, C Turner’s Farlane Clare 7

Berkshire T Bretherton’s sow Wedlock Louise 4; res, C Impey’s gilt Fairoaks Fairwell 15th

British Lop M V Hicks’ sow Windmill Excelsa 15; res, D W Harrison’s sow Penllwyn Lulu 15th

British Saddleback J Newth’s sow Prestcombe Dinah 45; res, D Beeby’s sow Brydges Babble

Gloucestershire Old Spot M V Hicks’ sow Windmill Bluebell 2; res, S J and A L Booth’s sow Chapel Dolly

Large Black S J Richardson’s boar Tyldesley Super 105; res, J Mathews’ sow Lowpark Grandeur

Large White S J S Loveless’ boar Port Bredy Prince; res, J Newth’s sow Prestleigh Beryl II

Middle White E Paddock’s sow Eaves Dorothy 3; res, E Paddock’s sow Lewin Dorothy 3

Tamworth C Horsley’s boar Templeson Ruby 27; res, L M Farrington’s sow Beechwood Luck Lass 234

Welsh C D Vaughan’s boar; res, R and P M Horsley’s sow Gillbeck Tessa 3418

It was a hard choice, according to judge John Gribbon of Lancashire, when faced with four such fantastic examples of the dairy breed.

But, showing angularity, good legs and feet and a great, understated udder it was the third lactation Ayrshire cow, Haresfoot Pamela 5, of David and Anne Alderson and shown by daughter Katheryn, which impressed most.

One of 10 Ayrshires in a 120 Holstein herd based in Northallerton, Pamela is currently giving 39litres/day and averaging 60litres/day in her first lactation and also took the Senior Cow in Milk champion.

Taking reserve was Brian Whitfield's sixth-lactation Holstein Avenham Jolt Companion 2, out of Avenham Integrity Companion to Second Look Jolt.

Having given six calves, judge Mr Gribbon said: "This cow is fantastic value, with great angularity and udder. A fine example of the breed."

Nerves are jangling in Harrogate following the extension of the bluetongue surveillance zone which brought the Great Yorkshire Showground into the restricted area.

Livestock schedules for the 150th Great Yorkshire Show (Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July) had just been sent out to exhibitors with a letter inviting entries from all areas, but saying that entry cheques would not be processed until closer to the show dates to reflect the most up to date situation. This remains unchanged.

Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show said: “Until this latest announcement we had expected to get most of our cattle and sheep entries from the North of England and Scotland. The announcement reverses that and we now expect most entries to come from within the zone - south of Harrogate.

"Having said that I think it’s very likely that the restricted area will move again before July, hence we continue to invite all exhibitors to enter. I am sure we will have an excellent show of cattle and sheep, maintaining our standard for both quality and quantity.”

For further information please see the show's website

Well Taking stock arrived in a very wet Yorkshire, for this year's Great Yorkshire Show. I'd like to say fresh from the Royal Show, but having stayed 5 nights in a caravan we're not feeling very fresh.

As predicted the weather isn't on our side and it's about to get worse according to the forecast.

Neither Jonathan or I have covered Yorkshire before so we're looking forward to what the next two days will bring. The gallery is up and ready and of course we'll be keeping you up to date on here with the show winners. I just hope livestock entries aren't as badly affected due to bluetongue zoning as they were at the Royal - surely not!!! 

Well here we are in Harrogate for the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show and so far so good on the weather front. Its clear, bright and dry depsite the previously pessimistic forecasts of torrential downpours.

Judging is yet to get uinderway, but it soon will and all credit must go to GYS for their organisation. With many entries unable to attend due to bluetongue the show organisers have kindly listed details in the back of the catalogues of those exhibitors unable to attend - a small but well executed show of solidarity.

So, with judging soon to be underway we're heading out to the rings, we'll bring you results and photographs from all sections throughout the day.......

It's been a hectic first morning in the sheep rings here at the Great Yorkshire show, Harrogate, with judges working through a number of breeds in good time.

Despite some breeders being unable to attend due to bluetongue there is still a good show of sheep in the sheds, so well done to all concerned for getting them here.

So, here goes for the results so far;

In the Any Other Native section judged by John Thorley the champion ticket went to J E Pocock's Poll Dorset ram lamb with reserve taken by the female champion, E P R Lambert's Hill Radnor ewe.

The Any Other Continental section, also judged by Mr Thorley, went to the Vendeen ram of G P Pannett, with the Rouge shearling ewe from J F Redfern standing reserve.

Among the Charollais it was the senior tup from T S Hunter which caught judge David Roberts' eye, with Carol Grain and Geoff Watson's stylish shearling ewe in second spot.

Noted Yorkshire butcher Brian Glaves had success in the Leicester Longwool classes, taking the overall ticket with his shearling ram ahead of Mrs Goodman's shearling ewe.

In the Mashams it was C Douthwaite's pen of two shearling ewes which took champion spot, with A J Fisher's single shearling ewe following up in reserve.

Across in the Suffolks Chris Holmes, Worcester, found his top sheep in the form of G L Rigby's shearling ram and reserve here went to I D Briggs' shearling ewe.

Nicola Bell, daughter of Kirkby Stephen auctioneer Stuart, took the championship in the Swaledales with a ewe, while J H and J Ryder and Sons' ram stood reserve.

Texel champion was S and S Richardson's ewe lamb, with reserve here going to P C Longdin's ewe.

More results from this afternoon's judging will follow later, as will a selection of pictures of the champions.........

It's been busy in the beef rings too, with a number of breeds completing breed judging ahead of this afternoon's interbreed competition.

Leading the way were the Beef Shorthorn breeders whose champion came in the shape of Mark Holmes senior bull Cairnsmore Thrasher which stood reserve interbreed at the Royal Show last week.

Simmental champion, meanwhile, was T Hill's bull Jaegergard Uniq, a March 2003-born senior bull.

In the Limousins it was Millington Tangerine, from Millington Estates which stood top, with S and G A Potter's heifer Westside Alanis reserve.

Photographs and more results will follow as the happen.......

Today has seen breed judging in the dairy classes, with the Holsteins and Dairy Shorthorns completed so far.

Heading up the Holstein line-up was Messrs Baty and Williamson's senior cow Goostrey Coll 225, an Ex93 rated, 2000-born cow by Kemview Vanetas Vision.

Standing champion in the Dairy Shorthorn lines was I R G Collins and Partner's cow Churchroyd Heather 24. This 2002-born cow is by Jerome and out of Churchyard Heather 11.

As always judging has continued apace this afternoon in the sheep rings at the Great Yorkshire Show and I've been contently watching plenty of the action wondering if its a sensible idea to head back next year with some sheep in tow.

First to conclude this afternoon were the Beltex, where the champion was R G Findlay's aged ewe.

Next out of the blocks were the Bluefaced Leicesters where A J Fisher took the overall award with his shearling ewe.

Meanwhile, among the Hampshire Downs, it was the fleshy shearling ewe from L M Chasney which took the top spot ahead of the ram lamb from the same exhibitor.

Mark Holmes' Beef Shorthorn bull Cairnsmore Thrasher has taken the interbreed award this afternoon at the Great Yorkshire Show, after standing reserve at last week's Royal Show.

Led out by Carol and Richard Rettie, Thrasher looked an easy champion from the moment he stepped into the interbreed ring and found favour with the panel of breed judges which awarded him the best points score of the champions present.

Standing reserve to him was the Limousin champion Millington Tangerine from John Weatherill's Millington herd. By Woodhouse Prince, Tangerine was shown by Mark Philips and Helen Burton, with her calf at foot.

After a lengthy five and a half hours judging and fresh from his championship win at the Royal Show Kevin Ludgate and his commercial show team were back in action at the Great Yorkshire Show to take the overall ticket.

Having shone through the female championship Wilemina, his British Blue cross heifer with helper Ben Maskell at the lead took the championship under butcher and judge Stuarty Clatworthy.

Mr Clatworthy described his champion as being a heifer bang on 12 o'clock. She had everything he wanted in a butchers animal and would proudly hang her in his shop. "You could just keep cutting and cutting meat off this heifer - she's fantastic," he told a massive crowd round the ring side.

Having stood reserve female champion, Neil Slack's Limousin cross hiefer Rhianna followed through to take the overall reserve spot with Ben Richardson at the lead, while Neil was in charge of his champion male steer Fernando.

Rhianna is no stranger to the show ring, having taken the reserve champion ticket as a calf at last year's Agri-Expo at Carlsile. She now heads for show retirement as Neil is currently in a clean bluetongue zone.    

Kevin Ludgate was also on hand to take the overall male championship with his homebred 12 month old Limousin cross steer James.

Its the end of a long day here at the Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate, but the weather has been kind to us, so we have to be grateful for that.

We've enjoyed the day and the trusty Taking Stock photographer has been hard at work snapping the champions which are now available to see in the gallery, enjoy......

The bar is calling, so its pints all round tonight!

Breed development manager and type classifier Myrig Raymond took centre stage to select his interbreed dairy champion this morning and after close inspection he tapped out the Ayrshire cow Sandyford Clover 10 from Blaze and Deborah Tomlinson.

Having taken the interbreed title at last year's Royal Show and heifer titles here and at the Dairy Event in 2006, Clover was a comfortable choice for Mr Raymond.

Speaking to the crowds he said she oozed dairy characteristics, style and strength. "She has an excellent top line, hind legs and a mammary system to dream of." Clover is currently giving 42kg a day having calved on May 10 with her third. Her next outing for Loughborough, Leicestershire-based Mr Tomlinson will be the Dairy Event in September.

Taking the reserve spot was the Jersey champion from young Milly Shipley with her mother Synthia at the lead. The EX92 Pavenham Iben 9 is by Curtsey Duncan Jude and out of a homebred dam. Again another show winner, she has taken tickets at Berkshire, Lincoln and East of England and as a third calver is currently giving 32kg a day.

The Boston, Lincolnshire-based Shipley family had double success as they went on to take the interbreed junior title with daughter of the reserve overall Pavenham Iben 12, while the reserve ticket went to the Ayrshire Liverton Ke Horn from Messrs Stevenson, Saltburn by Sea, Cleveland.

Adding to his silverware collection obtained yesterday, Mark Holmes' Shorthorn bull Cairnsmore Thrasher has taken the native interbreed competition this morning under Limousin and Charolais breeder Archie McGregor, Kilsyth. Following a close reserve here was the Aberdeen-Angus cow and calf Cragg Minneapolis Belle from Mrs Squires.

In the junior overall interbreed Millington Grange took top spot with their Limousin heifer Millington Choice, by Mas du Clo, while reserve went to the young Charolais bull Holstead Cracker from F and J Andrews.

Sheep numbers at this week's Great Yorkshire Show may have been affected by bluetongue, but with more than 1000 sheep penned it will undoubtedly be the largest show of sheep in England this year.

And with classes of 20 or more the Charollais breed was one of the best represented at Harrogate and it was their female champion, an aged ewe from Geoff Watson and Carol Grain, Kettering, Northamptonshire, which took the overall championship. The ewe, Solwood Gracious Lady, had earlier in the day taken the terminal sire breeds female championship.

By Castlelow Freelander and out of a ewe bred by David Reynolds, Telford, Gracious Lady had stood female champion and reserve breed champion in the Charollais, but due to the judging format at Great Yorkshire had come through to the interbreed to overturn the previous day's result. She is one of 60 Charollais ewes run by the couple alongside their flock of Oxford Downs.

Among the pigs it was a worthwhile trip north from Dorset for Steve Loveless and his daughter Hayley when they took the interbreed title with their Large White sow Port Bredy Jean 1802.

One of 40 sows the family keep at Skilling, Bridport, Jean 1802 is by Port Bredy Valiant 1457 and was born in August 2007. Mr Lovesless last won the interbreed title at Great Yorkshire in 2006, but said the sow hadn't had a successful season as she had been beaten by her sister at many shows.

"Unfortunately, with the way feed prices have been going we've had to cut back sow numbers from 60, but if pig prices rise and feed prices fall as predicted we'll put numbers back up again."

Beef

Interbreed M Holmes' Shorthorn bull Cairnsmore Thrasher; res, J Weatherill's Limousin cow Millington Tangerine.

Interbreed Pairs Limousin; res, British Blue.  

Beef Shorthorn M Holmes' bull Cairnsmore Thrasher; res, R S Johnson's heifer Bilsdale Saphire Zanna.

Aberdeen Angus J B Swires' cow Cragg Minneaplolis Belle; res, D and P A Evans' bull Tree Bridge Pelton.

Interbreed E T Tomlinson and Sons Ayrshire cow Sandyford clover 10; res, Pavenham Jerseys' Pavenham Iben 9.

Interbreed Pairs Jerseys; res, Holstein.

Interbreed Groups Jerrsey; res, Holstein.

Holstein Messrs Baty and Williamson's senior cow Goostrey Coll 225; res, P J Waring's intermediate cow Cleeton Jordon Glenna.

Dairy Shorthorn I R G Collins and Partners' cow Churchroyd Heather 24; res, I R G Collins and Partners' cow Churchroys Peggy 6.

Ayrshire E T Tomlinson and Son's cow Sandyford Clover 10; res, E T tomlinson's cow Sandyford Mayflower 5.

Jersey Pavenham Jersey's Pavenham Iben 9; Pavenham Jersey's Pavenham Iben 12.

Here are the full sheep results from the Great Yorkshrire Show.

Interbreed G Watson and C Grain's Charollais ewe; res, R Field's Wensleydale ewe.

Interbreed Longwool male A J Fisher's Teeswater ram; res, A E and B W Glaves' Leicester Longwool ram.

Interbreed Longwool female R Field's Wensleydale ewe; res, A J Fisher's Bleufaced Leicester shearling ewe.

Interbreed Hill male M J Wilson and Sons' Dalebred ram; res, M Warburton's North Country Cheviot ram.

Interbreed Hill female N J Bell's Swaledale ewe; res, C A Crowther's lonk shearling.

Interbreed Shortwool male J E Pocock's Poll Dorset ram lamb; res, M A Bishop's Ryeland ram.

Interbreed Shortwool female J F Redfern's Rouge shearling ewe; res, A R and J Smith's Jacob shearling ewe.

Interbreed S Loveless' Large White sow Port Bredy Jean 1802; res, D Beeby's British Saddleback sow Brydges Babble 159.

AOB Traditonal M Nicholas' Oxford Sandy and Black sow Dukes Claire; res, M Nicholas' Oxford Sandy and Black gilt Dukes Dutchess.

Berkshire F Fieldhouse and Son's sow Grange Farm Royal Sapphire 205; res, C T Impey's boar Fairoaks Peterlad 2.

British Saddleback D Beeby's sow Brydges Babble 159; res, K and K Matthews boar Low Park Rajah 244.

Gloucestershire Old Spots M V Hicks' sow Windmill Princess 11; res, M V Hicks' boar Windmill Gerald 33.

Large Black K and K Matthews' boar Low Park Majestic 136; res, K and K Matthews' sow Low Park Grandeur 140.

Large White S J S Loveless' Port Bredy 1802; res, J Newth's boar Prestleigh Viking 4.

Middle White C H Robinson's sow Aggett's Woodlands Lady 2; res, M Paddock's sow Eaves Yootha.

Welsh C D Vaughan's sow Vinery Willing; res, C D Vaughan's boar Vinery Ivor.