Recently in Hampshire Down Category

Hampshire Downs peaked at 690gns at Skipton on Friday, with this top call given for a shearling ram from Charles and Sally Horrell's Pode Hole flock. This one was a son of Millfields Headliner and sold to G Mountain, North Rigton, Harrogate.

The Horrells also secured the second best price of the day with another shearling ram, this time by Owslebury Xerxes. He went at 630gns to C A Potter, Pocklington, Yorkshire.

And at the same money was an in-lamb shearling ewe from Jennifer Atkinson and David Smith, Market Rasen. This one sold to N Foster, Donard, Co Wicklow.

The pre-sale show champion, an in-lamb shearling ewe consigned by Graham and Judith Galbraith, Kendal, Cumbria, made the next best price of the day when selling for 610gns. She headed back to her home county with R I Barrow, Broughton in Furness, Cumbria.

 A shearling ram sired by Aspley Mosley, sire to the 2011 Royal Highland and Royal Welsh shows breed champion, offered by E B and S A Jones, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, passed the 500gns mark, selling for 560gns to K Stones, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

R I Barrow was then back in action making a call of 530gns for an in-lamb shearling ewe sired by Kelsey Carlisle from L M Chasney, York, North Yorkshire.

Mr Foster, Donard, then bid 520gns for a ewe lamb from Messsrs Smith and Atkinson sired by Pode Hole I-Spy.

Averages: 4 aged ewes £318.94, 22 shearling ewes £407.35, 16 gimmer lambs £301.55, 5 shearling rams £658, 2 ram lambs £210 (CCM Auctions).

Females led the way at the Carlisle Hampshire Down sale on Saturday, with the top four prices all being for ewe lambs or shearling ewes.

Taking the best of the day at 1050gns was a ewe lamb from Graham and Judith Galbraith's Graylen flock. This one, a Ballycreelly Montgomery daughter is out of a dam by Wattisfield Whatever and sold to R Brand, East Fortune, East Lothian. Next best at 640gns was a shearling ewe from Kevin and Anna McCarthy. This Yarcombe Reference daughter is out of a dam by Yarcombe Jack The Lad and has an index of 189. She sold to I and A Burgess, New Abbey, Dumfries.

And then making 600gns was a shearling ewe from the Galbraiths. This was a another by the Ballycreelly sire and is out of a Yarcombe Errol daughter. She also sold to R Brand.

As did the next best at 500gns. This was again from the Galbraiths and was another ewe lamb, this time by Kelsey Gigolo and out of a dam by Kelsey Duvall.

Best of the day in the rams was a brace of 300gns calls. First at this money was a shearling from Kevin and Anna McCarthy, with this one being a Moneycarragh Millionaire son out of a dam by Yarcombe Jack The Lad. He sold to M J Moore, Brackley.

The other at this money was a ram lamb from the Galbraiths. This one was another by Kelsey Gigolo and out of a dam by Owslesbury Rapier. He found a new home with J Kelly, Isle of Man.

Averages; three ewes £350, three shearling ewes £574, five ewe lambs    £577.50, one       shearling ram     £315, one ram lamb £315 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Trade topped at 600gns for Hampshire Downs on Friday at the breed association's official show and sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

Sale leader was a shearling from Jennifer Atkinson and David Smith's Kelsey flock, Market Rasen. By Kelsey Gryphon, a Yarcombe Erroll son, out of a homebred ewe, this tup is within the breed's top 1% and sold to I W Barrow and Sons, Dunnerdale, Broughton in Furness.

The same vendors were back in the money again selling two shearling rams by Kelsey Hero at 450gns. Buyers here were Michael Wentworth Waites, Bampton, Penrith, with the other at the same money going to A C White, Steel, Hexham.

A bid of 350gns secured a Yarcombe Erroll sired shearling ram, again from the same vendor, selling to S Croxford-Adams, Whitfield, Hexham.

Averages: shearling rams £410.38

Another centre record was set this weekend, with Sunday's sale of Hampshire Downs reaching a high of 2020gns and setting a new record in the process.

This top call was given for a ram lamb from Jim and Patsi Cresswell's Wattisfield flock. Sired by Wattisfield Top Draw he is out of a dam by Wattisfield What Next and sold with an index of 223, to Lewis Knight, Marshfield, Chippenham

Next best at 940gns was one from Paul and Nicki Rooke's Welham flock. This Pode Hole Hermes son is out of a dam by Yarcombe Echo. He was snapped up by Kevin Lincoln, Barnham Broom, Norwich.

And then at 920gns was another from the Wattisfield pen, another son of Top Draw, he is out of a dam by Yarcombe Highflyer and has an index of 259. This one sold to Richarrd Cole, Chaddlehanger, Devon.

An 860gns bid secured the best of the day from Henry and Hilary Derryman's Yarcombe flock. This was a son of Homefield King Arthur and out of a dam by Yarcombe Supreme. He has an index of 265. He was knocked down to Henry Edmunds, Cholderton.

At 810gns was a Yarcombe Hussar son from Charles and Sally Horrell's Pode Hole flock. This one is out of a dam by Ballyvester 580 Maximus and has an index of 261 and sold to David and Denise Middleditch, Suffolk.

Another from the Wattisfield entry then sold at 620gns. This was another Top Draw son out of a dam by Kelsey Carlyle and has an index of 214.

And the Derrymans sold another lamb at 560gns, with this one being a Wattisfield Topper son out of a dam by Yarcombe Brave and has an index of 257. He headed home with the Horrells.

Leading shearling ram at 570gns was the Yarcombe Erroll sired Kelsey Invincible SRS Index 259 from Jennifer Atkinson and David Smith, South Kelsey, Market Rasen to Hugo Marfleet, Tetford, Horncastle.

Second best of the day in the shearling rams was a 530gns call for Westland Dreadnought from Messrs Knight. This one is again by Top Draw and out of a dam by Westland Yonder.

Top call in the females was a 510gns bid for a shearling ewe from Chris Westlake's Owslebury flock. This daughter of Parkstock Royal is out of a dam by New Zealand sire Bilberry Oak Supreme and has an index of 295, placing her in the top 1% of the breed. She sold to the Jones family, Wolfcastle.

Making 480gns was a shearling ewe from the Derrymans. This Wattisfield Topper daughter is out of a Ballycreelly Huntsman-sired dam and sold with an index of 175.

In the ewe lambs the best sale was a £450 bid for a Yarcombe Apollo daughter from Chris Westlake. This one is out of a dam by Owslesbury Wonder and has an index of 249. This one joins the Chaileybrook flock of Jonathan Long and Chrissie Lawrence.

At 350gns was a ewe lamb from the Cresswells. This Wattisfield Whatwhat daughter is out of a Lakemead Knight-sired dam and has an index of 121 and went to the Middleditchs.

Averages; six shearling rams £456.75; 23 ram lambs £586.63; 19 shearling ewes £486.00; 12 ewe lambs £312.81 (Henry H Bletsoe and Son).
 

It's been a hectic morning here at Ingliston with the sheep breed classes continuing apace and the dairy breed and interbreed being completed too.

In the Texel ring the champion was a one-crop ewe from Thomas McTaggart, with a ram lamb from Robert Laird in reserve.Then in the Hampshire Downs the winner was a shearling ewe from E, B and S A Jones, with a shearling tup from R and J McFarlane standing reserve.Swaledale champion was W Watson with a shearling tup and reserve to it was a shearling ewe from Arthur Slack.Taking the honours in the Bluefaced Leicster ring was a tup lamb from D L and S Currie and reserve was K Smith with a ewe lamb.At the top of the Charollais lines were Angus and Susan Howie with a ram lamb, while reserve was a shearling ewe from the same home.

The North of England Mule champion was a ewe lamb from Colin Dent and reserve was a hogg from R and F Wilson.

Native breed interbreed

Mr Harry Middleditch's Oxford Down shearling ram; res, Mr R Chapman's Jacob older ram.

 

Continental breed interbreed

Mr Charles Sercombe's Charollais older ewe; res, Miss Sophie Long's Blue Texel shearling ewe

 

Charollais

Mr C R Sercombe's shearling ram; res Mr C R Sercombe's ewe

 

Hampshire Down

Mr T I Hunter's ram lamb; res, Mrs J A Atkinson's ewe lambs

 

Jacob

Mr R Chapman's ram; res, Mrs J and Mr A R Smith's ewe

 

Kerry Hill

Mrs S A Hill'shearling ewe; res, Mrs G M Ward's shearline ewe

 

Norfolk Horn

Croxton Park Partnership's shearling ewe; res, Mrs L Stephen's shearling ewe

 

Southdown

Lesley and Terry Mead's shearling ram; res, Lesley and Terry Mead's shearling ewe

 

Suffolk

M J and J A Pinny's ewe; res, Messrs G L Gent and Son's shearline ewe

 

Texel

Mr D Chambers' shearling ram; res, Mr R Kellet's shearling ewe

 

Any other continental

Miss Sophie Long's Blue Texel shearling ewe; res Mrs J Bury's Bleu Du Maine ram

 

Any other native or down

Mr H Middleditch's Oxford Down shearling ewe; res, Mr H Middleditch's Oxford Down shearling ewe

 

Beltex

Mr and Mrs R Sharp's aged ram; res, Mr and Mrs R Sharp's shearling ram.

 

Shropshire

Miss L Newman and Mr C Saffell's shearling ewe; res, Mr A L and Mrs M E Webb's older ram.

 

Longwool

Miss A Knights' Wensleydale shearling ram; Mrs S Holdich's Wensleydale shearling ewe.

 

Native Breed

Mr H Middleditch's Oxford Down shearling ram; res, Mr R Chapman's Jacob older ram.

 

Continental Breed

Mr C Sercombe's Charollais older ewe; res, Miss Sophie Long's Blue Texel shearling ewe.

 

Regular contributor to the Taking Stock blog Jonathan Long and partner Chrissie Lawrence, had much success at last weekend's South of England Show taking the interbreed championship for the second year in a row and the fourth time in six years.  

 

 

Heading up the Chaileybrook team was the senior Hampshire Down tup Kelsey Knockout who took the interbreed title.

 

The three-shear Knockout, a son of Owlesbury Rapier out of a Brittons dam, is on his final season on the show circuit and was praised by interbreed judge and butcher Brian Glaves for being exactly the type of modern sire the industry needed.

 

"He's square on his legs, moves tremendously, but most importantly he has fantastic fleshing with minimal waste. He's everything I like to see in a senior tup."

 

Knockout has previously been breed champion at South of England, reserve breed champion at the Royal Highland and breed and reserve interbreed champion at Edenbridge and Oxted. He now heads to this week's East of England Show.

 

SHEEP

 

Champion and reserve champion Suffolk

 

Mr Gary Beacom's shearling ewe; res, Lester  Aiken's ram lamb

 

Champion and reserve champion Texel

 

R  Henderson's shearling ewe; res, Mr Thomas James Carson's ewe lamb

 

Champion and reserve Hampshire Down

 

Mr Stirling Manson's ewe lamb; res, Mr Stirling Manson's ram lamb

 

Champion and reserve Charollais

 

Mrs Diane Christie's shearling ram; res, Norman J McMordie's ewe lamb

 

Champion and reserve North Country Cheviot

 

Mr Tommy McKean's ewe; res, Mr Desmond Robinson's (Jnr) shearling ewe

 

Champion and reserve Dorset Horn and Poll

 

T & S  Knox's ram; res, Wright, Mr Thomas' shearling ewe

 

Champion and reserve Rouge de l'Ouest

 

Mr N Michael Graham's ram; res,  Mr N Michael Graham's ewe lamb

 

Champion and reserve Beltex

 

Mrs Elizabeth McAllister's shearling ewe; res, Mrs Elizabeth McAllister's shearling ewe

 

Champion and reserve Rare Breeds

 

W & K Carson's ewe; res, Mrs Siobhan Holloway's ewe lamb

 

Champion and reserve Zwartbles

 

Mr Cyril Cromie's ewe lamb; res, Ms Rachel Elder's ram

 

Champion and reserve Border Leicester

 

David J Mawhinney's ewe; res, T Horner's shearling ewe

 

Champion and reserve KerryHill

 

Brian Malcomson's Shearling ewe; res, R J Mccauley's ewe lamb

 

Bluefaced Leicester

 

McCormick Bros' shearling ram; res, A J Minnis' ewe

 

 

BEEF           

 

Champion and reserve Aberdeen Angus

 

O & A  McFadden & Armstrong's bull, Blelack Elijah G747; res, Mr James Paul Porter's heifer, Old Glenort H722

 

Champion and reserve Herefords

 

J & W  McMordie's bull,  Solpoll 1 Dynamite; res, James Graham's heifer, Richmount 1 Lady Gaga

 

Champion and reserve Charolais

 

Mr Gilbert J Crawford's bull, Goldies Carnaval; res, Mr Gilbert J Crawford's heifer, Coolnaslee Diane

 

Champion and reserve Simmental

 

S&P McDonald's heifer, Clonguish Bambi; res, Mr William David Hazelton's bull, Ranfurly Barrister B1 10

 

Champion and reserve Limousin

 

William Smith's cow with calf at foot, Millbrook Celine; res, Trueman Limousins' heifer, Trueman Euphonium

 

Champion and reserve British Blonde

 

D & R McFarland's bull, Comber Boxer; res, Hillhead Blondes' heifer Hillhead Estelle.

 

Champion and reserve British Blue

 

Mr Andrew Craig's cow, Woodview Cari; res, Mr Sean O'Brien's heifer Delia.

 

Champion and reserve Salers

 

J & E.A  Elliott's heifer Drumleeagh Caitlin; res J & E.A  Elliott's bull FanFan

 

Interbreed beef champion and reserve:

William Smith's Limousin cow, Millbrook Celine; res O & A McFadden & Armstrong's Aberdeen Angus bull, Blelack Elijah G747

 

PIGS 

 

Large White

 

Agnes & Robin Todd's junior boar, Cappagh Polis 41^st; res, Mr Trevor Shields' junior gilt, Glenmarshal Dainty Lady

 

Landrace

 

Agnes & Robin  Todd's junior gilt, cappagh grafelia 992TH; res, Agnes & Robin  Todd's  junior gilt, cappagh grafelia 998TH

 

Traditional breeds

 

Primrose Spence's junior boar, Actress Duke; res, K and J Gracey's Saddleback junior gilt, Forthill Babble

 

Pork Pig

 

Agnes & Robin Todd's capagh greenback 45TH; res, Mr Trevor Shield's female

 

                                                                                          

Trade at Saturday's sale of Hampshire Downs at Carlisle was strong, resulting in a new female record for the breed being set at 1020gns.

Taking this top price was a shearling ewe by Wattisfield What Not and out of a dam by Yarcombe Highflyer from Jim and Patsi Cresswell, Diss. This one, which was breed champion at the Highland Show this year and who's sire was a member of the interbreed pairs champions from last year's Highland, sold to Maud Blanchard, Avonbridge.

Second best call of 750gns was made by Messrs Dent, Penrith, when buying a ewe lamb from Kevin and Anne McCarthy's Co Down-based flock. This one is by Ballycreelly Nobleman and out of a dam by Yarcombe Reference.

Selling at 720gns was a shearling ewe from the McCarthys. This is a  Moneycarragh Millionaire daughter out of a dam by Yarcombe Reference. Following that at 700gns was a shearling ewe from Charles and Sally Horrell, this one is out of a dam by Owlesbury Xerxes and sold to Mrs Blanchard.

Three then traded at 520gns, the first being another similarly bred ewe lamb from the McCarthys which also went to Messrs Dent.

Second at this price was a one-lamb ewe from Jim Cresswell which was part of last year's interbreed pairs winning team at the Highland. She is by Parkstock Playboy and sold to the Dents too. Finally at this money was a shearling ewe from the Horrells which sold to David and Denise Middleditch, Sudbury. This is an Owlesbury Xerxes daughter. Selling at 500gns was a ewe by Wattisfield Topper which sold to G Mountain, Harrogate, for Jim Cresswell.                                                                                                                             

Shearling tups sold to 400gns twice, with the first of these calls made for an Owlsebury Yeoman son from the Middleditchs, which sold to Andrew and Caroline Iveson, Penrith. Second at this money was one from David Smith and Jennifer Atkinson, Market Rasen. He is by Yarcombe Erroll and out of a Hillhouse sired ewe.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

A good number of the sheep breeds have been judged this morning with the biggest classes of the day seen in the Texels where the championship went to John Forsyth, Maybole, with an aged ewe from his Glenside flock. Standing reserve was Steven Renwick, with a shearling ewe.

Taking the Bluefaced Leicester championship were Matt and Connell Drummond with their shearling tup, while reserve went to the same exhibitors with their aged ewe.

In the Charollais classes it was a win for Herbie Kennedy with his shearling ewe, while reserve went to last year's interbreed winners Willie and Carol Ingram with their shearling ram.

Leading the way in the Hampshire Down classes was Norfolk-based Jim Cresswell with his shearling ewe and reserve here was myself and Chrissie with our aged tup which made the long trip up from Kent.

And taking the Swaledale championship was agricultural photographer Wayne Hutchinson with his three crop ewe and reserve was Arthur Slack with a shearling ewe.

More results to follow in due course....

SHEEP

 

Lincoln Longwool

 

Mrs S A  Chapman's yearling ewe; res, Mrs S A  Chapman's shearling ewe

 

Suffolk

 

Liz Needham's shearling ram; res, County Turf's ewe

 

Texel

 

H S  Ashley's ewe; res, P C  Longdin's ewe

 

British Charollais

 

C R Sercombe's ewe; res, C W & V  Marwood's ram

 

Oxford Down

 

James Hook's  shearling ewe; res,  James Hook's  shearling ram

 

Hampshire Down

 

Mrs D  Middleditch's shearling ram

 

Lleyn

 

C C Bray's ewe; res, C C Bray's shearling ewe 

 

Other Pure Native Breed

 

D Williams' Southdown ram; res, D Williams' Southdown shearling ewe

 

Beltex

 

J F Sharp & Son's shearling ewe; res, J & E P  Hedley's shearling ram

 

Other Pure Continental

 

G C  Watson & C J Grain's Berin-du-cher shearling ewe; res,  J McInnes Skinner's Bleu De Maine ewe

 

Cross breed sheep and commercial ram

 

G W Allison's pair of Beltex X ewe lambs; res, Mr H & C Taylor's Blue Texel 

 

Commercial Lambs

 

C R Fawcett's pair of Texel X lambs; res, C R Fawcett's pair of Texel X lambs

Taking the interbreed sheep title at Suffolk Show this morning under judge Brian Glaves was the Hampshire Down champion, a shearling ram from David and Denise Middleditch, Bury St Paul.

This one is a son of Wattisfield Jimmy, a tup bred in Jim Cresswell's Wattisfield flock and is out of a homebred ewe which goes back to Megalad. This was the couple's first interbreed win with their 15 ewe flock.

Standing reserve overall was the Suffolk champion, a shearling ewe from Merrick and Julie Pinny's Alloaks flock. She is a daughter of Cairness Corker and is out of a homebred dam. She stood first at Suffolk last year as a lamb and stood second at the Royal.The standings were reversed in the pairs class, with the Suffolk duo beating the Hampshire brace into second place.

Leading breeders prepared to bid strongly for the pick of the sheep on offer dominated trade for Hampshire Downs ram lambs at Stratford on Sunday, setting a new centre record in the process.

The £1320 sale leader was a Yarcombe bred ram lamb by Yarcombe Sovereign and out of a
homebred ewe by Yarcombe Brave, the breed's highest SRS indexed ram for 2005. This lamb which was within the breed's top 1% with a Terminal Sire Index (TSI) of 291 was bred by the Derryman family, Henry, Hilary and sons, Yarcombe, Honiton and went to join Alymer Power's 10 ewe flock at Askeaton, Limerick, Eire.

The day's second highest call of £1180 came from Jennifer Atkinson and David Smith, Kelsey, Market Rasen for a ram lamb from the Charles and Sally Horrell's Pode flock, Thorneuy Peterborough. This one by Yarcombe Hussar, last year's Stratford sale topper has an index of 288 and is out of a home bred ewe.

Selling for the next best price of £940 was the pre-sale show champion from the Derrymans, a Wattisfield Topper son out of a dam by Owlesbury Rapier. This one, which also stood breed champion at last month's Devon County, Show has an index of 306 and was commended by judge, Kevin McCarthy, Comber, County Down, for his 'tremendous conformation and length and depth of gigot' he then backed his judgment, buying him for his flock.

 

 Next from the Derrymans at £740 was another Sovereign son out of a homebred ewe by Yarcombe Highjack which sold to Chris Westlake, Cadeleigh, Tiverton. Accompanied by an index of 298, earlier in the day the lamb headed the breed's 2010 SRS Ram Selection section.

Selling at £620 was a Dunraven Jewel son out of a homebred ewe from Jean Ritchie's Partstock flock, Wambrook, Chard. Out of a  a homebred ewe by Yarcombe Warrior, he traded to Jim Cresswell, Suffolk, for his Wattisfield flock.

Another Hussar sired ram lamb with an index of 294 from the Horrells made £560 to Paul and Tracy Rea, Edmonton, Wadebridge, Cornwall. The Derrymans went on to invest some of their takings when they paid £520 for a ram lamb by Owlesbury Xenophon from Jim Creswell.

The Horrells also headed the female section with a couple of ewe lambs, both out of homebred ewes by Pode Hole Victor. First lot to sell at £560 was the female champion selling to Andrew and Caroline Ivinson, Ousby, Penrith, was by Owlesbury Xerxes, while Denise and David Middleditch, Belchamp St Paul, Sudbury, paid £420 for the other entry, a Yarcombe Hussar daughter.

Averages: one shearling ram £360; 18 ram lambs £542; 12 shearling ewes £322; 11 ewe lambs £274, (Brian Pile, c/o Henry H Bletsoe and Son).

Hampshire Down trade peaked at 650gns on Saturday for a shearling ram from Barry, Eirlys and Stuart Jones' Maes-Glas flock. This one had previously stood champion in the pre-sale show and sold to Michael Ratcliffe, Kirkby Lonsdale.

Leading the females was a 640gns bid for a shearling ewe from Charles and Sally Horrell, Peterborough. This one, by Melkett Fusilier sold to S and L Sawyer, Tatenhall, Chester. Another from the same home by Pode Hole Cavalier sold at 540gns to Geoff Mountain, Harrogate, while another Fusilier daughter from the Horrells sold at 490gns to R I Barrow, Dunnerdale.

The Jones then sold one at 500gns, this was a daughter of Maes-Glas Jericho which sold to J G E Heseltine and Son, Skipton, while another from them made 460gns. This was a Maes-Glas Marino daughter which was bought by J Galbraith and Son, Kendal.

Topping the ewe lambs at 460gns was one from Tim and Judith Hunter's flock. This was a Parkstock Warrior daughter out of a dam by Redhouse Xanthic. Another two from the same home by the same sire made 390gns and 380gns to the same buyer.

Averages; one aged ewe £273, 14 shearling ewes £405.38, seven ewe lambs £345.45, three rams £514.50 (CCM Marts).

With a total of 2498 sheep entries forward for this year's show it was always going to be a hard fought battle to take the overall sheep championship from the 45 breeds represented in the interbreed championship under judge John Forsyth, Maybole, Ayrshire.

But, despite the scale of the task in front of him Mr Forsyth was quick in reaching his final choice, the Hampshire Down champion from Jennifer Borsey, St Asaph.

Her leader was a homebred shearling ram from her 22-ewe flock. This one is fully Northern Irish bred being by Ballyclare Earl and out of a Ballyvester ewe.  Mr Forsyth said the tup was simply the most correct sheep in the ring on the day, being full of flesh and with great legs and feet. "He had more about him than anything else forward, but it was a tremendous task to pick an overall champion from such a strong line up of breed champions."

Standing reserve overall was the Texel champion from Messrs Boden and Davies' Sportsmans flock. This one is Castlecairn Nile God, a 2007-born two shear tup purchased at Lanark in the same year. He cost the flock 28,000gns and is one of the main sires for the partnership's 80 ewe flock. He previously stood breed champion and male terminal sire champion at Great Yorkshire Show last week.

As well as the beef judging, there's been some action in the sheep lines today too with the first of the breed's being judged. Taking the Suffolk championship was Myfyr Evans with his shearling ewe, while reserve was also Myfyr, this time with a tup.

In the Hampshire Down classes the champion was Jennifer Borsey with a shearling tup and reserve was the Pink family with a ewe lamb.

Taking the Texel title was Charlie Boden of Boden and Davies with his aged tup.

More results and pictures to follow....

A Charollais shearling ewe from Charles Sercombe, Melton Mowbray, took the interbreed sheep title here at Lincoln this morning under judge John Coultrip, Kent. Mr Sercombe's champion is one of 250 ewes run in his flock and is by last year's Royal Welsh intebreed champion Rockvilla Golden Promise and out of a homebred ewe by a Tilton sire.

Taking the reserve award was the Hampshire Down leader, a shearling ewe from Jennifer Atkinson and Davidn Smith's Kelsey flock. She is by Yarcombe Erroll and out of a homebred ewe from the couple's 60 ewe flock.

 

The Southdown breed enjoyed a return to winning ways at today's South of England Show, with Messrs Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer's shearling ram taking the interbreed title, a third in four years for the breed at the event.

This one, which stood reserve interbreed at Suffolk and interbreed at Heathfield is by a homebred tup and out of a homebred ewe. He was praised by judge, Charollais breeder Tim Pritchard for his exceptional fleshing throughout and style and ring presence.

Standing reserve was the champion from the Any Other Down Breed section, a Hampshire Down shearling ewe from myself and Chrissie's Chaileybrook flock. This one, by Owlesbury Xerxes and out of a Pode Hole ewe is one of 15 ewes we run at home alongside the 20 Southdowns. She was bought from Charles and Sally Horrell as a ewe lamb for the foundation of the flock and now heads to the Royal in July.

Yesterday's show and sale of Hampshire Downs at Stratford saw the breed pass the £1000 mark when Geoff and Jean Boyles sold their tup lamb by Parkstock Pride and out of a dam by Owlesbury Stirling at £1200 to Charles and Sally Horrell for their Pode Hole flock, Peterborough. This one carries an SRS index of 232 and was subject to a fierce bidding battle late in the sale.

Next best call of £655 was made for Jim Cresswell's pre-sale show champion from his Wattisfield flock, Diss. This exceptionally correct lamb had stood first in the tup lamb class under judge Lewis Knight and went on to take the overall championship. He's by Wattisfield Topper and out of a dam by Wattisfield What and sold with an SRS index of 249 toJim Birkwood, Grimsby.

Then back in spending mode at £550 were Charles and Sally Horrell, when they bought the first of Henry Derryman's tup lambs from his Yarcombe flock. This one is by Yarcombe Surprise, a son of NZ sire Bilberry Oak Supreme, and out of a dam by Owlesbury Progress and sold with an SRS index of 318.

And the Yarcombe flock took the next best call too when selling another Yarcombe Surprise son out of a dam by Yarcombe Echo for £400. This one sold to dutch breeders Gert Smit and Bert Hadderingh, Ruinen, with a massive SRS index of 324.

Jennifer Atkinson achieved the same money for an Owlesbury Yeoman son which was out of  a dam by the exceptional backended sheep Owlesbury Rapier. This one sold to Jennifer Borsey, Waen, St Asaph.

Best call among the shearling tups on offer was a £480 call for the only one on offer from Jim Cresswell, Wattisfield Top Not. This one is by Yarcombe Erroll and out of a dam by Wattisfield What Next and sold with an SRS index of 244 having stood third in the shearling class.

A select show of females met a solid demand with shearling ewes leading the way to top at £360 for a Highlander gimmer consigned by Jennifer Atkinson. She's by Pode Hole Dragoon and out of a dam by Redhouse Xanthic. Next best was Jim Cresswell's first prize shearling ewe, a Lakemead Knight daughter out of a dam by Wattisfield What Next which sold at £330 to Tim Hunter.

Topping the ewe lambs on offer was the female and reserve overall champion from Tim Hunter. This one is by Lindsey Thor, a multi interbreed winning sire, and of a dam by Parkstock Rambo. This one sold at £240 to Jonathan Long and Chrissie Lawrence for their Chaileybrook flock. and the next top priced entry headed back to Kent on the same load when the couple bought Phil Kettle's fourth prize entry from the pre-sale show, a daughter of Ballyvester Mr Power out of a dam by Lindum Xtra Special.

Averages: five shearling rams £344; 12 ram lambs £445; nine shearling ewes £275; eight ewe lambs £189

 

 

Roweena Knight's pair of Hampshire Down Ewe Lambs triumphed in the sheep ring at this week's Royal Bath and West. The pair were sired by Owslebury Umpire, a ram owned by joint handler, Chris Westlake.

 

Judge Francis Fooks, complemented Ms Knight on breeding such a consistent pair. "To get a pair that both handle so perfectly in the body is exceptional."

 

 

 

In the reserve spot was Mr M Scott's Devon Close Wool ram. He was shown by Terry Aitkins and bred by Leonard Richards of Breyford. The ram comes from winning breed champion at the Devon County Show and was heading to the Royal Show next.

 

 

 Scooping the dairy interbreed champion was Jenny and Barry Daw's Jersey, Bluegrass Bombers Debbie by W F Brook Bomber and out of Bluegrass Councillors Debra.

 

She was picked by judge, James Warren, for her dairyness, openness of rib and tremendous udder. The four year old is giving 25kg milk/day and averaging 5.46% fat and 3.81% protein, said Mrs Daw. "She calved on Christmas eve, so we are hoping she keeps milking so we can show her at the Dairy Event."

 

The Holstein, Normead Millenium Carmen, shown by C B Cooper Partnership, claimed the reserve prize. She is by Normead Millenium and out of Ultra Gen Labelle Carmen and has had six calves, giving 80 tonnes of milk.

 

Claiming the top spot in the beef ring was Charlie Mclean's Charolais cow, Mortimers Urovision. The six year old won Reserve Supreme at the Surrey County show and Supreme at Edenbridge and will be heading to the Highland Show next. She was selected for her power, breed character and good locomotion.

 

In reserve was Christine Williams and Paul Tippetts's 12 month old Limousin heifer, Wilodge Diamante. She is by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Wilodge Amethyst and comes from winning Supreme Pedigree Champion at the Beef Expo, Malvern.

 

The White pig champion, a Large White, took home the title of supreme pig interbreed champion. Prestleigh Prince 4, by Portbredy Prince 1066 was bred and shown by nineteen year old, Tom Newth.

 

Mr Newth comes from a keen pig breeding family, with sister Alice Newth helping with the handling in the ring. Mr Newth has been showing since the age of eight, but this is the first time he's entered into a major interbreed.

 

 In reserve was the coloured champion British Saddleback, Brydges Babble 170, bred and shown by Deborah Beeby. Mrs Beeby has been breeding Saddlebacks for seven years but, only started showing three years ago. Having won Supreme at West Moorland Show, the sow was now heading to The Three Counties Show, The Royal, The Cheshire Show and the Yorkshire Show.

 

 It was a very tight decision, said judge Jeremy Barber. "Both were exceptional examples of their breed, but on the day, the Large White just walked a little freer."