Taking Stock

Judging at this year's Royal Show, Stoneleigh, is now underway with the native breeds parading in the beef lines.

Sheep, pig and cattle entries are once again strong for the UK's premier livestock show, but many exhibitors are once again questioning how much longer the show can continue in its current form, with trade stands noticeably absent.

Rain look's set to dominate the show, but that won't deter Farmers Weekly's livestock team from bringing full results and pictures from the show, so check Taking Stock regularly for updates.

While cattle, pig and sheep judging is domninating today's proceedings at the Royal Show, Taking Stock contributors have been for a wander across the showground.

Unfortunately, there was little to see, paticularly in the Outdoor Pig Keeping area.

Now we know the pig industryhas had some hard times in recent years, but surely there are some pigs left in the UK?

The first championships of this year's Royal Show have already been awarded and first to clinch top honours was the Wensleydale champion, a shearling ram from Graham Steventon and Lynn Clouder.

Politics often dominate judging proceedings at a show, but this year's Royal Show has taken it to a new level in the commerical lines.

As the breeders prepare to dress cattle for Welshman Elgin Jones to judge later this afternoon, some showmen are questioning why one particular exhibitor is present at the show.

Although regular exhibitor and pedigree class winner from Beef Expo, Jim Hollingsworth is judging the Royal Welsh Show later this month, he's here with two exhibits, Katherine a Limousin cross heifer and Bling Bling, the successful Limousin steer from Beef Expo.

Judging starts at 2pm later today so watch this space for the results..........

Judging continued this morning at the Royal Show through a torrential downpour, with championships awarded in both the Devon cattle and the Lincoln Longwool sheep classes.

Leading the way in the Devon's was Mr G Hunter's cow Tilbrook Cashtiller 9. This one has a Kiwi influence as it is by New Zealand sire Rotokawa 688.

As Taking Stock predicted earlier today, there is a little controversy in the commercial lines.

Not only did showmen have to battle the muddy depths of the rings before being taken back to the tarmac for judging of the overall championship, judge for the day Elgin Jones tapped out both his champion and reserve champion from Jim Hollingsworth.

Taking the championship was the Limousin cross heifer Katherine from Mr Hollingsworth, which narrowly beat the hot favourite for the day, the Limousin cross heifer, Just-In-Time, from Mike and Jean Dickens which stood reserve champion female to Katherine.

Taking the overall reserve ticket was another animal from Mr Hollingsworth, this time the purebred Limousin steer Bling Bling. Reserve to this was Phil Sellers' Limouisn steer Johnny Cool.

This afternoon's cattle judging saw animals paraded in rings which can be described as nothing short of a swamp.

Heading up the Beef Shorthorn lines, which were judged by United Auctions chief David Leggat, was the senior bull Holmeere Alastair from M A Holmes and led out by Richard Rettie.

Judging continued apace today at the Royal Show, with dairy cattle joining the fray. With cattle rings decimated by yesterday's torrential downpours, most beef and dairy judging was moved to the tarmac at the rear of the cattle sheds.

This was largely a result of the Show's decision to reseed the cattle rings in April of this year.

Among the sheep lines there was nothing short of complete amazement as stewards informed exhibitors that the show had run out of prize cards and so none were available to be presented.

Surely someone in the livestock office at RASE can count?

In the Bluefaced Leicester ring it was first Royal victory for novice exhibitor Alan Fotheringham, interbreed beef judge at last week's Royal Highland Show. His leader here was a shearling ram.

This lunchtime has seen the culmination of championship judging in a number of breeds at the Royal Show.

Beltex classes were won by K Buckle's ewe.

Much interest this afternoon has centred on the dairy lines where breed and interbreed titles were decided.

Once again it was the Holsteins which took the silverware, with Riverdane Holsteins’ cow Almond Stormatic Avis leading the charge. Second calver Avis is currently giving 62 litres a day at 4% butterfat and 3.3% protein, she gave a heifer yield of 11,050 litres.

Judge David Baynes described Avis as a powerfulcow who filled the eye from the minute she entered the makeshift showring erected due to the inclement weather conditions.

Here's a full listing of the dairy section champions from this year's Royal Show........

Interbreed Riverdane Holsteins’ and Almond Holsteins’ Holstein cow Almond Stormatic Avis; res, E T Tomlinson and Son’s Ayrshire cow Sandyford Clover 10.

Interbreed Pairs Ayrshires; res, Holstein.

Interbreed Team of Five Holstein; res, Jersey.

Ayrshire E T Tomlinson’s cow Sandyford Clover 10; res, Messrs G Timbrell and Sons’ cow Millford Lark 20.

Dairy Shorthorn I R G Collins’ cow Churchroyd Lilian 2; res, G A Madeley’s cow Rodway Barrington Duchess 9.

Dexter S R Creasy’s cow Langley End Nicotiana; res, S R Creasy’s heifer Langley End Alison.

Guernsey H Guinness’ cow White Ladies Ruby 91; res, H Guinness’ heifer White Ladies Gillian 71.

Holstein Riverdane Hoilsteins’ and Almond Holsteins’ cow Almond Stormatic Avis; res, I and J Mallinson’s cow Carhall Lyster Elizabeth.

Jersey Smiddiehill Holsteins/Jerseys’ cow Ellerdine Lesters Amberlight 2; res, S Murray’s cow Whiteoaks Julian Flower.

Beef breeds judging at this week's Royal Show was dominated by Limousins, with the breed clinching all three major titles. Heading up the breed’s championship run were David and Mary Cormack with their outstanding homebred cow Newstart Upsydaisy.

The sheep championship at this week's Royal Show went the way of the Rouge De L’Ouest once again, with Percy Tait’s shearling ewe clinching top honours ahead of the Texel leader, a shearling ram from David Chave.

The Rouge, led out by Kate Gunn, is by a homebred tup and out of a homebred ewe, the dam is out of a ewe Mr Tait bought from leading Rouge breeder David Jane.

Leading the way in the pig interbreed at this year's Royal Show was the Large Black sow, Sock Doreen 161, from Martin Snell, Yeovil, Somerset.

By homebred boar Sock Attempt 9 and out of Sock Doreen 155, Doreen 161 stood ahead of the Welsh champion from Christine Vaughan. This one was 2006 born boar Vinery Workman 4308 which is by Churchstone Workman 5 and out of Vinery Empress 4226.

Today has been an exceptional day for Taking Stock, with my Southdown shearling ram taking the sheep interbreed pairs title at the shortened Royal Show. Coupled with the breed champion, a shearling ewe from Wakeham Dawson and Harmer, they beat off stiff competition to take the title.

Regular readers may remember my win at South of England with the same tup. Having taken the gamble and brought him to the Royal, I'm delighted with the win and he's now heading for showring retirement before being sold at the Southdown Premier Sale at Maidstone in early August.

For all you beef fanatics out there, here's a full listing of results from the beef lines at this year's Royal Show. A big well done to David and Mary Cormack of the Newstart herd who swept the board with their Limousin cow - a personal favourite of mine from the show.

Interbreed D and M Cormack’s Limousin cow Newstart Upsydaisy; res, J H and V G Wood’s Simmental cow Popes Nelly’s Princess.

Interbreed Pairs Limousin; res, Charolais

Interbreed Team of Five Limousin; res, Belgian Blue.

Aberdeen Angus E Jones’ bull Rull Evitus; res, J and A Price’s heifer Oackchurch Red Delia.

Beef Shorthorn M A Holmes’ bull Holmeere Alaistair; res, D and J Wyllie’s heifer Tamhorn Zara.

Belgian Blue M k Wilde’s bull Ridge Dean Artiban; res, J E Bellas and Son’s heifer Croft Ends Black Beauty.

Belted Galloway M Arbib’s bull Howemill Indigo; res, C S Fletcher’s cow Barwise Maggie May.

Blonde D’Aquitaine I C and S D Archer’s cow Marstonmill Penelope Pitstop; res, Hackleton Farms’ bullHayton Upstart.

British White A V and A K M St Jopseph’s bull Tollesbury Nelson; res, R Hamilton’s heifer Dadley Brittania.

Charolais Boden and Davies’ bull Thrunton Voldemort; res, D E Evans’ heifer Maerdy Beauty.

Devon G M Hunter’s cow Tilbrook Cashtiller 9; res, A J Thomas’ bull Bollowal Nimrod.

Hereford D and E College’s heifer Hawkesbury 1 Passion; res, A G Wright and Son Farms’ heifer Hermitage Carol singer.

Here's a full listing of the pig results from this year's Royal Show 2007..............

Interbreed P G snell and Sons’ Large Black Sock Doreen 161; res, C D Vaughan’s Welsh boar Vinery Workman 4308.

Interbreed pairs Welsh; res, Large White.
Berkshire T K Bretherton’s sow Wedlock Louise 4; res, T K Bretherton’s boar Bruisyard Orlando 8.

British Lop J collings’ boar Liskeard Charles 19; res, J collings’ sow Liskeard Pride 120.

British Saddleback J Newth’s sow Prestcombe Dinah 45; res, D Beeby’s sow Brydges Babble 170.

Duroc S J S Loveless’ sow Seaborough Hover; res, A P and P C Rose’s sow Maddaford Hjornegard.

Here's a full listing of the sheep section champions....plus a big well done to livestock editor and regular Taking Stock contributor Jonathan Long who took the interbreed pairs title with a homebred Southdown shearling ram.

Interbreed P Tait’s British Rouge shearling ewe; res, D F Chave’s Texel shearling ram.

Interbreed Pairs Southdown; res, British Rouge.

Interbreed Group of Three Hampshire Down; res, Texel.

Badger Face Welsh Mountain J M McLeod’s shearling ewe; res, J A Langford’s ram.

Beltex K Buckle’s ewe; res, A D and R M C Bishop’s ewe lamb.

Berrichon du Cher R Graham’s shearling ewe; res, R Graham’s ram.

Black Welsh Mountain P H Laws’ two shearling ewes; res, L e Cockerill’s ram.

Bleu du Maine T s and E J Goldie’s ewe; res, T S and E J Goldie’s shearling ram.

Bluefaced Leicester A Fotheringham’s shearling ram; res, G Shapiro’s ewe.

Border Leicester P M and N J Brown’s ram; res P M and N J Brown’s shearling ewe.

British Rouge P Tait’s shearling ewe; res, Garlic UK’s shearling ram.

Charollais C R Sercombe’s shearling ram; res, D B Roberts shearling ewe.

Clun Forest G L Smith’s ram; res, D Searle and R Vincent’s shearling ewe.

Cotswold D Stanhope’s ram; res, P Froehlich’s shearling ram.

Devon Closewool H Marks’ shearling ram; res, Gervase and S Thorne’s shearling ram.

Devon and Cornwall Longwool M L Snell’s shearling ewe; res, B Thomason’s shearlign ram.

Dorset Down B Lugsden’s shearling ewe; res, R H Burrough’s ewe lamb.

Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset J Dufose’s shearling ewe; res, P H Laws’ ewe lamb.

Exmoor Horn D M Ridd and Son’s ram; res, F J Hayes and Sons’ ram.

Hampshire Down J Ritchie’s shearling ram; res, C Horrell’s shearling ewe.

Jacob J and A Milner’s ewe; res, J L and J Emberton’s ram lamb.

Kerry Hill G Pugh’s shealrign ewe; res, E O Williams’ shearling ewe.

Leicester Longwool D Stanhope’s shearling ewe; res, D C Winkfield’s ewe lamb.

Here's a few more pics from the Royal Show this year.......

Winning the Dexter championship was Stuart and Rosemary Creasy with their cow Langley End Nicotiana, a cow that won at the Royal Show two years ago. They also took the reserve championship ticket with Langley End Alison, another red female which has had a successful show season this year.

Judging gets underway in the beef interbreed.........

Following the will there be a Royal Show won't they debate, the future of the event has now been secured following an agreement between the Royal Agriculture Society for England and a trust set up by Stoneleigh's previous owners over the future development of the site.

"We now have a secure site and can look to the future of the Royal Show to deliver something more dynamic in agriculture," explained show director Mark Spencer. "We need to engage with farmers on a rather more intellectual level to assist their businesses."

The RASE's Countryside and Food Fair would be absorbed into the Royal, with a further food event planned later in the year. There would be no move away from core farming.

As Taking Stock readers will be aware this year’s Royal Show was something of an organisational disaster. Sodden judging rings, waterlogged car parks and missing rosettes and prize cards did little to endear the show to exhibitors and visitors alike.

Now though the RASE has stooped to new lows. As an exhibitor who enjoyed some success at this year’s show I have been keeping an eye on the post for the last few weeks for a prize money cheque. With it now being some two months since the show, I have to say I was becoming a little concerned it may have been lost in the post.

Now don’t get me wrong this cheque isn’t going to make or break me financially, but having laid out a not inconsiderable sum in entry fees and accommodation costs before the show it will help balance the books a little.

It may be October, but RASE, the organsiers of the Royal Show appear to want to remind us of summer.

Finally, yesterday, some three months after the show and a ggood two months after normal they have sent out prize money cheques. You may remember some reasonably feeble excuses being offered about a month ago for the late payments, well this time they haven't even bothered to apologise for their failings.

It look slike the worst fears have now been confirmed in that the Royal Show will remain in the bluetongue surveillance zone.

Farmers Weekly's news team has learnt this morning from Simon Frere-Cook, Royal Show director, that livestock entries would be "considerably lower than expected" as a result and predicted that only a quarter of the usual number of livestock entries would be eligible to take part.

Only livestock that has been fully vaccinated and conforms to DEFRA movement restrictions will be allowed to enter the Stoneleigh showground in Warwickshire.

Taking Stock will of course be ringside at the Show bringing you latest results, news and views, although I fear we will have considerably less work to do at the event compared to most years!  

Well it won't be long before the Taking Stock team depart for this week's Royal Show and I have to be honest I don't have a clue what to expect. Numbers this year are drastically lacking due to bluetongue restrictions, which is a big shame for all involved. 

For those of you familiar with the Royal set-up I'm told only the top three sheds are being used to hold cattle.

However, the organisers have only put signs up for those exhibitors in the surveillance zone. So, one or two exhibitors have had blood test results back in time and have turned up to find they don't have any stall space - great start! Apparently this is happening in the sheep lines as well.

We've heard rumours of merging classes, but until we get there and see what the format is for the next four days - who knows!

We plan to bring you as much live coverage as possible from the show rings and it wouldn't be the Royal if we didn't have a little bit of gossip!!  

So keep checking to see what the news is and we'll have a gallery up and running as soon as the first animals walk in the ring!

For those of you coming up on judging days - come and find us! See you there!  

Well it's the first day of the Royal Show and...well I'm not sure what to say! The talk of three buildings is true - it's very strange to walk through from Gate 5 and be greated by closed doors onthe livestock buildings.

Judging is kicking off today at 10am and then again at 2pm, with some judges taking care of multiple breeds. Overall I would say the Limousins have a good number with cattle down from Scotland from Robert Graham and a wagon over from Raymond Crawford in Ireland. Doug Mash is also in residence.

There are a half tidy number of Charolais as well, along with Herefords. Shorthorns and Aberdeen-Angus are lacking and the dairy cattle look similar.

It's such a shame bluetongue has cast it's spell on this show, as I really feel they needed all the help they can get this year! But there we go - DEFRA were never going to change course for a show!

We'll keep you posted with cattle results as and when and hope to build a gallery as soon as possible.....oh and it's raining - there's a suprise!

Well having arrived at the Royal Show late yesterday afternoon I took a wander through the sheep lines yesterday evening and have to say the place is a shambles. Putting Rugby Market in the building was always a questionable move, but in practice its a disaster. Concrete panel walls obstruct the view of the rings from the buildings - so even if the shed was full no one would know it because they can't see in!

Entries are as expected well below normal levels and as yet we're not sure in what order the judging will happen, so it really is a question of watching this space to see what happens next.

Of those breeds with a good show of stock, the Hampshire Downs look to have reasonable numbers (enough to make a show anyway, but apart from that the mainstream breeds are poorly represented.

Following a successful show season all summer Kevin Ludgate has done the double in the Royal Show rings under judge and butcher Michael Alford, Somerset.

 The champion ticket went to the British Blue heifer Wilemina, led out by Kevin's partner Dawn, while the reserve ticket went to Kevin's other successful show animal and British Blue cross Big Bum, who has notched up a collection of winning tickets this year, she was shown by Ben Maskell.

Taking the steer class was Richard Naylor's Limousin steer Mr Mallarky, a steer who won early on in the season at Newark.

The long trip over from Northern Ireland was certainly worthwhile for the Crawford Brothers as they took the Limousin title in thejudging rings earlier this morning.

Having taken the feamle championship ahead of recent reserve interbreed Highland Show winner Brockhurst Batik from Doug Mash, the French bred Victorieous later went on to take the overall title. Sired by Romeo she is out of Paloma. Batik had to settle for overall spot.

Taking the male championship spot was Gaynor McDowell and David Cormack with the 2004-born Nenuphur son Grennhill Viper, shown by Paul Walker. Takign the reserve male spot was Vigot, another full French bloodline from the Crawford Brothers.

Pictures to follow shortly.......  

Although the Aberdeen-Angus classes weren't the most hotly contended of classes this morning, Angus Stovold's cattle shone through to do the double, taking both champion and reserve spots.

His leader was the January 2003 cow Rosemead Karlotta with calf at foot. Sired by Lockerley Mere Boy out of a homebred dam, she took the title ahead of Rosemead Bellmaid, a Janaury 2007 heifer.  

We've put the Royal Show gallery up of show winners from today and a few piccies that might make you giglle - see if you can spot the one thing missing in one of the pics!!!

We'll add more obvioulsy as the days go on.

Well it's the second day of the Royal Show and I have to say things are just as quiet int he livestock rings, in fact they haven't even started judging yet!

Today sees the dairy cattle take to the rings, as well as the rest of the beef cattle including the British Blues, Herefords, British Blondes, British Whites, Highlands, Lincoln Reds, Red Polls, South Devons and Sussex.

In the sheep rings, the terminal sires are in action including the Texels, Suffolks, Charollais, Beltex and Hampshire Downs.

We'll keep you up to date with all the action as well as the picture gallery which will be updated later today as and when it happens........ 

The Charollais rings were the busiest among the sheep lines this morning with more than 40 sheep forward for judge Charles Sercombe to place.

And while numbers may have been only half what they have been in previous years, the quality remained high.

Taking the championship was David Roberts with his aged ewe, with his shearling standing reserve, netting David a well deserved double - probably not the last he'll enjoy today!

The champion is a ewe bred by John Scott, Kendal, and purchased at Builth. She is by Chestnut Park Dumbledore and was previously interbreed champion at Shrops and West Mids.

David's reserve, the shearling ewe, is homebred and by Logie Durno Emperor.

In the Hampshire Down lines it was a double win for Charles and Sally Horrell with their entries from their Pode Hole flock, Peterborough.

Taking the championship for the couple, was their shearling ewe which is homebred on both sides, while the reserve champion was their well fleshed ram lamb by an Owlesbury sire bought at last year's breed society sale, Stratford, for 800gns.

Hot footing fresh from the British Blonde ring where judge Andy Ryder selected regular Royal Show winner Marstonmill Penelope Pitstop from Ain and Sue Archer as his champion, he then took on the task of judging the British Blues.

Taking the lead in the male section before going on to take the overall ticket was Danny and Jane Wyllie's bull Ballygrange Alex. Bred by Jim Sloan, the Woodview Solo son out of Ballygrange Roxy took the title ahead Adam Neachall's cow.

No stranger to the limelight either Tamhorn Uptown Girl was fresh from her win at Cheshire. Bred by the Wyllie family she is by Baron Du Bois Bauyloye and is out of Tamhorn Milly.

Taking the reserve title in the blondes was R E Kinnish's heifer Kinaston Badoncia, sired by Hadens Platinum.

Pictures to follow shortly......  

The Hereford breed was probably one of the strongest classes of cattle today with strong numbers in all of the classes. Taking the top spot this morning under Northern Irish judge R Irvine, P and A Allman's bull Greenywards Archie, a Doonbiddie Husteler son out of a Dendor female.

Taking reserve spot was the homebred female champion Phocle Dowager from David Jones.

The South Devon cattle breeders had a welcome visit at the Royal Show from HRH Prince Charles this morning as he presented the champion exhibit with the silverware.

Taking top honours was David Smallcombe's senior bull Grove Brutus. Bred by the Scott famaily, he is by grove Hadrian and out of Grove Buttercup.

And the Scott's were back in the championship line up with their own animal, the female champion Grove Celandine 81 who stood overall reserve champion.

The Whittaker family may have been the only exhibitors in the Holstein rings, but the £1000 cost of being at this year's Royal Show paid off slightly as they went on to take the overall dairy interbreed spot ahead of the Jersey champion.

The overall champion was Knowlesmere Leduc Papose, while the Jersey, Whiteoaks Julian Flower from the Murray family.

Taking reserve spot in the Holstein ring was Knowlesmere Gibson Starlight, while the reserve Jersey was Fourcrosses Centurion Pride again from the Murray family.

In the Dairy Shorthorn rings, G A Madely took the top spot with Rodway Marie 62, while N Madely's Nejay Princess took reserve spot.   

We've updated the Royal Show gallery to include today's champions from the beef, dairy and sheep rings as well as some cracking generals.

See if you can pick the new breed of man come Highland cow!!!