Recently in Welsh Winter Fair Category

Regulars on the showing circuit, Yvonne and Dylan Hughes from Ty Cerrig, Ty Nant, Corwen, have claimed they were victims of a malicious campaign prior to this year's Welsh Winter Fair.

After success at the Anglesey Winter Fair, Yvonne says animal health officers turned up unexpectedly on farm asking to test her beef for steroid use after receiving an anonymous tip-off. Blood tests confirmed no traces of steroids and they later went on to win the title of baby beef champion and reserve overall beef champion at the Welsh Fair.

Read the full story on farmers weekly interactive by clicking HERE.

Read about the Hughes' success at the Welsh Winter fair HERE

The highlight of proceedings in the sheep sale ring was the sale of the supreme champion lambs from R Hall & Son.

The pair of Beltex X ewe lambs (49.5 kg) went for £520 each to the judge William Lloyd Williams Butchers, Machenllyth.

The reserve supreme champion Beltex ewe lambs (44.5 kg) from the same vendor sold for £480 and were also purchased by the judge.

A pair of Charollais ewe lambs weighing 48 kilos from I T Davies & Son, Brecon sold for £360 each.

Overall trade was much better on all breeds selling to an overall average of 280.98p/kg and £132 a head with 325 lambs sold.

The money was in the baby beef at yesterday's post-championship sale at the Welsh Winter Fair.

An excellent show of quality young calves attracted a huge crowd of keen buyers, all hoping to purchase that exceptional animal that could win gold, says auctioneers McCartneys.

Last year's top price was smashed on more than one occasion, initially with a heifer from R & L Jones from Lower Argoed.

 'Blackberry' weighed 280kg and made £4,700 selling to show man B E Williams from Sennybridge. This one is by a British Blue and out of a Limousin x.

This was closely followed by 'Miss 2011' the supreme baby beef champion shown and bred by Mr Dylan Hughes. She made £4,500 being purchased by A & R Livestock (Mr A Bishop) from Pitfield Farm.

Then at the same money was the Supreme Champion, home bred Limousin heifer 'Cincer' from Christopher Owens, Glantre, which weighed 538 kg. She was  purchased by the judge Mr Alan Davies of Berriew.

Miss Emily Jones took the reserve champion steer with 'Razzle Dazzle' which again was home bred and weighed 320kg to make £3,900 being purchased by Mr P Sellers. This one is by a Limousin and out of a British Blue x.

A homebred steer from John Owen called 'Rooney' made £2,900, while Mr M J Alford sold 'Pokermon' to Mr A Bishop for £2,700.

P J & T A Jones of Tyishaf then sold a Limousin heifer called 'Misha B' for £2,700 to D T Williams from Anglesey.

The Reserve Champion, Limousin heifer 'Red Hot' weighing 564 kg made £2,600. Again being purchased by one of the judges Mr J Maycock of Derby and being exhibited by D Hughes, Cwmhendryd.

The Champion YFC animal was a 350kg BB x heifer from Jamie Breese of Bron Heulog which made £2,000 and was bought by the judge Mr T Bodily.

Other notable prices were paid for the registered Welsh Blacks, which readily sold from 200 - 300 p a kg, many being purchased by D Willis, Croesllan Catering. Other purchasers of finished cattle were Robert Rattray, HMD Butchers, Doug Griffiths, Leintwardine, Owen Liar, Dewi James & Co, Cardigan.

The overall heifer average was 294 p a kg. The overall steer average was 231 p a kg. (McCartneys)

Eyes were on popular favourite Poker Mon at yesterday's Welsh Winter Fair to see whether he would continue his run of successes in the baby beef classes. However, unexpectedly, he was nowhere to be seen in the final line up.

Having won the baby beef championship title at Countryside Live, AgriExpo, and the English and Scottish Winter Fairs he was placed second in his steer class to British Blue sired, Wally from D Huw Jones and was unplaced in the steer championship.

However, he later sold to the day's Beltex judge, Andrew Bishop, Worcester, for £2,800 to continue on the show circuit next year, but not before being shown at Smithfield this weekend by the Alfords, from Foxhill Farm, Cullompton, who originally purchased the beast for £3,000 at the Thainstone Spectacular.

Mr Bishop also purchased the Alford's heifer calf, Poker Doll privately for an undisclosed sum. This one had won her heifer class on the day and was also sold with the agreement she will be shown by the Alfords at Smithfield. Born in March 2011, she is by a British Blue and out of a Limousin x British Blue.

It was a ladies day in the overall beef championship ring. Judge Alan Davies from Butchers' Shop, Welshpool, picked the champion heifer for his top prize, but then called the reserve champion heifer into the ring to make his decision on reserve. In the end, the reserve heifer pipped the champion steer to the post.

The winning ticket went to the Limousin heifer (85) from Christopher Owens, who had previously seen success in the young handlers ring.

Mr Davies said: "The champion heifer was full of meat with a good top line. She was deep in the loin and showy with it."

Speaking about his preference for the fairer sex, Mr Davies said he liked heifers and "preferred them in the shop." He said overall the standard of entry had been good, but the heifers had been better than the bullocks on the day.

This one was bred by Michael Owens and is out of a Limousin cross and by a Derosa Limousin bull by Sarkley Pepsi. She comes from having previously won baby beef champion at Newark in May and been placed second in her class at The Royal Welsh Show. She'll be reluctantly put up for sale at the Fair weighing 538kg.

The reserve was another Limousin sired animal (34), this time from Dylan and Yvonne Hughes who also won Baby beef champion earlier in the day. November 2010 born Red Hot was bred by Brian Griffiths, Welshpool, and was bought at the Second Show Potential at Ruthin in April for £910. This one weighed 564kg on the day.

She was reserve at the Anglesey Winter Fair and third in her class at AgriExpo. This one will be kept for breeding and is one of 15 show potential cows kept by the couple.

In the baby beef classes, Wally (242) from D Huw Jones, Llety Cynnes, Bow Street, Ceredigion, took the steer championship title. This one is by a British Blue and out of a Welsh Black. Reserve steer was (245) Emily Jones' Razzle Dazzle (Coedmore-Hall, Cellan, Lampeter). He is up for sale and is by a Limousin and out of a British Blue x.

In the heifer championship, Mr Dylan Hughes, Ty Cerrig, Ty Nant, Corwen, got the top spot with homebred, Miss 2011 (195), by a British Blue. In reserve was another from Emily Jones, this time Ace Girl (200), which is out of a Limousin x and by a Limousin.

The heifers then reigned supreme in the overall baby beef championship, with the title going to Dylan Hughes' Miss 2011 (above), and the reserve to Ace Girl from Emily Jones.

Heifer championship went to a Limousin heifer (85) from Christopher Owens, Glantre, Pontsian, Llandysul. This one was bred by Michael Owens and is by a Limousin and out of a Limousin cross.

In reserve was another Limousin sired animal (34), this time from Dylan Hughes, Ty Cerrig, Ty Nant, Corwen. November 2010 born Red Hot was bred by B Griffiths.

In the steer championship it was Berwyn Hughes' Mr Curly Wurly (133) that was awarded the winner ribbons. Homebred at Cwmhendryd, Lampeter, this one is by Limousin bull Rhiwllech Carlsberg and out of a Limousin x British Blue and weighed 528kg.

Col. Powerhouse Frigate from B E Williams, Station Court, Sennybridge, Brecon, took the reserve (178). This was bred by C Phillips and by Soleil and out of Chatsworth Bridgit and weighed in at 592kg.

R H Hall and Sons have had a very successful day, taking home both the overall championship title and reserve title.

John and daughter Joanna, secured the top spot with their pair of Beltex lambs (586) - winners of the continental championship section. They weighed 99.5kg and were both out of a Beltex x ewe and by Woods of Kingledores. One of the pair had won the singles class for the Beltex breed at Countryside Live. They will be sold later in the day.

In reserve was their pair of butchers' lambs (473). Again, out of a Beltex x ewe, these weighed 89.5kg and will also be sold at the Fair.

Judge Wil Lloyd Williams said he was looking for a pair that matched on the feet and also on the hook. "The champion pair are a good matching pair that will kill out well."

He said the difficulty had come when picking the reserve spot and it had been a close call between the eventual reserve and the Southdown pairs. However in the end it was their size and killing out percent that tipped it in favour of the Beltex reserves.

Those wishing to follow Taking Stock and get the latest results while Aly is at the ringside can click on http://twitter.com/#!/FWtakingstock .

Sorry for the delay in getting these results on the blog, as twitter followers will know, i've been having internet issues by the ring. Now i am back in the press room i can at last post them up:

The crossbred championship pairs title has been awarded to Katherine and Lindsay Price and Parry for their pair of Suffolk x Welsh mules (299) weighing in at 88kg

The any other cross winner has taken reserve (298). This is a pair of homebred Suffolk x Badger Faces from Miss L K Levinge weighing 93kg.

R Hall and Sons have had a worth while trip down from Carlisle, taking both the overall champion (473) and reserve champion title (471) in the Butchers' weight classes. Both spots were taken by a pair of Beltex x homebred lambs with the champion pair weighin 89.5kg and the reserve 83.5kg.

In the native breed and upland section, the silverware has gone to a pair of North Country Cheviot Lambs (332) from G and L Davies and Western. Bred by G Milne, these weighed 92kg.

In reserve was a pair of Hill Radnor lambs from Elvet Jones and Kate Hovers (309) weighing 89kg.

In the lowland championship(561), a pair of Southdown lambs has got the top spot. These weighed 95.5kg and were homebred by exhibitor Wakejam-Dawson and Harmer.

In reserve was the Suffolk pair of lambs (547) from I T Davies and Son. Bred by G Lewis these weighed 92kg.

Adam Henson from Coutryfile is looking to buy some Welsh breed sheep and spent some time making his way round the breed pair winners in the Welsh Mountain Section championship to get some footage for the BBC programme.

However, taking the top spot in the class, was the Welsh Mountain (445) pair from Ellis Lloyd and Co. These weighed 85.5kg.

Then in reserve was a pair of Welsh Hill Speckled Face Lambs (422) shown by D R Lewis. They hit the scales at 106.5kg.

In the continental section, the championship has gone to a pair of Beltex lambs from R Hall and Sons (586), weighing 99.5kg.

In reserve was another Beltex pair this time from Dafydd Lewis (588). They weighed 93kg.

Now for the Pure Hill and Upland and Welsh Mountain Breeds Championship - the top honours has gone to the champion from the Welsh Mountain section (445), the pair of Welsh Mountains from Ellis Lloyd and Co.

In reserve was (332) the North Country Cheviots from G and L Davies and Western.

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!

Taking top honours in the Baby Beef section was Limousin cross heifer Poker Face from Michael and Melanie Alford, Devon. This one, bred by Christopher Dick, Falkirk, is by French stock bull Attila and was bought from Caledonian Marts in September.

Standing reserve was Wendy Morgan with Babes, a homebred Limousin cross heifer out of a British Blue cross dam.

And that's about it from me here in Wales. Once again its been a great show and without doubt the strongest show of primestock so far this year and a tremendous turnout of people - more than 14,000 yesterday alone. Now I've just got the tortuously slow journey home to contend with!

Both pairs and singles championship tickets in the show's pig section were claimed by Joe Gray with Pietrain sired pigs from his six sow herd. His single winner was a gilt weighing in at 88kg, while his pair were a brace of gilts which tipped the scales at 87.5kg and 88kg apiece.

Taking reserve in both sections was B Beck with Welsh cross pigs. His single weighed 100kg, while the pair went over the scales at 100kg and 101.5kg each.

Continuing a fine run of form which started at Countryside Live Phil and Sharon Sellers have collected the overall cattle championship here at Builth Wells with their 536kg British Blue sired steer Dick Turpin - so named because it was bought from John Richardson, Penrith, referred to by Phil a few mintues ago as the highway robber!

But, the couple say this one, by Auchenlay Vagabond, was one of the cheaper cattle to come out of the Richardson yard and was bought privately. He was previously overall champion at Countryside Live and had been entered for next week's AgriLIVE Smithfield, but now won't be heading there.

Taking the reserve overall title was Elfed Williams with Blonde cross heifer Tiramisu. This one, was bought privately from Andrew Powell and weighed in at 564. Having come through from the first heifer class of the dayn yesterday Tiramisu picked up a fourth reserve championship for Elfed at the show.

And the Sellers success continued in the heifer classes where their 546kg British Blue sired heifer Betty Boop picked up the reserve heifer award.

Reserve steer winner, meanwhile was Flash, a Limousin sired entry weighing 486kg from Gordon Brooke.

Well, as predicted here earlier it was the unstoppable force of Andrew and Becky Bishop which took the sheep championship here at Builth Wells. And so in form is their team this season that they took not only the overall title (right in the photo below), but also the reserve championship (left on the photo below) and the overall carcass championship.

The couple's leading pair of lambs, which netted them their fourth championship of the season and makes them unbeaten in championships since Smithfield last year, were a 100kg pair of Texel sired lambs by a homebred Beltex tup which is registered with the Texel Society, under an agreement between the two breeds, from their 1200 ewe flock. One of the pair had been a part of the winning live/dead team from this year's Royal and Royal Welsh Shows, while the other was fresh to the show circuit.

Taking the reserve award were a pair of Beltex sired lambs which are by a homebred tup and tipped the scales at 99.5kg. These had earlier stood reserve in the Continental lamb section to the overall champions.

Andrew Bishop rashly told me earlier today that if he picked up the silverware here he woudl take a two year break from primestock showing and so far he's staying true to his word and says once he's attempted to defend his title next week at Smithfield he'll be hanging up his white coat. However, he did say he's willing to sell potential primestock lambs to other producers in future, so form an orderly queue ladies and gents, you read it here first!

Well, it may be -1 outside here in Builth Wells, but the competition in the stock lines is sure to be hot this morning once championship judging gets underway.

I've only had chance to scan through the sheep lines so far, but the unstoppable Bishop team look to have been in fine form yesterday, scooping up at least two red tickets with Beltex and Dutch Texel sired lambs, so once again my money is backing Andrew and Becky to clinch the one title they missed out on last year.

More news to follow in due course.....

I'm concious that many of you will be at home today wanting results from the Royal Welsh Winter Fair. Unfortunately, I have to be in the FW office today, so can't be in Builth to bring you results until tomorrow.

Then, of course we will bring you full championship results and as many of today's class results as we can lay our hands on.

In the meantime you can watch the action from the show on S4C

As the winter show season gets into top gear, following yesterday's AgriScot and with the major primestock shows all falling in the next three weeks, I reflected last night on the trip home from Edinburgh on the relative success of AgriScot and the Royal Highland Winter Fair.

Held just a week apart in the same venue the fortunes of the two couldn't, from an outsiders viewpoint, be more contrasting.

Yesterday's event, aimed squarely at large scale, professional producers drew a massive crowd to the equally massive turnout of tradestands. And from what I heard and saw both visitors and standholders alike were there to do business.

All the main suppliers were there and the crowd coming through the door was impressive to say the least.

Looking ahead to next week's Royal Highland Winter Fair is, sadly a less exciting prospect. While I have no doubt there will be a first class show of stock in the rings at Ingliston, I don't expect there to be much a showing of trade stands and the crowd, if experience can be relied on, is bound to be smaller.

So, despite all the historic reasons against it, there can for the future success of at least one of these events only be one answer, combine the two into one great show. Some other commentators have suggested the fact that the two exist is testament to the strength of Scottish farming. I disagree, it is in fact testament to the inability of some parties to  bury historic prejudices. Come guys get round the table again and set the wheels in motion for one big show worthy of the industries you're serving.

Following on swiftly from news about the new Smithfield event for this year is news of an extra bonus for last year's champions, Alistair and Liz Vance.

Having bought their Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair champion, Divine Diva, from Harrison and Hetherington's Borderway Mart, Carlisle, in September last year for £3000, the Vances were awarded a £1000 cash prize by Brian Richardson (left) and David Pritchard of H and H last week.