Belgian Blue success at Chelford’s Christmas primestock fixture

A Belgian Blue heifer took the supreme championship a staggering 430p/kg (£2580) at Chelford Agricultural Centre’s  Christmas primestock show and sale.

The 600kg three-quarter-bred heifer took the supreme championship title, sealing a three-year hat trick for Wigan farmer David Wilcock & Sons. By Tamhorn Ringmaster, she was bought from breeder Frank Page at the breed society’s show and sale at Chelford in March.

Bidding escalated quickly into a two-horse race between show judge Mike Nevitt buying for Ray Moss Butchers of Congleton, Cheshire, and restaurateur Hervey Magnall of The Fisherman’s Retreat, Ramsbottom, Lancashire. Mr Magnall emerged triumphant.

The reserve champion’s trophy was awards to Messrs Wilcock for a Belgian Blue-cross heifer bred by Stephen Drabble and purchased at Chelford’s Christmas Cracker store cattle sale last December.

But this time Mr Nevitt refused to be beaten and took the heifer at 180p/kg (£1098) for Mr Moss.

The Wilcock family also took champion’s honours in the Young Farmers’ section with a Blonde d’Aquitaine-cross Belgian Blue heifer shown by Thomas Wilcock of the Rainford Club. This sold for 300p/kg (£1485) to butcher Marshall Spearing of Macclesfield.

Martin Lancaster from Congleton Young Farmers found himself in reserve champion’s place with a Belgian Blue-cross heifer at 152p/kg (£668.8), another purchase of Mr Nevitt’s.