Beef Expo 2014: Overall championship results
Winning the supreme championship for the first time at the event was Neil Slack, Newby, Penrith, with his champion continental heifer Watabootie, born in June 2012 and weighing 669kg. It represents his best performance to date at the Expo, having taken the reserve championship title twice previously.
Sired by the Limousin Culnagechan Egbert she is out of a Limousin x cow and was purchased from Penrith auction mart for £5,200 from breeder W Richardson and Son, Cumbria. She will now retire from the show circuit and be used for breeding in Mr Slack’s 14 crossbred cow herd.
The reserve supreme sash went to Conwy’s Tecwyn Jones with his homebred, 15-month-old steer Willl.I.Am, which weighed 513kg. The win secured Mr Jones his fifth championship win at the Beef Expo.
Sired by the Belgian Blue Bringlee Waldo he is out of a British Blue x cow and was bred by Trevor Jones, Caernarfon. It was the first outing for Will.I.Am and he will now head to the Royal Welsh before doing the rounds on the winter fatstock circuit.
Judge Philip Parrott, from Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, commended the exhibitors on the “tremendous” show of cattle on display.
Commenting on his selection he added: “The heifer is outstanding in my opinion. She has tremendous length and she’s got all the meat in all the right places.
“The steer is a well-balanced steer and is the sort of beast you’re going to see quite a lot of in the show ring in the summer months.”
But on the day he said he “wasn’t quite there”. However he said by Christmas he would be a great steer.
Reserve continental steer and heifer winners
Taking the reserve championship in the steer class was Gilbert Brookes, from Alfrick, Worcester, with his April 2013-born Too Hot Handle, which was exhibited by Paul Walker.
By the BB sire Ros Alo he is out of a pure Limousin cow and was purchased by Mr Brookes from breeder W Brewster, at Caledonian mart for 4,200gns.
No stranger to the show ring this 562kg steer claimed the baby beef championship at the English Winter Fair last year and went on to claim the overall reserve title at the event. He will next compete at Shropshire West Mid Show.
The reserve heifer champion was awarded to the eight-month-old Icona Pop from JM and SM Priestley, Brampton, Cumbria. Out of the pedigree Limousin cow Brontemoor Toulouse she is by the AI sire Lowerfrydd Benhurr and tipped the scales at 668kg.