Temperatures soar at Kent Show

TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 30C were no deterrent to some of the south’s leading stockmen at last week’s Kent Show where many of the area’s top animals came under the judges’ scrutiny.

While entries at Kent may be a shadow of those at other shows around the country, the quality on display was easy for all to see.

Leading in the sheep lines, where entries in the county’s native Romney breed were as low as many could remember, was the impressive Charollais ram Chestnutt Park Eric from John and Ann Griffiths’ Glos-based flock.

Interbreed sheep champion was Charollais ram Chetsnutt Park Eric from John and Ann Griffiths

Eric completed a memorable double for the west-country raiders, having stood champion at last month’s South of England show at Ardingly. “We had entered him for the breed’s premier sale at Worcester last week, but decided to keep him back as a stock sire,” added John Griffiths.

Standing reserve to the Charollais was the Southdown leader from the Lewes, Sussex-based Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer partnership. This stylish ewe is by an East Dean ram and out of a homebred ewe.

Reserve sheep spot went to Messrs Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer’s

Southdown shearling ewe.

Judge Derek Watkins described both animals as outstanding carcass sheep which were right on the day. “There were plenty of other good sheep out there, but some were weak in the flesh and just didn’t have it when it mattered.”

Across in the beef lines it was a first interbreed win for Simmental breeder Rhys Grenham and his November 2003-born bull Boars Head Pride. Previously unshown, Pride is by Brooklyn Jonti and out of Wistow Grace. Judge David Hardy said the bull had shown everything he wanted in a beef animal, consistent fleshing throughout and excellent locomotion.

Boars Head Pride took top honours in the beef lines for Rhys Grenham’s 10-cow herd.

Reserve spot in the beef classes went to the Hereford champion, Badlingham Bafca from Pam Noel and Robert Snelling from Reading, Berks. Three year old Bafca is currently herd sire to the seven cow Sarabande herd and had previously stood breed champion at the Surrey show.

Reserve interbreed beef honours went to Messrs Noel and Snelling’s

Hereford bull Badlingham Bafca

In the interbreed dairy competition it was a win for Plumton College’s Holstein leader Plumptondown Big Time Mistress. Homebred Mistress is by Embryoworld Big Time and gave more than 10,500 litres in her fourth lactation. She is currently giving about 45 litres a day in her fifth.

Leading the way in the dairy lines was this Holstein cow, Plumptondown Big Time Mistress

from Plumpton College.

Settling for second spot here was the Jersey champion, Wotton Paramounts Dazzler from the Evelyn family’s Guildford-based herd.

In the head to head cattle interbreed competition it was the beef breeds which came out on top, lifting both champion and reserve champion tickets ahead of their dairy rivals.

Interbreed championship in the pig lines went the way of many before, with Rye-based Charles and Dawn Bull triumphing with their August 2004 born Berkshire gilt.

Top spot in the pig lines was claimed by Charles and Dawn Bull’s Berkshire gilt.

RESULTS
CATTLE
Interbreed R J Grenham’s Simmental bull Boars Head Pride; res, P Noel and R Snelling’s Hereford bull Badlingham Bafca.
Interbreed Group Holstein; res, Sussex.
BEEF CATTLE
Interbreed R J Grenham’s Simmental bull Boars Head Pride; res, P Noel and R Snelling’s Hereford bull Badlingham Bafca.
British Blonde Messrs Jones and Garratt’s cow Egerton Pandora; res, Hackleton Farms’ bull Hackelton Varig.
British Charolais B A and P T Heath’s bull Sackville Valerius; res, M Gibbons’ bull Rumsden Udimore.
British Simmental R J Grenham’s bull Boars Head Pride; res, A E and C Bishop’s heifer Lynfield Lucinda.
Hereford P Noel and R Snelling’s bull Badlingham Bafca; res, P Noel and R Snelling’s cow Sarabande Emma 37.
Limousin Morris Farms’ bull Blounts’ Black Tenor; res, Morris Farms’ heifer Blounts Virtuous.
Sussex J C Lewis’ heifer Holm Place Polly 14; res, M Hind’s bull Mayfield Wellington 8.
Any Other Breed Native S E Coleman’s Longhorn bull Blackbrook Newt; res, New Biddenden Green Farm’s British White heifer Smarden Sabicu.
Cross Bred Beef MB Farms’ Belgian Blue cross heifer MB Blue Lace; res, Rupert Taylor’s Limousin cross steer Lisduff Lad.
Beefbreeder Bull B A and P T Heath’s Charolais bull Sackville Valerius; res, L Stevens and Sons’ Sussex bull Boxted Regent 3.

DAIRY CATTLE
Interbreed Plumpton College’s Holstein cow Plumptondown Big Time Mistress; res, J P M H Evelyn’s heifer Wotton Paramounts Dazzler.
Ayrshire M D M Howie’s cow Douglas Little Nell; res, Ridley Hill Marteeny 2.
Dexter M E Henderson’s cow Iffin Brandy; res, P W Hunt’s heifer Saltaire Rover.
Holstein Plumpton College’s cow Plumptondown Big Time Mistress; res, D A Innes’ cow Limpsfield Lily Phoenix.
Jersey J P M H Evelyn’s heifer Wotton Paramounts Dazzler; res, J P M H Evelyn’s cow Wotton Judges Willow 2.

SHEEP
Interbreed J and A Griffiths’ Charollais ram; res, Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer’s Southdown shearling ewe.
Interbreed Group Charollais; res, Southdown.
Romney J Coultrip’s ram; res, P H and P E Skinner’s pair of shearling ewes.
Southdown Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer’s shearling ewe; res, S Pond’s ewe lamb.
Suffolk C Kniestedt’s ewe lamb; res, B A and P T Heath’s ewe lamb.
Jacob J E Angell-James’ shearling ewe; res, J E Angell-James’ ram.
Texel Designer Flock’s ewe lamb; res, P H and P E Skinner’s shearling ram.
British Down L Sutton’s Wiltshire Horn shearling ram; res, L P and J Newman’s Shropshire shearling ewe.
Lleyn D F and O M Bond’s ram; res, D F and O M Bond’s shearling ewe.
Charollais J and A Griffiths’ shearling ram; res, H and K Long’s shearling ram.
Any Other Breed Continental T D and S M Butcher’s Vendeen ram lamb; res, J Metianu and S Aspital’s Rouge de L’Ouest shearling ram.
Any Other Breed Native I Bish’s Devon and Cornwall Longwool ram; res, J Shrubshall’s Torddu shearling ewe.

PIGS
Interbreed C Bull’s Berkshire Gilt; res, P B Banks’ Large White cross sow.
Pure and Crossbred Pigs C Bull’s Berkshire Gilt; res, P B Banks’ Large White cross sow.
Pork Pigs P B Banks single pork pig; res, P B Banks’ single pork pig.
Live and Dead Cutter Pigs P B Banks; res, Princess Christian Farm.