Continentals dominate Leicester results

Local exhibitors clinched both the cattle and sheep titles at last week’s Leicestershire Show, with Charolais heifer Thrunton Agatha lifting the interbreed beef award for Gaynor McDowell and father Colin, under judge Richard Bartle.

Agatha was purchased from the Campbell family’s Thrunton herd as a calf and is one of 12 Charolais owned by the family. Standing reserve overall beef was Aberdeen Angus heifer Hawstead Lodge Pamela from Bury St Edmunds-based Andrew Brown.

Among the sheep it was the turn of Mary Tulloch to collect the silverware with her Charollais shearling ewe which had earlier led its breed classes. By homebred sire Rutland Ensign, the ewe was on its first outing of the season for Mrs Tulloch.

Second spot here was clinched by the Jacob champion from Alan and June Smith, with their homebred ewe Ewecote Lottie.

In the interbreed group of three competition it was the turn of the Hampshire Downs to take the title with a trio from Jennifer Atkinson and David Smith leading the way.

In the cattle lines it was the Charolais again which dominated, taking the group title too.

The junior interbreed beef competition was led by Limousin bull Ironstone Brandy from Smiths of Bloxham. This young bull has impressive breeding behind him, being a son of Unesco and out of the £50,000gns heifer Bailea Umandy.

The dairy classes were topped by the Jersey leader, Warninglid Gold Lemvig Autumn 3, from Jack Arrowsmith, Elsthorpe, Lincolnshire. Jack, 10, runs a small herd of Jerseys alongside his family’s Holstein herd. Reserve here was taken by Andrew Birkle with his fifth calving Holstein Clayden Ivanmark Roxy.