Staffordshire show results
If you have your own show photos that you‘d like us to display then just attach them to an email and send them to fwiinfo@rbi.co.uk – (please include details of which show the pictures are from).
BEEF | Interbreed D Williams’ Limousin heifer Ravenelle; res, R Birch’s Simmental cow Miss MRL. |
DAIRY | Interbreed T Cope and Son and R Lancaster’s cow Shanael Gelpro Melody; res, S Wheat’s Jersey cow Millvale Aimless Sally. Holstein T Cope and Son and R Lancaster’s cow Shanael Gelpro Melody; res, N Brandon’s cow Murlbury Fatal Hilda. Jersey S Wheat’s cow Millvale Aimless Sally; res, M and A Wright’s cow Fourcrosses Sambo Rummy. Dairy Shorthorn G A Madeley’s heifer Rodway Barrington Duchess 95; res, G W Pattinson’s heifer Wenverdale Filpall Fini. Dexter Madders and Johnson’s cow Queen’s Low Daisy; res, A Neachell’s cow Migh Tuela. |
SHEEP | Interbreed R and J Gregory’s Charollais shearling ewe; res, R and R Powell’s Kerry Hill ram. |
PIGS | Interbreed C Vaughan’s Welsh Gilt Vinery Empress 4184; res, D and B Houlston’s Saddleback sow Gillbeck Lottie. |
ONE OF last year‘s most successful show animals continued her winning ways last week at the Staffordshire Show, taking both the Holstein breed title and the interbreed dairy title.
The cow, Shanael Gelpro Melody, claimed Tom and Andy Cope‘s 11th Staffs breed championship. Owned in partnership with Isaac and Luke Lancaster, Melody was bought at last June‘s HUK Genetic Elite sale for 20,000gns from the Booth family‘s Feizor herd.
She was interbreed heifer champion at last year‘s Royal Show and Dairy Event.
After a heifer lactation of 10,000kg, she calved her second in March, producing a bull calf, Storm. Melody is currently giving 50 litres a day.
“She looks terrific and, considering she‘s only three years old, I think her best is yet to come. She could even be better than Flo,” said Tom Cope, comparing Melody to his former show cow Cardsland Eclipse Flo.
Melody – who now holds the All Britain senior heifer in-milk title – will take a tilt at a second Royal Show title next month.
She completed a victorious day at Stafford as a member of the winning interbreed group of four; the remaining three came from the Huddlesford stable.
Well-filled beef classes are a feature of this show and drew a strong entry for interbreed judge John Powner.
He found his champion in Ravanelle, a Limousin heifer imported from France by David Williams, of Shifnal, Shropshire, whose Wilodge herd won the breed’s regional herd award last year.
The sheep lines also produced a strong turnout, with strong competition in several breeds as some of the big names battled it out for early season show titles.
In contention for the interbreed ticket were Dick Powell‘s Kerry Hill champion and David Gardiner‘s Beltex.
But interbreed sheep judge John Evans from Chirk, north Wales, could find nothing to beat a stylish Charollais shearling ewe from Robert Gregory‘s 60-strong Edstaston flock at Shrewsbury.
This shearling was on her first show outing and is by Westonvale Jubilee, a ram that has been a great producer in the Foulrice flock of Charles and Valerie Marwood at York.
“We used some Jubilee semen and he has left us some great females. This shearling is out of our top index ewe,” said Mr Gregory, who plans to bring her out again at the Royal Welsh.
Demand for Saddleback pigs is booming, according to Doncaster breeder John Wreakes, who runs a hobby herd of 10 sows and who took the reserve coloured championship and the coloured Pig of the Year qualifier.
“Many people are starting to keep a few pigs, either for showing or to produce their own meat and Saddlebacks are a big favourite with small-scale pig keepers,” said Mr Wreakes.
His winning gilt, Victoria Lottie 110, was handled by Mr Wreakes‘ 14-year-old nephew, Christopher Wreakes, who is a regular member of the family‘s show team.