Three times a winner for Limousin heifer at Kent Show

It was a memorable day in the beef cattle rings at Kent Show for Suffolk-based Limousin breeder Peter Gooderham as he notched up a hat trick of interbreed wins this season with his heifer Sundale Bon Bon. 

Having already clinched the top title at both East of England and Norfolk, Bon Bon picked up her third title when pipping Rupert Taylor’s Charolais bull Rumsden Crusierweight to top spot.

By Broadmeadows Canon and out of homebred cow Sundale Tansy, Bon Bon is believed to be in calf to noted sire Samy and is one of a herd of 50 Limousins run by Mr Gooderham at Gislingham, Eye. Cruiserweight, meanwhile, is an April 2007-born son of Roundhill Rocky and is out of Rumsden Tatania. 

Across in the dairy rings a last  minute substition of entries proved fortuitous for William Hickson’s Jersey herd. His third lactation cow Rinkland Anastasia 9, led out by Luke Rayfield, picked up the interbreed dairy award ahead of the Holstein champion, Limpsfield Lily Phoenix from David Innes.

Anastasia 9 is currently giving 35 litres a day having calved in January in Mr Hickson’s 360-cow all Jersey herd at Dover. Reserve champion Liliy Phoenix is by Etazon Lord Lily and is now giving 38 litres a day in her fourth lactation having also dropped in January.

Among the sheep entries there was no shortage of competition for the top spot, but Hugh Veitch of Berwick made easy work of picking his champion in the form of Don and Jo Masters’ Hampshire Down shearling ram.

Their homebred tup is out of a homebred ewe and by a Parkstock tup which they bought for £450 as a ram lamb and has previously stood breed champion at both Heathfield and South of England this season.

Standing reserve here was the Charollais leader, a shearling ewe from Hazel and Katie Long’s Denstroude flock from Mystole, Canterbury. This one was on her first outing of the season.

Among the pigs it was a familiar story with regular Kent winners Charles and Dawn Bull’s Berkshire gilt taking the champion ticket. His January-born entry is litter sister to his South of England champion boar and was bred by the Earl and Countess of Iveagh at Thetford, Norfolk. Taking second spot was Julie Murray’s Oxford Sandy and Black gilt from her herd at Otterden, Faversham.