Vances take Smithfield cattle championship

Alistair and Liz Vance, Dumfries, have just taken the overall championship here at the Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair with their heifer champion Divine Diva.

Limousin cross Diva was bred by the Scotts at Thirwell Castle and took the lightweigh heifer championship before going on to take the overall heifer title ahead of lifting the overall cattle championship.

Purchased from Carlisle in September for £3000, Diva was reserve overall at Agri-Expo, Carlisle, at the beginning of November.

Standing reserve to Diva was the reserve overall heifer champion, Limited Edition from Phil and Sharon Sellers, Derbyshire. Limited Edition cost £2500 from Ruthin in the spring and was overall champion at Countryside Live earlier this autumn.

Taking the steer championship and the Kings Cup for the best homebred animal were Christine Williams and Paul Tippets with their lightweight steer leader The Stig. This homebred Limousin cross is by imported sire Toubib and out of a British Blue cross Limousin dam.

Taking the reserve steer title were the Sellers again with their British Blue cross The Chancer. This one was reserve overall at The East of England Winter Stock Festival when he sold for £5000 to the showground catering contractors.