Blue win sparks old debate
Blue win sparks old debate
By Robert Davies
Wales Correspondent
THE debate about the eating quality of beef from different breeds was rekindled at Builth Wells after the Belgian Blue pair were awarded the interbreed pairs ticket.
When Richard Oates from Roxburghshire selected the Belgian Blue entry as the top beef pair at the show, he said they demonstrated that cattle carrying huge amounts of lean meat could still retain mobility.
Ridgedean Tyree, Michele Wildes bull that made up half the winning team, had earlier been part of the breeds team of five, which took the reserve interbreed championship. Tyree also won the elite young bull championship, leaving sponsor Marks and Spencer somewhat red-faced when Ms Wilde held an impromptu ringside press conference to criticise the retailer for refusing to stock Belgian Blue sired beef.
Paul Willgoss, Marks and Spencers head of agriculture, admitted that purchasing policy was based on research done more than five years ago. Mr Willgoss said the breed had changed in the meantime and it was, perhaps, time for a re-think.
The outstanding two year old bull Cader Regal, jointly owned by Richard Hassell and Rachel Wyllie of Banbury, Oxon, took the individual interbreed beef championship. The owners now plan to keep Regal rather than sell him at Perth. Standing reserve to Regal was Millington Grange Estates Limousin bull Woodhouse Prince, bought last autumn for £15,000.
Limousins were also to the fore in the interbreed beef team of five championship, and two of the quintet, Woodhouse Prince and Gaich Pinup from the Millington herd, stood reserve in the interbreed pairs competition.
Brothers Hefin and Arvid Wilson from Cardigan dominated the dairy championships with both Holsteins and Jerseys. Their Holstein cow Dalesend Storm Maude, who stood reserve breed champion at this years Royal, collected both the breed and interbeed titles. She later teamed up with J and V Barlows heifer Painly Windstar Carol 3 to scoop the interbreed dairy pairs trophy.
Maude was also a member of the championship winning Holstein team of five, which pushed the Jerseys into reserve spot. The Wilson familys Jersey champion Glanmor Xerxes Roxy was a member of both that team and half the Jersey pair which won the reserve interbreed dairy pair championship.
Another pair of brothers, this time twins Richard and Robert Francis from Ruthin in Denbighshire, helped their father Huw collect one of the most coveted awards at the show. Emyr Lewis, who judged the champion of champion sheep, inspected more than 40 breed champions before deciding that their Laurelbank Logo sired Suffolk shearling ewe was best in show.
It was the first overall supreme championship for the flock after 40 years of competing at the Royal Welsh. Standing reserve was a Beulah Speckled Face ram, bred and exhibited by previous winners Ronald and Sue Jones from Llanybydder.
Pig entries fell to a disappointing total of 44, but there was general agreement that the Davies familys Landrace sow Ceiros Marilyn was a worthy interbreed champion. Standing reserve was Large Black gilt, Lowerdale Black Lady 185, exhibited by P and L Waddington.
A new, but familiar name, was added to the carcass section roll of honour when Ivy Bishops Beltex cross lamb took the supreme championship. Her husband David and son Andrew, who farms in his own right, are both past winners of the top award. Putting Mrs Bishops name on the entry form this year was an acknowledgement of her considerable contribution to the management of the home farm in Worcestershire.
She and her husband run the 20 strong Luggsmill pedigree Beltex flock and 55 three-quarter Beltex cross ewes at Colwall near Malvern. The champion weighed 38.8kg alive and 21.5kg on the hook and graded E3L.
In reserve spot was an entry from Powys Texel breeder Steve Smith, who lost almost his entire flock to foot-and-mouth.
BEEF
Interbreed R Hassell & R J Wylies British Charolais bull Cader Regal; res, Millington Grange Estates British Limousin bull Woodhouse Prince.
Elite Junior Bull M Wildes Belgian Blue bull Ridgedean Tyree; res, M S Browns British Charolais bull Caylers Supreme.
Natwest Team of Five Limousin; res, Belgian Blue.
FitzHugh Interbreed Pairs Belgian Blue; res, Limousin.
Welsh Black P I Arrowsmiths bull Caerynwch Tywysog 6; res, G Jones heifer Seisiog Memi 26.
Hereford D E Jones bull Dendor I Unicorn; res B Ellis bull Leos Pride 1 Vanquish.
British Charolais R Hassell & R J Wyllies bull Cader Regal; res, M S Browns bull Caylers Supreme.
British White F W Cook & Sons bull Albany Plato; res, Delamore Farms Ltds female Leverington Gentian.
British Blonde dAquitaine E Lees cow Sutton Luciana; res, D M Davies bull Fronfedw Rhyd-Y-Beirdd.
British Limousin Millington Grange Estates bull Woodhouse Prince; res, D A Williams heifer Ravanelle.
Simmental J P Peters cow Camus Greensleeves Too; res, R M Birchs bull New Trend Dynasty.
Belgian Blue J Barber & G Brindleys cow Astbury Norma; res, D A Williams heifer Wilodge Supernova.
South Devon W * D Scotts heifer Grove Willowherb 23; res, W * D Scotts heifer Grove Celandine 59.
Aberdeen Angus N J & B Pittams bull Dark Lane Jasper; res, M & C Alfords heifer Elm Park Jill Erica.
Salers D I & * M Rogers bull Coland Neptune; res, A & M Austins cow Oceane.
Longhorn F Suttons bull Parc Grace Dieu Wrangler; res, B & M Llewellyns heifer Carreg Amy.
Murray Grey P C P & J G Harris bull Sence Valley Chieftain; res, M M Rosenbergs female Ashrose Rita 10.
Red Poll S A Gleeds cow Wheatfield Royal Glen; res, J R Williams bull Wheatfield Owen-Glen-Dwr.
Dexter C Nightingales bull Galehill Battenburgh; res, J Evans heifer Langshon Buttercups Cowslip.
Commercial Beef D M Winneys heifer Miss Royal; Res, W Morgans heifer Babes.
DAIRY
Supreme Champion Cow A * Wilson & Sons Holstein cow Dalesend Storm Maude; res, A * Wilson & Sons Jersey cow Glanmor Xerxes Roxy.
Supreme Champion Heifer J & V Barlows Holstein heifer Painley Windstar Carol 3; res, A * Wilson & Sons Jersey heifer Tregibby Diamond.
Natwest Team of Five Holsein; res, Jersey
FitzHugh Interbreed Pairs Holstein; res, Jersey.
Holstein A * Wilson & Sons cow Dalesend Storm Maude; res, J & V Barlows heifer Painley Windstar Carol 3.
Ayrshire J S & * Jones cow Hayford Mischief; res, M Evans cow East Church Ambrosia.
Jersey A * Wilson & Sons cow Glanmor Xerxes Roxy; res, Coldeaton Jerseys cow Golland Gemeni Josephine.
SHEEP
Interbreed * Francis & Sons Suffolk shearling ewe; res, R & S Jones Beulah Speckled Face ram.
Interbreed Pairs Border Leicester; res, North Country Cheviot.
Welsh Mountain(Pedigree) P V Taylors ram; res, R G Williams ewe.
Welsh Mountain(Hill Flock) T Hughes shearling ram; res, T & A Jones ewe.
South Wales Mountain S & E D Williams ram; res, E Williams pair of ewe lambs.
Black Welsh Mountain E O Williams pair of shearling ewes; res, W & S Workmans shearling ram.
Badger Face Welsh Mountain D C Lewis ram lamb; res, K A & J P M Gethins shearling ewe.
Balwen Welsh Mountain N Owens ram; res, D G Jones ewe.
Welsh Hill Speckled Face D R Lewis ram; res, R T Richards shearling ewe.
Hill Radnor K L & R E Jones ram; res, E V Jones shearling ewe.
Kerry Hill R & R Powells shearling ram; res, R & R Powells ram.
Brecknock Hill Cheviot D C Jones ram; res, * E Havards ewe lamb.
North Country Hill Cheviot A W Jones shearling ewe; res, R & S Jones ram.
Exmoor Horn S M Halls shearling ram; res, S M Halls ram.
Jacob R E Blacknells ewe; res, M Lloyd Jones ram.
Ryeland R A & A M Howells ram; res, B A & P J Mees shearling ewe
Devon Closewool P A Dallyns ram; res, P A Dallyns shearling ewe.
Dorset Down * T Devonalds shearling ewe; res, J McMinns ram lamb.
Wiltshire Horn B & * Thomas & Sons ram; res, B & * Thomas & Sons shearling ewe.
Welsh Mule K & G Jones pair of shearling ewes; res, K & G Jones pair of ewe lambs.
Llanenog * Evans shearling ewe; res, * Evans shearling ram.
Dorset Horn/Poll Griffiths & Davies ewe lamb; res, M Perrotts ram.
Southdown * G Hughes shearling ewe; res, D, S & P Humphreys shearling ram.
Any other Pure Breed R & S Jones Beulah Speckled Face ram; res, R & S Jones Beulah Speckled Face shearling ewe.
Bluefaced Leicester E Owens ram; res, A L Smith-Maxwells ram.
Zwartbles G A & * M Francis ewe; res, G A & * M Francis ram.
Clun Forest G L Smiths shearling ewe; res, G L Smiths shearling ewe.
Border Leicester D J & G A Watkinss shearling ram; res, R M & S Birchs ram.
Lleyn D W & C F Morris ram; res, A W Davies shearling ewe.
British Bleu Du Maine P Taits ram; res, J W & K M Davisons ewe.
Charollais P Taits ewe; res, M Tullochs shearling ewe.
Beltex D R & K M Jones & Sons ram; res, * S Frazier & Sons shearling ram.
British Rouge de lOuest D R Janes ewe; res, D R Janes ram.
British Berrichon du Cher Woodston Manor Partnerships ewe; res, Woodston Manor Partnerships ram.
Charmoise D Eglins ram; res, D Eglins ewe.
British Texel C & W Phillips ram; res, T G Williams & Sons ewe.
British Vendeen C J & L Vernon-Millers ewe lamb; res, C J & L Vernon-Millers ram.
Hampshire Down R J Vincents shearling ram; res, M Adams shearling ewe.
Shropshire R B & B Higginsram lamb; res, M Farquhars maiden shearling ewe.
Suffolk * W Francis & Sons shearling ewe; res, * W Francis & Sons ram.
Butchers Prime Lamb A D Bishop; res, P J Houldey.
Lamb Carcass I Bishops Beltex cross lamb; res, S J Smiths Texel cross lamb.
PIGS
Interbreed Male Champion C T & K M Impeys boar Fairoaks Peterlad 2.
Interbreed Female Champion D G Davies & Daughters sow Ceirios Marilyn 10; res, P & L Waddingtons gilt Lowerdale Black Lady.
Pig Supreme Champion D G Davies & Daughters sow Ceirios Marilyn 10; res, P L Waddingtons gilt Lowerdale Black Lady.
Welsh Pigs W C & M R Jenkins sow Burghope Daffodil; res, T Evans boar Goldfoot Vulcan.
Any other White Breed D G Davies & Daughters sow Ceirios Marilyn 10; res, D G Davies & Daughters gilt Ceirios Marilyn 22.
British Saddleback A J Thomas & W Edwards boar Pantysgawen Walter; res, A J Thomas & W Edwards sow Pantysgawen Silver wings.
Coloured and Minority Breeds P & L Waddingtons gilt Lowerdale Black Lady. *
Beautiful beef?Belgian Blue bull, Ridgedean Tyree won the Elite junior bull champioship, kicking off a debate as to why sponsor, Marks and Spencer, refuses to stock Belgian Blue-sired beef.
DGDavies and daughters sow Ceirios Marilyn was a popular pig champion.
A long time coming…Huw Franciss Suffolk shearling ewe won a first Royal Welsh interbreed title for the Ward flock after a 40-year wait.