The 16th annual Agri-Expo event was another bumper success at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, attracting in the region of 10,000 visitors, 150 trade and breed stands, and more than 900 entries between the commercial cattle, sheep, and pedigree beef sections.
In the main show ring, it was the prime cattle that took centre stage, culminating late afternoon in the overall championships between the top steers and heifers, where the females came out top.
The heifer champion, Queen of Hearts, secured the supreme title, ensuring a best ever result at the event for father and son, Hugh and Stewart Dunlop, Holehouse, Ochiltree. The home-bred heifer, from the family’s 100-cow commercial herd, was on her first show outing, before heading to LiveScot and then the Welsh Winter Fair. Shown by Stewart, assisted by girlfriend Penny Stewart, this 18-month-old is sired by the popular Limousin AI sire, Huntershall Nutcracker, while the dam is a home-bred Limousin cross.
The reserve heifer that finished up taking the reserve overall award, was also sired by Nutcracker. That was Tequila Rose, a home-bred 19-month-old Limousin cross from Jennifer Hyslop, Cleatop, Settle. A first prize winner at the Great Yorkshire and next heading to the English Winter Fair in Stafford, this heifer is out of a past Great Yorkshire show champion, also called Queen of Hearts.
Welsh beef and sheep farmer Gwyn Edwards had the difficult job of selecting the winners from what he described as: “the highest standard of cattle that I have ever seen, at any show.”
In the steers, he plumped for another Limousin cross as best overall – Mr. Bombastic, from Hannah Donaldson, Hampshire House, York. Bought at the spring sale at Carlisle from the Robertsons, Newton of Logierait, this 17-month-old also stood steer champion at the Great Yorkshire, in July. He is another heading to the LiveScot event in Lanark, later this month.
Reserve steer was the British Blue Cross, Hitman, from Gordon and Julie Sedgewick, Ricknall Grange, Co Durham, ably shown by Beth Wilkinson. This one was also bought at Carlisle in March, from John Smith-Jackson, Hightown. Sired by Tanat Lotto and out of a Limousin cross dam, he was champion at the Cumberland Show during the summer.
The baby beef section, judged by Ireland’s Pearse McNamee, was also hotly contested. Triumphing there was Wyn Williams, Penrhyn Farm, Llanfwrog, with Lu Lu, an April-born Limousin cross heifer by Sheehills Jumbo. Home-bred, out of a Limousin cross cow by Elite Forever Bill, she was on her first outing and was destined for the Welsh Winter Fair.
Standing reserve in the baby beef was Brewdog, a February-born steer from Michael, Ellie, and Mark Robertson, Fodderletter, Tomintoul. He is one of the first calves of the Limousin bull Beechmount Pacman, which was bought at Carlisle for 8000gns, while the dam is a past show winner, Bucks Fizz, a British Blue cross. The Robertsons aim to keep this one for next summer’s show circuit, after taking him to Stars of the Future this month.
Leading Awards:
Native steer – 1, Owen Brothers’ Chwaen Cai, Welsh Black; 2, Mudd and Bentley’s Lugsy Malone, Gall X; 3, S Taylor and D Marsh’s Taymar Panda, Her.
Native heifer – 1, J and S Wareham’s Star Bar, Gall X; 2, Wilson Peters’ Kippen Lady, A-A X; 3, Keadyview Livestock’s Ruby III, Her.
Continental steer class 3 – 1, Jean Mackay’s Gold Rush, Lim X; 2, Amy Wilson’s Loveable Rogue, Lim; 3, Rachael Graham’s Dennis the Menace, Lim X.
Continental steer class 4 – 1, Hannah Donaldson’s Mr Bombastic, Lim X; 2, JM and SM Rowlands’ Freddo, Lim X; 3, G and JA Sedgewick’s Jonbon, Lim X.
Continental steer class 5 – 1, G and JA Sedgewick’s Hitman, BB X; 2, Andrew Ireland’s Jack in the Box, BB X; John Williams’ Mr T, Lim X.
Continental steer class 6 – 1, AG Laws’ Maverick, Lim X; 2, Lin Calcraft’s Under Pressure, Lim X; 3, Shona McKinnel’s Black 20, Lim X.
Continental steer class 7 – 1, A and J Gammie’s Topboy, Lim X; 2, Gordon and Harry Amos’ Toffee, Lim; 3, Blair Dufftown’s Sirloin, Lim X.
YF steer – 1, Gordon and Harry Amos’ Mo the 2nd, BB X; 2, Owen Phillips’ Black Jack, Lim X; 3, D and I Richardson’s Gingerbread Boy, Lim X.
Charolais-sired steer – 1, Jennifer Hyslop’s Fools Gold, Char X; 2, Ross Montgomerie’s Marmaduke, Char X.
Continental heifer class 12 – 1, Owen Phillips’ Red Ribbon, Lim X; 2, Jean Mackay’s Hennessy, Char X; 3, Gwanwyn Rowlands and Meleri Francis’ Heidi, Lim X.
Continental heifer class 13 – 1, JM and SM Rowlands’ Taylor, Lim; 2, Gwanwyn Rowlands and Meleri Francis’ Cadi, Lim; 3, James May’s Peach’s, Lim X.
Continental heifer class 14 – 1, Wilson Peters’ CC Cindy, Lim X; 2, Ben Beckitt’s Pickle, Lim X; 3, LT and SE Sellers’ She’s a Dream, Lim.
Continental heifer class 15 – 1, Neil Slack’s Dream, BB X; 2, Clare, John and Barney Mellin’s Hidden Gem, Lim X; 3, James May’s Roll the Dice, Lim X.
Continental heifer class 16 – 1, H and S Dunlop’s Queen of Hearts, Lim X; 2, Jennifer Hyslop’s Tequila Rose, Lim X; 3, Tecwyn Jones’ Princess, Lim X.
Continental heifer class 17 – 1, Hannah Donaldson’s Tuti Fruity, Lim X; 2, Wilodge’s Cor Blimey, Lim X; 3, Clare, John and Barney Mellin’s Baby Guinness, Lim X.
Continental heifer class 18 – 1, C and G Davies’ Peak a Boo, Lim X; 2, Rose Foster’s Flash, Lim X; 3, Blair Duffton’s Candy Floss, BB X.
Continental heifer class 19 – 1, C and G Davies’ Daisy, BB X; 2, Stewart and Lynsey Bett’s Phoenix, Lim X; 3, R and J Hamilton’s Gypsy Queen, BB X.
Continental heifer class 20 – 1, James Nisbet’s Starlight, Lim X; 2, T and J Gratton’s Billie Jean, BB X; 3, Neil Slack’s Tinkerbell, Lim X.
Continental heifer class 21 – 1, BE Williams’ Strawberry Daiquiri, Lim X; 2, Wilodge’s Bring it on, Char X; 3, I and N Grainger’s Miss Dynamite, Char X.
YF heifer – 1, Amy Vance’s Baby Bell, Lim X; 2, Amy Wilson’s Pansey Potter, Lim X; 3, Bethany Duerden’s Dolly, Parth X.
Charolais-sired heifer – 1, Jean Mackay’s Hennessy, Char X; 2, Allan and Susan Campbell’s Legally Blonde, Char X; 3, Jennifer Hyslop’s Versace, Char X.
Baby beef native-sired – 1, Michael Brannen’s Agnes, A-A X.
Baby beef continental steer class 25 – 1, William Robertson and Son’s Brewdog, Lim X; 2, Shona Stevenson’s Starstruck, Lim X; 3, WA and GR Sedgley’s Unfinished Business, Lim X.
Baby beef continental steer class 26A – 1, JM and SM Rowlands’ Fist Full of Dollars, Lim X; 2, Amy Wilson’s Fire Cracker, Lim X; 3, James May’s Reggie, Lim X.
Baby beef continental steer class 26B – 1, G and JA Sedgewick’s Loaded Gun, Lim X; 2, Kevin Watret’s Marsbar, Lim X; 3, Ross Montgomerie’s Marmaduke, Char X.
Baby beef continental heifer class 27 – 1, Jennifer Hyslop’s Versace, Char X; 2, B and L Wilkinson’s Matilda, Lim X; 3, R and D Wright’s Barbie Doll, Lim X.
Baby beef continental heifer class 28 – 1, OW and GL William’s Lu Lu, Lim X; 2, DW and A Charlton’s Marmalade, Lim; 3, J and J Graham’s Miss Dynamite, Lim X.
Baby beef continental heifer class 29 – 1, Stewart and Lynsey Bett’s Elektra, Lim X; 2, J Smith Jackson’s Evita, Lim X; 3, Llyr Hughes’ Hotrock, Lim X.
Baby beef continental heifer class 30 – 1, Tecwyn Jones’ Twilight, Lim X; 2, David Jarman’s Frenchy, Lim X; 3, John Williams’ Queen of Hearts, Lim X.
Baby beef continental heifer class 31 – 1, Kevin Watret’s Silver, Char X; 2, Ivan Lynn’s Gossip Girl, Lim; 3, James May’s Roana, Lim.
Young handlers – Junior – 1, Elliw Davies; 2, Thomas Richardson; 3, Liam Lynn. Senior – 1, Orlena Henderson; 2, Elizabeth Haughan; 3, Matthew Bentley.
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