After a quick trip back home to Dumfries after claiming the National Zwartbles show title at the Royal Three Counties show last weekend, Alister Thornbury's two-year-old ewe returned to the show ring to take the inter-breed title after taking the breed championship with a pen mate, a ram lamb, in reserve.
The 2020-born ewe is home-bred on both sides by Holmlea Count and out of Holmlea Ester, and will be heading home for a well-deserved rest before attending local shows later this season.
The reserve inter-breed title went to a January-born Dutch Spotted ewe lamb from Cheshire breeder, Chloe Harding's 25-ewe Dustland flock which was established in 2020. The lamb was sired by Dutch Import 2 and is out of Dustland Fairytale and will be attending the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh shows.
In the inter-breed group of three, a trio of Charollais lambs from Madders and Johnson, Staffordshire, who own the Blythe flock while Shropshire-based Abbie Williams's Zwartbles took reserve.
Inter-breed judge, Robert Davenport, Sandbach, said: "I was looking for a champion which was exceptional in its individual breed character and that is exactly what I found in this powerful and correct Zwartble ewe and a stylish ewe lamb, both of which caught my eye amongst a high standard of sheep."
Carrying on a winning streak in the beef ring was the Beef Shorthorn bull, Willingham Spitfire, which was crowned native and inter-breed beef champion under judge, Clive Roads, Worcestershire.
The two-year-old polled roan bull by Willingham Lieutenant exhibited by Mary Cormack, Leominster was reserve breed champion and one of the Burke Trophy winning pair at Royal Three Counties last weekend.
In reserve, also from Mrs Cormack was the Limousin champion, Foxhillfarm Titan, a Derrygullinane Kingbull son out of Foxhillfarm Grace. The bulls reside in Chepstow at G. H. Farming Livery.
The reserve native championship went to the Longhorn champion from Jane Mycock's Sycamore Longhorn herd, Derbyshire. This was Bollin Wylma, an April 2022-born Fishwick Sherman EX90 daughter.
The reserve continental championship was awarded to the British Blonde, Bridge Twighlight, an April 2022-born heifer by Bridge Nico, exhibited by Chris Hopley, Cheshire. Its teammate, Bridge Tara, was awarded reserve breed champion.
The commerical champion was a Limousin cross heifer, Wednesday, from Andrew Dickson, Derbyshire who has won the title at the show for four consecutive years. His home-bred heifer, Wednesday is by Limousin sire, Waindale UFO and is the first calf out of a cow bred by John Smith-Jackson bought from Kirkby Stephen three years ago. She Reserve went to Ralph Lauren, a British Blue sired steer from Neil Lloyd, Hereford.
In the dairy ring, a Holstein from the south of the county was crowned inter-breed champion. Redsky Alttitude Jazz, from John Suenson-Taylor's Grantchester Holstein herd, is a third calver bought from the Black and White sale in Carlisle.
This was the first outing of the year for Jazz, which is also entered for Nantwich Show later this summer before UK Dairy Day.
The cow is kept alongside Mr Suenson-Taylor's 30 Holstein cows at Seaton Farms, Audlem, and is producing 68.5kg daily.
Reserve was awarded to the Jersey champion, Hennikers Tequila FP Milkie, bred by Sonny Warren, Cheshire and shown by his father Alexander, who keep 30 Jersey cows alongside their 130 Holsteins on their tentanted farm which they moved to from Kent.
It was reserve breed champion last year and is bred from their foundation cow Hennikers Jude Milky 94 and is producing 43 litres a day.
Inter-breed judge, Blaise Tomlinson, Leicestershire, said: "This Holstein was a super animal and was an easy winner. I think she has a bright future and was sweet with an exceptional udder. The reserve was a very dairy animal and great example of the breed."
Winning the Dairy Shorthorn title at the breed's National show was local breeder, Rob Boote, Cheshire, with a home-bred nine-year-old eighth calver, Kayl Proud Countess 51by Kayl Icey Chiller.
The light roan cow is classifed EX91 and was breed champion at Staffordshire Show last month. The family had a very sucessful day, winning six breed classes including the calf championship with May 2023-born, Kayl Edge Sadie.
Reserve breed champion was Shropshire based Jonathon Crow's Strickley Goldie 298 which is a March 2022-born Winbrook Brutus cow.
For the second year on the trot, it was Jack Holroyd, Lancashire, who claimed the inter-breed pig title with his Large Black sow, August 2022-born Addison Julia 8.
Reserve went to another traditional pig, this time a Middle White from Michael Paddock, Staffordshire, with Eaves Lady Maid 4 a home-bred September 2023-born gilt by Eaves Captain.
Results
Inter-breed (R. Davenport, Cheshire) Sup., A. Thorburn (Zwartbles); res., C. Hardman (Dutch Spotted)
Inter-breed group of three (R. Davenport) Sup., Madders and Johnson (Charollais); res., A. Williams (Zwartbles)
Charollais (P. James) Sup., Madders and Johnson; res., G. Biddulph.
Jacob (R. Chapman) Sup., R. and P.A. Bramley; res., K. Gaskell.
Suffolk (D. Roberts) Sup. and res., H. Lyons.
Texel (B. Roberts) Sup., E. Davies; res., J. Robb.
Dutch Spotted (L. Nash) Sup., C. Harding; res., J. Simpson.
Shropshire (A. Halcrow) Sup. and res., O. Powell.
Valais Blacknose (G. Jones) Sup. and res., S. Dace.
Zwartbles (L. Murray) Sup. and res., A.J. Thorburn.
Any other continental breed (P. James) Sup., J. Simpson (Beltex); res., M. Hollinrake (Dorper).
Any other native breed (P. Johnson) Sup., and res., S. Miles (Hampshire Down).
Butcher's lambs pair (T. Lawton) Sup., Messrs Taylor; res., M. Benson.
Butchers lambs individual (T. Lawton) Sup. and res., Messrs Taylor.
Pigs
Inter-breed (G. Kiddy, Cambridgeshire) Sup., and traditional, J. Holroyd, Addison Julia 8 (Large Black); res., and res. traditional, M. Paddock, Eaves Ladymaid 4 (Middle White); sup. modern, Messrs Pawson, Warburton Pauline 45 (Pietrain); res. modern, C. Holtom, Spring Impish 1217 (Welsh).British Lop (G. Kiddy) Sup., M. Paddock, Eaves Actress 7; res., S.J. Booth, Chapel Charles 5.
British Saddleback (G. Kiddy) Sup., R. Bowers, Northrode Bountiful 193; res., R. Bowers, Northrode Lottie 6A.
Gloucestershire Old Spot (G. Kiddy) Sup., M.V. Hicks and Son, Windmill Princess 72; res., A. Garbutt, Fowill Patrick 463.
Large Black (G. Kiddy) Sup., J. Holroyd, Addison Julia 8; res., C. Gittins, Boswick Matilda.
Middle White (G. Kiddy) Sup., M. Paddock, Eaves Ladymaid 4; res., M. Paddock and S. Marsden, Eaves Yootha 37.
Duroc (G. Kiddy) Sup., A. and J. Walton, Deva Nancy 2306; J. Knaggs, Littleowls Havnbjerg 376.
Large White (G. Kiddy) Sup., S. Hicks, Popularburn Championlady 23; res., S. Hicks, Popularburn Daintygirl.
Welsh (G. Kiddy) Sup., C. Holtom, Spring Impish 1217; res., R. Bemand, Leysters Spring Tessa 2.
Oxford Sandy and Black (G. Kiddy) Sup., R. Bemand, Oldlands Gloria 19.
Any other modern breed (G. Kiddy) Sup., A. Pawson, Warburton Ukode 3 (Pietrain); res., A. Pawson, Warburton Ukode 2 (Pietrain).
Beef
Inter-breed (C. Roads, Worcester) Sup. and native, M. Cormack, Willingham Spitfire (Beef Shorthorn); res. and continental, M. Cormack, Foxhillfarm Titan (Limousin); res. native, J. Mycock, Bollin Wylma (Longhorn); res. continental, C. Hopley, Bridge Twighlight (British Blonde).
Hereford (R. Thomas, Hereford) Sup., E. Mills, Severnvale Rogue; res., R. and R.I. Shaw, Hallwood 1 Oyster Princess.
Limousin (B. Bellow, Oxon) Sup., M. Cormack, Foxhillfarm Titan; res., M. Cormack, Frogmore Ursula.
Simmental (J. Arnold, Cheshire) Sup., T. J. Hassall, Fishpool Poppy; res., T. J. Hassall, Kilbridefarm Eunice.
Charolais (T. Cox, Derby) Sup., G. Hollinshead, Newplatt Undeniable; res., C. Wardle, Caerddaniel Nell.
British Blue (A.J. Neachell, Staffordshire) Sup., M. Sweetmore, Mere Titch; res., M. Sweetmore, Mere Kezzi.
Aberdeen-Angus (K. Hancock, Stockport) Sup., O. Tunney, Morpheus Princess Caroline; res., O. Tunney, Morpheus Rosie.
Beef Shorthorn (E. Trueman, Buxton) Sup., M. Cormack, Willingham Spitfire; res., I. Gibbon, Marhall Matilda Tequila.
British Blonde (G. Greenbnk, Cumbria) Sup., C. Hopley, Bridge Twighlight; res., C. Hopley, Bridge Tara.
Longhorn (B. Bellow) Sup., J. Mycock, Bollin Wylma; res., J. Mycock, Sycamore Xiomara.
Commercial beef (J. Manning) Sup., A. Dickinson, Wednesday (Limousin cross); res., N. Lloyd, Ralph Lauren (British Blue cross).
Any other native breed (E. Trueman) Sup., K. Fletcher, Highbarn Pixie A243) (Lincoln Red); res., C. Hamilton, Westnab Ginny.
Red Poll (T. Barratt, Lincolnshire) Sup., J.R. Williams, Pinguis Michael; res., T. H. Mancey, Moreton Lady Kenya.
Dexter (L. Digweed, Gloucester) Sup., C. King, Northbrook Lilly.
Dairy
Inter-breed (Judge, B. Tomlinson, Leicester) Supreme, J. Suenson-Taylor, Redsky Altitude Jazz (Holstein); reserve, S. Warren, Hennikers Tequila FP Milkie (Jersey).
Dairy Shorthorn (I. Harries, Carmarthenshire) Sup., R. Boote, Kayl Proud Countess 51; res., J. Crow, Strickley Goldie 298.
Ayrshire (L. Batty, Derby) Sup., A. Rimmer, Holmeswood El Clover; res., A. Rimmer, Holmeswood Ring Bella.
Holstein (A. Kuiper, Sweden) Sup., J. Swanson, Redsky Altitude Jazz; res., R. Brown, Bidea Airton Tory.
​(S. Pye, Lancashire) Sup., S. Warren, Hennikers Tequila FP Milkie.
Brown Swiss (J. Miller, Dumfries) Sup., D. Weaver, Infinity Sissy; res., Toi Toi Genetics, Kedar Aurora.
