Farming Eye

Leading the trade at yesterday’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair at £8200 was a British Blue X Limousin heifer  from Brian and Matthew Jones. This was Fancie, which weighed in a 370kg and was born in March of this year. She sold to R and M McGivern, Ballinbrittig, Cork.

Next was the Reserve Baby Beef Champion named ‘Flashy Lassey’ from Colin & Wendy Phillips, The Batch, Sarnesfield, which sold for £4800 to Elfed Williams, Sennybridge.

Following her was the champion from the prime cattle, Colin Harris and Ann Lewis’ heifer Black Mist which sold at £4800 (£7.56/kg) to the judge Bryan George.

Trading at £2700 in the Baby Beef lines was a Limousin x British Blue steer (280kg) named Mojo from J L & D A Davies, Clifton Mill Farm, Warwickshire, selling to Phil and Sharon Sellers, Thorpe Tilney, Lincoln.

Three Babies then sold at £2500, with the first  being a heifer Black Beauty from Trevor and Wendy Morgan selling to Andrew Bishop. A steer  Brutus Jackpot from D S & D A Brute, Brecon, made the same money when selling to Gilbert Brook, Worcester, and the final one at this money was a steer Roxy Boy from Elgan and Nesta Jones, Coedmore Hall also selling to Gilbert Brook.

The day’s reserve prime champion from Elfed Williams went unsold, while the steer champion, Bordeaux from Lewis Cook, made £1704 when selling to Dewi James and Co, 38 High Street, Cardigan.

The Reserve Champion steer came from Aeron and Berwyn Hughes, Blonde cross Basil Brush sold for £2154.88 (£3.64/kg). This 592kg steer sold to Doug Griffiths, Leintwardine.

by Jonathan Long

Judge Michael Alford certainly backed his judgement today as he purchased his overall champion, the Limousin cross heifer from Stuart Bett and Lynsey McKay for £3400. Described earlier today as “a heifer packed full of meat with a great top carried right from the shoulder throughout” it’s no surprise he secured his champion.

The reserve overall champion, Grant Morrison’s Willow Booby, left the ring unsold at £2800, while the butchers champion, Frank Jones and Son’s 585kg Charolais sired steer Geraint Wyn, sold for 285p/kg (£1667.25), while the reserve butchers champion, Blair Dufton’s 650kg Hubba Bubba bred by Gordon Carroll, sold for 370p/kg (£2405).

In the sheep sale ring the champion, a 102kg pair of Texel crosses from John and Joanne Hall sold for £250 each to the judge Stephen Kirkup, while the reserves, Andrew Morton’s Beltex crosses sold for £170 each to John Scott meats, Paisley. The Hill champions, the North Country Cheviots from Douganhill Farms sold for £170 each, again to the judge.

by Chrissie Long

We’ll be catching up with the rest of the results and prices later!  Off to Peterborough…

Stewart Bett & Lynsey McKay with their Overall Champion Marvellous Mo

by Chrissie Long

Leading the way in the sheep classes and flying the flag for the Texel breed was John and Joanne Hall. This 102kg pair sired by a Turbo tup bred by Jan Rodenburg making it the fourth championship here at Ingliston for the Hall family.

Overall Sheep Champions

Standing reserve was the reserve butchers lambs pair from Andrew Morton. These 80kg Beltex cross lambs are by Beechy Norman and this is the second time in two years he has taken the reserve having won the overall in 2010.

Sheep Reserve Champs

Coming through as winners of the Mountain and Moorland were Douganhill Farms with their North Country Cheviot pairs. These are by an Armidale tup which was bought as a two year old at Laird and out of a homebred dam. This is the second time they have won the North Country Cheviot championship as well.

Hill Sheep Champions

Reserve in the Mountain and Moorlands were the reserve champion North Country Cheviots, an 82kg pair from Messrs Bridgewater and Wood.

Champion winners from the Blackface section was Brian and Elizabeth Dickie’s winners from the second class, an 81kg pair, while reserve went to Tommy MacPherson’s 86kg pair.

Taking the top ticket in the Swaledale section was Christopher Akrigg’s 99kg pair with the second prize pair from the same class coming through as reserve from Messrs B and D Greenwood. These weighed 84kg.

The South Country Cheviot champions were Andrew Reid’s winners, an 80kg pair, while his second prize 89kg pair took reserve. Then in the Mules and Crosses section, the top spot went to Messrs H cockburn and Partners’ Cheviot Mules which weighed 86kg, while reserve spot went to the winner of the second class, T Carrick and Son’s 98kg pair.

by Chrissie Long

Having come through from a phenomonal show of heifers here today, the first prize winner from the third of the Limousin sired classes has taken the heavyweight heifer, overall heifer and overall supreme championship under judge Michael Alford.

Marvellous Mo from Stewart Bett and Lynsey McKay is by Lodge Danny Boy and out of a Limousin x British Blue cow and was bred by Alastair McLaren, Kinross. She was purchased privately having won the championship at Kinross Show and has since been a first prize winner for Stewart and Lynsey at Agri Expo.

Weighing 590kg she was described by Michael Alford as: “A tremendous heifer oozing style from the minute she walked in to the ring. She is a balanced heifer with a great top, eye muscle and depth of flesh.”

Marvellous Mo - Overall Champion

Standing reserve was first time exhibitor Grant Morrison, Banffshire, with his lightweight heifer Willow Booby. Homebred, meaning Grant also wins the King George cup for best exhibitor bred beast, this one is by Haltcliffe Donny and is out of a Limousin cross dam. Weighing 490kg she has been shown locally but this is her first major win and will be retained for further showing next summer.

Willow Booby - Reserve Overall

The reserve lightweight heifer championship went to Stooshie, a Limousin cross heifer from Hugh and Lynne Dunlop. Homebred, this one is by the herd sire Silex and sire of many previous successful show beasts for the family. This one is out of a Limousin cross dam and weighs 510kg.

Standing reserve in the heavyweight heifer section was David and Neil Work and Scott Watson’s 640kg heifer Fire Flash. Bred by Balfor Baillie, this one was purchased privately having been champion at Orkney County Show. She is by Stavely Hurricane and out of a Limousin cross dam.

In the steer championship and carrying on her great win from last year was Jennifer Hyslop with Jack Flash, a Limousin cross steer out of a British Blue cross dam. By Fedneyhouse Dapper, he was bred by the Robertson family of Logierait and was purchased at Cally for £3000 and came through as champion lightweight steer having won the Young Farmers class.

Jack Flash

Reserve in the steers went to the Dougie Mcbeath, Sarah Jane Jessop and Will Owen partnership with the Charolais cross steer Red Duke. Weighing 690kg he is by Deunawd Dole and out of an Limousin x Angus cow. This one was steer champion at this year’s Highland and a class winner at Perth Show. He will next head to Smithfield at the end of today.

Red Duke

Reserve in the lightweight steer championship went to Hugh and Lynne Dunlop’s Limousin cross homebred steer Stoatir. By Goldies Oswald, this one is out of a Limousin cross dam and weighs 530kg.

Taking the top spot in the middle weight section was Richard Wright’s winner of the second class of Limousin steers, Razor. By Bailea Spunkie, he is out of a Limousin x British Blue dam and weighs 575kg, while reserve here went to the second prize steer from Razor’s class, Jackass from James Forsyth. This homebred Limousin sired steer is by Seaview Bill and out of a British Blue cross and weighs 580kg.

Standing reserve in the heavy weight steer section to the reserve overall steer champion was Rinky Dinky Doo, a Limousin steer bred by Messrs W Richardson and Son, Cumbria. This one is by Rosignol out of a Limousin cross dam and weighs 650kg.

by Chrissie Long

Winning the class for the first class of Blackies was Messrs R and B Dickie with their pair weighing 72kg, while second place went to H F Hamilton with their 73kg pair. The second class was won by Messrs J and T MacPherson’s 81kg pair with the 80kg pair from the same home coming in second. The third class of Blackies was won by the MacPhersons again, this time with 86kg pair, while second went to Mrs C M Reid’s 92kg pair.

Blackface Champions

The first of the Swaledale classes went to Messrs D M White with a 75kg pair, while second went to B and D Greenwood’s 84kg pair. The next class went the way of Christopher Akrigg’s 99kg, while second place went to the Greenwood’s again with a 101kg pair.

Douganhill Farms won the North Country Cheviot pure bred class with a 93kg pair, while the blue rosette went to Messrs Bridgewater and Son with a 82kg pair. Meanwhile in the South Country Cheviot classes, an 80kg pair from Andrew reid were first while second place went to the same home with a 89kg pair.

by Chrissie Long

Standing top of the line under judge Ian Campbell in the Aberdeen-Angus calf show here today was Carlene Woodward at the halter of Ballathie Estate’s Ballathie Kira M717. Born March 2012, this one is by the privately purchased herd sire Rawburn Emblem K127 out of the TLA Northern Samurai daughter Ballathie Kim D302 who goes back to Kim of Fordafourie.

Ballathie Kira

Standing reserve was the McLaren family with the April 2012-born Netherton Big Edition H460, the herd’s stock sire which is currently for sale. This one is out of Netherton Karama E368 who was sold privately having won the championship at last year’s Dunblane and Fife Shows.

Netherton Karama

by Chrissie Long

Taking the pure Limousin championship here under Michael Scott was the August 2011-born Foxhill Farm Gracie from Michael, Melanie and Charlotte Alford. This homebred heifer is by Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the 15,000gns foundation female Bankdale Alice and was second on her first outing in a strong baby heifer class at the Royal Welsh in the summer.

Foxhill Farm Gracie

Standing reserve was Anside Gigolo from the Irvine family. Born November 2011, this one is by Derriaghy Enfield, the 22,000gns stock sire shared with Harry Emslie and Lynwen Evans and is on his second outing having taken the interbreed championship at Forfar Mart’s Stars of the Future Calf Show.

Melissa Kelly & Martin Irvine with Anside Gigolo

by Chrissie Long

Carrying on from his strong show of steers in front of him judge Michael Alford has a cracking line up of heifers in front of him and winning the first of the Charolais cross heifers was Stuart and Wendy Hunter’s Thrunton Explosive-sired heifer Juliette which weighs 530kg and is out of a Charolais cross dam. Second to her was Archie and John MacGregor with Vital Spark, a homebred heifer by Elgin Davinci out of the previous show beast and Charolais cross Vidal Sasson.

The second class of Charolais cross heifers was won by Wilson Peters with Georgie. This one weighs 665kg and was bred by Messrs Craig and Son. Standing second to her was Ashley Bothwell and Louise Allan with Hey There Delilah, a homebred heifer by Hackleton Chieftan.

The first of the Limousin heifer classes was won byGrant Morrison with the Haltcliffe Donny-sired Wicco Booby. Out of a Limousin cross dam this one was bred by James Morrison and weighs 490kg. Second here went to the MacPherson family with Black Caviar, a three quarter Limousin bred by Andrew Anderson.

The second class of Limousin heifers was won by Hugh and Lynne Dunlop with Stooshie, a Silex-sired homebred heifer which weighs 510kg. Taking the blue ticket here was Craig Malone with Bom Bom Bom. This one is by Hudscales Unlimited and weighs 525kg and is out of a Lim x Blue dam.

Stewart Bett and Lynsey McKay with thier Limousin sired Marvellous Mo. This one is by Lodge Danny Boy and is out of a Limousin cross British Blue and was bred by Messrs McLaren, Kinross and was a first prize winner at Agri-Expo. Second place went to Gavin Scott with the fantastically named Ye Cannie Caw Her Fanny. This homebred one is by Liscon Sepp out of a British Blue cross dam and weighs 550kg.

The last of the Limousin heifer classes was won by Messrs Watson and Work with Fire Flash, a 640kg Staveley Hurricane out of a Limousin cross dam. Second went to Alister and Elizabeth Vance with Lambrini Girl. By Craigatoke Butch and out of a Limousin cross dam this one weighs 600gns.

Winning the British Blue sired heifer class was Iain Lammie with Two Hot To Handle by Netherwood Epic out of a pure Limousin heifer bred by Messrs Woodburn and weighing 680kg. Second was Philip and Beverley Robson with Spice, bred by John Hall.

The Young Farmers heifer class was won by Andrew Ewing with Little Mix, a Limousin cross bred by Hugh Patrick Sweeney, Donegal which weighs 635kg. Taking second in this class was Aileen Ritchie with Molly, a 455kg heifer.

by Chrissie Long

Mark Ross has just tapped out his baby beef champion in the form of RSPB Islay’s Banrigh Innse Gall, a Charolais cross heifer by Allanfauld Amazon out of a three quarter bred Limousin dam shown by Eoin Brown. This one is homebred and weighs 390kg and she was reserve at Islay show in the summer and will be forward for sale tonight.

Banrigh Innse Gall

The reserve came from Donald MacPherson with his Charolais cross heifer Molly Malone. This one was purchased privately in August when Donald tapped her out as champion at Bonniconlon Show in Co Mayo, Ireland. She also weighs 390kg and will be making the journey down to Smithfield tonight and will likely appear on the summer circuit next year.

by Chrissie Long