Farming Eye

For those of you who want to see a few more shots from yesterday’s Beef Expo 2012 event at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern, click on the following picture gallery.

Here’s a couple of shots from the day to tempt you. As ever all images are available for purchase through MacGregor Photography.

by Chrissie Long

Having won the heifer and overall baby beef championship earlier today, Tecwyn Jones has just taken his fourth ever title at Beef Expo, this time with Tequila, an October-born 299kg Limousin cross heifer. Bought in Carlisle suckling his dam, he is by a Mas Du Clo sired Netherhall bull and is now just one of two in the show team this year.

Beef Expo champion Tequila

Judge Pearce McNamee was incredibly well taken with this heifer describing her as “as near to perfection as you can get to for a heifer of this age. She oozes style and class, has great second thigh and a stunning head.” Tequila’s next outing will be the Royal Welsh Show.

Taking the reserve overall championship was the May-born 514kg Limousin cross steer Suarez from Neil Slack and Julie Sedgewick. Bred by Neil, he is by Rossignol and is out of a previous Beef Expo baby beef champion bred and was champion at Otley Show last week on his first outing this year and will next be heading to Northumberland, Cumberland and the Great Yorkshire Shows.

Reserve overall champion Suarez

Standing reserve baby beef champion was Rob Roy, a September-born 343kg Limousin cross steer from Trevor Lyon and son Jonathan. This one was bought privately from Rob Jones, Erwood and is by Bailea Umber. he’s on his first outing this year and is one of 10 in this year’s show team.

by Chrissie Long

Winning the first ever Young Show Stars Challenge competition at this year’s Beef Expo was the Hereford Team “Ladies in Red” which consists of Hannah Braithwaite, Worcestershire, James Ludgate, Oxfordshire and Fiona Woollatt, Herefordshire. These guys were judged on various tasks including showmanship and presentation skills and scored 828 points out of 1000.

Standing second to them was the South Wales and Mid West Cimousin Club made up of Jess Maynard, Devon, Nia Griffiths, Carmarthenshire and Lowri Davies, Pembrokeshire, who together scored 813 points, while third  place went to the South West Aberdeen Angus Club which was made up of Jessica Denning, Somerset, Magen Denning, Somerset and Hannah Slowen, East Yorkshire, who together scored 804 points.

by Chrissie Long

The baby beef classes have now just been judged with the winner of the first class of heifers coming from Tecwyn Jones with Tequila, a 299kg Limousin cross heifer calf which was purchased on a cow in Carlisle in March.

Second to him and taking reserve in the heifer calf section was Phil and Sharon Sellers with the 283kg Limousin cross heifer Miss Dior.

Winning the second of the heifer classes was Richard and Judy Fountaine with Pussy Galore, another Limousin cross this time weighing 379kg which was bred by Messrs Lewis. Second here was Chris Owens with Shani, a Limousin cross heifer weighing 397kg.

The final class of heifers was won by Michael, Melanie and Charlotte Alford with Im No Article, a British Blue cross heifer weighing 406kg, while second place went to Kevin Ludgate with Zara, a 412kg Limousin cross heifer.

Winning the steer class was Trevor Lyon and family with Rob Roy, a 345kg Limousin cross steer, while second went to G and E Jones’ British Blue cross Fullofit.

That’s it now for cattle judging as we’re on a break until the championships later on this afternoon.

by Chrissie Long

Coming through as overall winner of the Limousin steer classes was Julie Sedgewick and Neil Slack with their 514kg steer Suarez, while reserve Limousin steer went to the second prize in the class No Likey No Lighty, a 522kg steer from Michael, Melanie and Charlotte Alford.

Winning the heavy weight Limousin steer class was Jennifer hyslop with her homebred 654kg steer Mickey Finn, while second place went to the Williams and Morgan partnership with the 682kg Sparticus.

Standing top of the line in the Blue steer class and carrying on his winning form from earlier was Trevor Lyon with Barny, a 590kg steer bred by W and A Reed and Son, while second in this class went toDavid Hicks with Dirty Bit, a 644kg steer bred by James Alexander.

Standing at the top in the Charolais sired steer class was Will Owen with his 477kg Red Duke, while second place went to the Albutt family with the 542kg Pee Zee.

by Chrissie Long

Judge Pearce McNamee has just tapped out his first champion of the morning, the overall Limousin heifer winner, which was David and Yvonne Hughes’ 491kg heifer Sexy and I Know It, which was purchased in Carlisle from Messrs Archer. She has already been out this year having won reserve champion at a local show.

The same couple also took the reserve Limousin heifer position with the second place heifer from the same class Sarah Jane, who weighs 449kg. Both these heifers came through from the first class of Limousin heifers.

Winning the middle weight class was Messrs J E L and C S Morgan with the 518kg Bubbles Darling, while second went to T C Edwards and Sons with the 510kg Miss Style. Standing top of the line in the heavy weight class was Andrew Bishop with the 728kg Red Hot Honey which stood second earlier in the month at Newark and second place here went to Michael, Melanie and Charlotte Alford.

by Chrissie Long

Irish commercial cattleman Pearse McNamee, Donegal, will have the task of judging the National Spring Spectacular classes at this year’s Beef Expo, Malvern, on 23 and 24 May.

Mr McNamee, a recent winner of the All Ireland beef championships at Tullamore, has also bred UK show winners, including Elfed Williams 2010 show heifer Kilkenny Classy Lassy.

National Spring Spectacular chairman Neil Lloyd says visitors can expect to see some of the best commercial cattle in the UK on show. “ “Visitors can once again expect to see strong competitive cattle classes within the event’s National Spring Spectacular Show.

“This encompasses classes for continental and native breeds, baby beef and both junior and senior stockmanship.”

Mr MacNamee believes his relative anonymity on UK shores will ensure ‘fresh eyes’ are brought to the show ring. “I judge without fear of favour and will be looking for style and correctness. UK beef cattle have more style than I normally see here in Eire, as finishers are producing to the market, clean and lean.”

National Spring Spectacular judging will commence on the evening of May 23, continuing on May 24 and culminating that afternoon. Entries close on 20 April for all classes.

by Jonathan Long