Charollais reigns supreme in sheep rings at Nottinghamshire County Show

For the second year in a row the sheep inter-breed title at Nottinghamshire County Show went to George Hoggard's Manor House flock, Newark. This time it was with a home-bred shearling ewe by Foxhill Vavavoom, which was a naturally born triplet. It next heads to the Royal Welsh Show.

Standing reserve was the Hampshire Down champion, a home-bred shearling ewe from Sophie Manners and Joe Dilibero's Seawell flock, Towcester. By Wilstrop Legend out of a Yarcombe bred ewe, it also claimed the breed championship at the show last year as a ewe lamb.

READ NOW: APHA warns farmers of 'increasing' bluetongue threat, but says its team 'stands ready'

The judge, Alan Lyons, Burnham on Sea, said his champion was ‘pure class' and caught his eye as soon as it came into the ring, but the reserve was a great example of a modern Hampshire Down.

Cattle

In the cattle rings it was the commercial champion which was took the supreme accolade. This was Pickle, a 670kg two-year-old home-bred heifer by the Limousin, Shaws Rascal out of the British Blue cross Limousin cow from Ben Beckitt, Newark, which has now been sold as a breeding cow.

 In reserve was the continental and British Blue champion, Maes Sexyspice, an April 2022-born heifer from David Plested, Oxford. By Bringlee Carlos out of Sheehills Fivestar, it had been bought privately from the breeder and was being shown for the first time.

The 10-year-old Longhorn cow, Blackbrook Yelenah, claimed the native championship for Pat Stanley, Coalville. The daughter of Blackbrook Uruk-Hai out of Blackbrook Peach has had nine calves in seven years, including two sets of twins, but was being shown for the first time.

The junior and reserve overall continental champion was Hitchettshill Uptowngirl, a 15-month-old Limousin heifer by Carrickmore Maximus from J.,N. and W. Nicholls, Staffordshire.

READ NOW: Simmental breed ticks all the boxes for Herefordshire suckler herd

Reserve native beef champion was Monochrome Jack The Lad,  a two-year-old Belted Galloway bull from Jonathan and Vicky Clowes, Ilkeston.

Pigs

The inter-breed pig title went to the traditional breeds champion, Northrode Bountiful 181, a July 2022-born British Saddleback sow from Syd Bowers, Holmes Chapel. By Northrode Prefect 86, it is in-pig with its third litter.

In reserve was the modern breeds champion, Lewin Glamorous 8, a September 2023-born Welsh gilt from Emily Paddock, Cheadle, which was being shown for the first time.

The judge, Andrew Warriner, Easingwold, said his champion was an extremely good sow, good on its feet with a nice straigh back and good underline.

READ NOW: SHEEP: Trying a new breed for outdoor lambing

The reserve traditional breeds champion was Maerose Excelsa 945, a January 2021-born Berkshire sow from Chris Hudson, Newark.

Raisinhall Anna 27, a July 2023-born Hampshire gilt claimed the reserve modern breeds championship for Stuart Roberts and Jodie Fairclough, Bedale.

Results

Cattle

Inter-breed (Judge, M. Hardy, Newark) Supreme, B. Beckitt (commercial), Pickle; reserve and sup. continental, D. Plested, Maes Sexyspice (British Blue); res., continental, J.,N. and W. Nicholls, Hitchettshill Uptowngirl (Limousin); sup. native, P. Stanley, Blackbrook Yelenah (Longhorn); res. native, V. and J. Clowes, Monochrome Jack The Lad (Belted Galloway).

Commercial (I. Wildgoose, Chesterfield) Sup. and fem., B. Beckitt, Pickle: res. and male, A. Dickinson, Fireball; res. fem., A. Dickinson, Cover Girl; res. male, L. Todd and A. Smith, Ashby.

Dexter (R. Murray, Cumbria) Sup. and male, J. Nuttall, Reedshaw Moss Bar; res. and fem., J. Nuttall, Jordeth Sammie; res. male, J. Nuttall, Jordeth Tommy Lee; res. fem., J. Nuttall, Linford Lotus.

Hereford (J. Brigg, Ross on Wye) Sup. and fem., S. and V. Elwess; Elwess Pendant W2; res. and male, R. Johnson, Real 1 Adonis; res. fem., S. and V. Elwess, Elwess Lady Lynda A6; res. male, L. Dodwell, Radcombe 1 Alvin.

Highland (L. Wardle, Ipstones) Sup. and fem., M. Burgess, Ebony of Nortwelle; res. and male, M. Burgess, Perseus of Laneside; res. fem., S. Morphy, Zara; res. male, M. Burgess, Magnus of Nortwelle.

Lincoln Red (A. Hargreaves, Spalding) Sup. and fem., B. Holden, Toft Hill Gift C3; res. and res. fem., N. Hodgson, Brackenhurst Diana V444; male, B. Holden, Toft Hill Charlie; res. male, H. Williamson, Williamsons Anhur.

Longhorn (J. Brigg) Sup. and fem., P. Stanley, Blackbrook Yelenah; res. and res. fem., B. and T. Stanley, Melbourne Park Kearstay IV; male, P. Stanley, Blackbrook Gunner; res. male, D. Walker, Aberdeen Xscalaber.

Any other native (R. Murray) Sup. and male, J. and V. Clowes, Monochrome Jack The Lad; res. and fem., J. and V. Clowes, Monochrome Killer Queen; res. fem., J. and V. Clowes, Monochrome Jean.

British Blue (A. Neachall, Staffordshire) Sup. and fem., D. Plested, Maes Sexy Spice; res. and res. fem., J. and S. Crowther, Making Place Sheila B; male, P. Bodily, Quinbury Showman.

Any other continental (A. Neachall) Sup. and fem., J., N. and W. Nicholls, Hitchettshill Uptowngirl (Limousin); res. and res. fem., B. Allsop, Rosebank Pepper Potts (British Blonde); male, J.,N. and W. Nicholls, Hitchettshill Ureg (Limousin); res. male, S. Watkins, Hooton Ulysses (Charolais).

SHEEP

Inter-breed (A. Lyons, Burnham on Sea) Sup. G. Hoggard (Charollais); res. S. Manners and J. Dilibero (Hampshire Down).

Beltex (J. Aiken, Wennington) Sup. and fem., J. Clamp; res. and male and res. fem., M. Prince.

Charollais (G. Biddulph) Sup. and fem., male and res. male, G. Hoggard; res. and res. fem., C. Sercombe.

Suffolk (G. Biddulph, Macclesfield) Sup. and fem. and res. male, E. Boby; res. and res. fem., C. and L. Beck; male, S. Read.

Blue Texel (J. Long, Worcester) Sup. and fem. and res. and male., E. Benge and R. Mawer; res. fem., G. Hoggard; res. male, A. Carter.

Texel (J. Aiken) Sup. and fem., res. and male, res. fem. and res. male, A. Carter.

Castle Milk Moorit (C. Dodd, Hampshire) Sup. and fem., B. Pearson; res. and male and res. fem. M. Ballard; res. male, W. Sullivan.

Kerry Hill (D. Whybrow, Letchworth) Sup. and fem., res. fem. and res. male, A. Fisher; res. and male, G. Bretherton and N. Pagett.

Lincoln Longwool (C. Hilton, Immingham) Sup. and male, res. and fem. and res. fem. R. Lawson; res. male, M. Stone.

Southdown (J. Long) Sup. and fem., J. Stanger; res. and male, R.J. and C. Windsor; res. fem., J. Morton; res. male, C. Levell.

Shetland (A. Lacy, York) Sup. and fem., male and res. male, D. King; res. and fem. J. Szabo.

Any other primitive (C. Dodd) Sup. and male, C. Whybrow (Manx Loaghtan); res. and res. male and fem., JD. Cassie (Hebridean); res. fem., J. Goodall, (Boreray).

Any other native or hill (A. Lacy) Sup. and male, W. Whybrow (Norfolk Horn); res. and fem., K, Jewell (Border Leicester); res. male, R. Donnelly (Balwen); res. fem. S. Crossland (Bluefaced Leicester).

Hampshire Down (S. Short, Halifax) Sup and fem., res. and male, res. fem. and res. male, S. Manners and J. Dilibero.

Any other down/shortwool (S. Short) Sup. and male, A. Fisher (Clun Forest); res. and fem. and res. fem., J. Newland (Poll Dorset).

Any other continental (S. Short) Sup. and fem. J. Clamp (Badger Face Texel); res. and male, A. Carter (Rouge); res. fem., D. Cavanagh (Berrichon); res. male, R. Barker (Dutch Spotted).

PIGS

Inter-breed (A. Warriner, Easingwold) Sup. and traditional, S. Bowers, Northrode Bountiful 181 (British Saddleback); res. and sup. modern, E. Paddock, Lewin Glamorous 8 (Welsh); res., traditional, C. Hudson, Maerose Excelsa 945 (Berkshire); res. modern, S. Roberts and J. Fairclough, Raisinhall Anna 27 (Hampshire).

Traditional breeds (K.P. Matthews, Scarborough)

Berkshire – Sup., C. Hudson, Maerose Excelsa 945; res., H. Heely, Alkington Louise 11.

British Lop – Sup., M. Paddock, Eaves Actress 7; res., M. Paddock, Eaves Thatcher 26242.

British Saddleback – Sup., S. Bowers, Northrode Bountiful 181; res., P. Foster, Twindale Ivy 2.

Large Black – Sup., J. Holroyd, Addison Julia 8; res., J. Holroyd, Addison Golden Harvest 4.

Middle White – O. Giles, Tedfold Fair Lady 400; res., E. Paddock, Lewin Dorothy 41.

Gloucester Old Spot – M.V. Hicks, Windmill Star 38; res., M. Garbutt, Fowgill Dolly 464.

Mangalitza – I. Soar, Scolebrook Princess; res. I. Soar, Scolebrook Ronnie 2.

Tamworth – M.V. Hills, Windmill Rita.

Oxford and Sandy Black – Sup., S. Woods, Waywood Cynthia 360; res., S. Woods, Waywood Claire 298.

Modern breeds (A.J. Brown)

Duroc – Sup., O. Giles, Tedfold Hulk 195; res., O. Giles, Tedfold Lena 200.

Hampshire – Sup., S. Roberts and J. Fairclough, Raisinhall Anna 27; res., S. Roberts and J. Fairclough, Raisinhall Peterbilt 10.

Landrace – Sup., G. Bretherton and N. Pagett, Hedgerow Bodil 166; res., C. Hudson, Maerose Lorenzo 200.

Pietrain – Sup., P. Foster, Twindale Pauline 17; res., G. and A. Pawson and family, Warburton Murray 3.

Welsh – Sup., E. Paddock, Lewin Glamorous 8.

Large White – Sup., S. Hudson, Crimwell Fanny 5131.