The UK's Premier Agricultural Machinery and Technology Show

20–21 January 2027, NEC, Birmingham

Event Details

Southdown claims champion at Burwarton

A ring round-up from Burwarton

Ellie Layton
Livestock Specialist
clock • 5 min read
Southdown claims champion at Burwarton
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In the sheep section at Burwarton Show, a Southdown yearling was tapped out as inter-breed champion by judge Clive Davies, Herefordshire.  

The winning ewe, bred and exhibited by Jonathan Long and family, Herefordshire, is sired by a home-bred stock ram, Chaileybrook The Stag, and out of a home-bred ewe from their 45-head flock.  

This was the ewe's second time out after coming fourth at the Royal Bath and West Show earlier in the season. It will be retained in the flock and run with a home-bred ram lamb this autumn.  

The flock is celebrating its 70th anniversary next year, and the family plan to hold a production sale next Christmas.  

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The reserve inter-breed title went to a yearling ewe from Richard Howatson's Denbigh-based Welsh Hill Speckle flock, which is out of a home-bred ewe and by a ram bred by Hywel Watkins.  

Mr Howatson keeps 25 ewes and started the flock with his father in 1976. 

The inter-breed judge, Mr Davies, said: "In my champions I was looking for a commercial animal that will perform and be near self-sufficient while producing quality lambs. Both were eye-catching and had correct breed characteristics." 

A Texel from James and Ellie Amphlett, Herefordshire, also made the final cut. The February-born yearling ewe is out of a Rhaeadr ewe, which was purchased from Lanark when the Amphletts started their Texel flock in 2018. It is sired by Garngour Destiny, which the flock have a half share in.  

This was the ewe's first time out, and it will be offered for sale in the autumn.  

The ewe lamb championship was awarded to a Suffolk from the Fletcher family, Kidderminster, shown by son Andrew.  

The lamb is from their 25-head flock and is sired by Roundacre Redman. Reserve went to the Kerry from Rowe and Webb, Herefordshire.   

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Inter-breed champion in the cattle judging was awarded to the British Blue from Linda Morgan, Llanidloes. The three-year-old heifer, Ty Isaf Precious, is fresh from success at the Royal Welsh Show where it won in its class, and is sired by Heros Du Peroy and out of home-bred cow, Ty Isaf Midknight May. 

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Reserve was awarded to Paul Dawes, Herefordshire, with the Aberdeen-Angus heifer, Dinmore Freesia. The April 2021-born heifer is sired by Triple C Liam T277 and out of Eckington Felicity M152. It was inter-breed native at the Royal Cheshire Show earlier in the season.  

The National Highland Show took place at Burwarton, with the championship being awarded to Taryn Dubh Of Karith from Gareth Davies, Welshpool. This May 2013-born black coated cow is sired by Domhmull Of Sheardrum and out of Carolyn Of Hellifield.  

Reserve champion Highland went to a heifer, Ailbhe Of Marrick Park, from Milly Bradley, Tiverton. Ms Bradley has had a successful show season so far, claiming reserve inter-breed at Devon County and breed champion at the Three Counties. She keeps a small herd of four Highland breeding cows. 

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In the dairy ring, the Holsteins took the top spots with champion and reserve going to R. Tudor, Shropshire, who was returning to the show ring after a three-year absence.  

Taking the championship trophy was Hallon Casper Miss Marie, an April 2022-born heifer by Claynook Casper and out of Hallon Applejax Marie, which produced 10,400 litres in its first lactation. 

Reserve went to the same stable with Hallon Candycrush, an August 2019-born daughter of Wyndford Doorman Ambrosia 2 by Oh-river-syc Crushabull HH5c.  

 

Results  

Sheep 
Inter-breed (C. Davies, Hereford) Supreme, J. Long (Southdown); reserve, R. Howerton (Welsh Hill Speckle).
Texel (B. Vernon, Marston Bank) Sup. and res., J. and E. Amphlett. 
Beltex (R. Williams, Leominster) Sup. and res., A. Groucott. 
Suffolk (C. Harding, Nuneaton) Sup., P. Fletcher; res., E. Davies. 
Charollais (G. Probert, Worcester) Sup., B. James; res., B. Baker. 
Lleyn (E. Rees, Usk) Sup., J. Hamer; res., W. Boobottom. 
Berrichon (D. Gwynne, Powys) Sup., R. Williams; res., J. Bett.
Shropshire (A. Schofield, Holmes Chapel) Sup., S. Farqhar; res., E. Butcher.
Blue Texel (D. Thornley, Swadlincote) Sup., N. Legge; res., A. Bishop. 
Zwartbles (B. Mills, Draycott) Sup., S. Bower; res., B. Strayt. 
Dutch Spotted (A. Groucott, Gwent) Sup., B. Parker; res., Bason and Jones. 
Clun Forrest (H. Marsh, Craven Arms) Sup., Hayton flock; res., R. Whitticase. 
Valais Blacknose (H. Adams, Buxton) Sup., P. Garrod; res., Maybrook Valais Blacknose.
Kerry Hill (E. Simmons, Seymour) Sup. and res., J. and P. Owens. 
Jacob (J. Leonard, Gwent) Sup., R. Edwards; res., R.P. Bramley. 
Coloured Ryeland (A. McVicar, Newtown) Sup. and res., A. Owen. 
Ryeland (A. Morgan, Crymych) Sup., H. Deakins; res., J. Morgan. 
Badger Face Welsh Mountain (K. Richardson, Gwent) Sup. and res., O. Davies. 
Any Other Breed (S. Parkes, Stow On The Wold) Sup., J. Long (Southdown); res., R. Howatson (Welsh Hill Speckle). 

Beef 

Inter-breed (J. May, Devon) Supreme, D.L. Morgan, Ty Isaf Precious (British Blue); reserve, P. Dawes, Dinmore Freesia (Aberdeen-Angus).  
Hereford (D. Harrison, Northumberland) Sup., S.G. Hartwright, Spartan 1 Oysters Gem; res., L.L. Bowen, Bowendu 1 Ruby.
Limousin (K. Bates, Wigton) Sup., P. Dawes, Dinmore Perfection; res., C.E. Vaughan, Garyvaughan Taine.
British Blonde (P. Rogers, Prestigne) Sup., T. Owen, Bickley Tangerine; res., G. Needham, Whitty Shania Twain.
Highland (M. Auld, Kilmarnock) Sup., G. Davies, Taryn Dubh Of Karith; res., M. Bradley, Ailbhe Of Marrick Park.
British Blue (R. Millichap, Glamorgan) Sup., D.L. Morgan, Ty Iasf Precious; res., A. Bishop, Maes Secy Spice.
Beef Shorthorn (B. Wear, Bristol) Sup., T.K. Bodily, Glebedale Primrose; res., B. Birch, Highsky Erin's Elizabeth.
Dexter (R. Hartshorn, Telford) Sup., K. Wheeler, Waterloo Wren; res., E. Astbury, Marshbrook Hugo.
Any Other Breed (K. Bates) Sup., P. Dawes, Dinmore Freesia (Aberdeen-Angus); res., J. Williams, Hopton Caroline (South Devon). 

Dairy 

Inter-breed (O. Smith, Winterley) Supreme, R. Tudor, Hallon Casper Miss Marie; reserve, R. Tudor, Hallon Candycrush.
Holstein (O. Smith) Sup., R. Tudor, Hallon Crushabull; res., R. Tudor, Hallon Candycrush.
Any other breed (O. Smith) Sup., N. Madeley, Nejay Dairy (Dairy Shorthorn); res., P. Mason, Tiny (Jersey). 

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