Texel ewe lamb tops the Royal Cheshire line-up

This year's sheep inter-breed judge Paul Johnson, Stoke on Trent, kept true to his breed, with Texels taking both the individual and group of three inter-breed titles.

Mr Johnson has bred Texels since 1988 and said both exhibits were outstanding examples of the breed, delivering the carcase qualities he sought in his champions.

The supreme sheep of the show from Eamon Vaughan, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was a February-born ewe lamb from his Partridge Nest flock, which is made up of 12 donor ewes. This lamb is one of six embryos sired by the £40,000 Auldhouseburn Ghost with Moorwood Eurostar as the dam.

Mr Johnson said: "This lamb was very correct and when they were loose, she really came into her own displaying style above the rest."

The reserve overall from Jessica Yardley, Staffordshire, was a home-bred Blue Texel ewe yearling ewe which claimed champion in the any other continental breed section. It was shown successfully as a ewe lamb and will be heading to the Great Yorkshire Show in July.

It was Anthony Carter, Devon, who took the group of three with his trio of Texels made up of an aged ram, a yearling ewe and ewe lamb.

Meanwhile, the reserve went to Leek based Harry Lyons, with three home-bred Suffolks from his pedigree Cloudside flock.

In the Dutch Spotted ring, Jack Simpson, Derbyshire, took the champion rosette with his home-bred yearling ram, while his yearling ewe scooped reserve.

In the Jacob section, Messrs Bramley, Stone, took the championship with a home-bred aged ewe which was fresh from Royal Three Counties Show, where it claimed the top title at the breed's national show.

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Riverdane takes dairy inter-breed

Receiving the inter-breed dairy title on its show ring debut was the Holstein champion,  Riverdane D-L Beauty from Riverdane Holsteins, Chester. The August 2021-born Riverdane Strong Beauty daughter is sired by Farnear Delta Lambda and comes from their 230-head milking herd. 

Judge, Mark Davis, Devon said: "This cow had so much to admire, it is a model example and has a worldly mammary system."

Stood in reserve from Toi Toi Genetics and Pippa Tudor, Cheshire, was the Brown Swiss champion,  Toi Toi My Mums a Hoover. This heifer was placed honourable mention at UK Dairy Day and UK Dairy Expo last year and is due to calve in October to Darvis. It has just passed 300 days in-milk and has produced more than 11,500 litres.

Winning the Dairy Shorthorn title was last year's National show winner, Kayl Proud Countess 51. Exhibited by local breeder, Rob Boote, Cheshire, this home-bred cow is a ninth calver by Kayl Icey Chiller. The light roan cow is classified EX91 and Mr Boote hopes to exhibit it at UK Dairy Day in September. 

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The Ayrshire title went to Andrew and Louise Rimmer, Cheshire, with their five-year-old cow, Holmeswood Magic Clover, which comes from their 30-head herd. The home-bred cow reclaimed the title after winning here last year. Producing 30 litres daily, this is its only outing of the year. 

Simmental reins supreme in beef rings

There was great anticipation for this years beef inter-breed which was presented in the grand parade.

After receiving champion continental, the supreme title was awarded to Ant Hart, Cornwall with his three-year-old  Simmental bull, Treverbyn Norman 22 by Coose Norman. This adds to his successful show season so far, having been champion male at Royal Cornwall and Royal Three Counties Shows. This bull resides with G. H. Farms, Chepstow, where it is produced.

Reserve and native champion was awarded to the Aberdeen-Angus outfit from Owen Tunney, Cheshire. Morpheus Rosebud SO28 was shown with its heifer calf, Morpheus Rosebud at foot. The nine-year-old cow has not been shown for five years and won as a calf at the breed national show.

 

Reserve continental went to sibling team, Jessica and Ed Simms, Northwich, who came up trumps with their three-year-old Limousin cow, Jessieg Tiara. The second calver is a Fairywater Haig daughter and is out of a Tweeddale cow. It was shown with an embryo calf at foot, which is by the world record-breaking 180,000gns Graiggoch Rambo.

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Reserve champion native from Catherine Hamilton's Mereheath herd Stoke, was the Belted Galloway heifer,  Westnab Ginny, which won the any other breed section and is an April 2023-born Brightenflatt Asteroid daughter out of Oldhouse Bella.

British Blondes classes saw 2022-born Arradfoot Tanza by Ark Maverick claim the championship  for Thor Atkinson, Ulverston. Tanza won at the breed national show at the Royal Three Counties Show and  is set for the Royal Welsh show next. 

It was Robert Hall, South Wirral, who triumphed in the Hereford section with his August 2023-born heifer, Hallwood 1 Oyster Princess 2 by Moralee 1 Tich Rb T18.

 

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Large Black clinches pig overall 

Continuing his winning streak Preston based, Jack Holroyd claimed the pig inter-breed title  with his traditional champion, the August 2020-born Large Black sow, Kingsdown Golden Harvest which collected the same title at this year's Royal Three Counties show. This is the third year in a row that Mr Holroyd has won the inter-breed at the Royal Cheshire Show.

The reserve inter-breed went to the modern pig, Deva Hover 2455, a Duroc gilt from Jan Walton, Chester. The January-born gilt is home-bred on both sides, sired by Deva Next Level 2323 and out of Deva Hover 2366.

Results 

Beef 

Inter-breed (Judge, A. Sellick, Devon) Supreme and continental, A. Hart, Treverbyn Norman 22 (Simmental); reserve and native, O. Tunney, Morpheus Rosebd S028 (Aberdeen-Angus).

Inter-breed (P. Johnson, Stoke on Trent) Sup., E. Vaughan (Texel); res., J. Yardley (Blue Texel).

Charollais (J. Aiken, Cumbria) Sup. and res., Madders and Johnson.

Jacob (D. W. Harries, Carmarthenshire) Sup., R. and P.A. Bramley; res., T. Lewis

Suffolk (G. Hardman, Shropshire) Sup., H. Lyons; res., H. Windsor.

Texel (L. Jones, Denbigh) Sup., E. Vaughan; res., A. Carter.

Dutch Spotted (D. Roberts, Shropshire) Sup. and res., J. Simpson.

Shropshire (A. Schofield, Cheshire) Sup., E. Roberts; res., R. Lee.

Valais Blacknose (P. Garrod, Hereford) Sup., A. Burch; res., K. McQuattie.

Zwartbles (C. Critchley, Lancashire) Sup., J. Yardley; res., A. Williams.

Any other continental breed (J. Cockbain, Cumbria) Sup., J. Yardley (Blue Texel); res., J. Simpson (Beltex)

Any other native breed (J. Cockbain) Sup., S. Percival (Hampshire Down); res., S. Miles (Hampshire Down).

Pigs

Inter-breed (S. Loveless, Dorset) Sup. and sup. traditional, J. Holroyd, Kingsdown Golden Harvest (Large Black); res. and sup., modern, J. Walton, Deva Hover 2455 (Duroc); res., traditional,  R. Bemand, Oldlands Gloria 24 (Oxford Sandy and Black); res. modern, G. Bretherton, Hedgerow Dromus (Landrace).

British Lop (A. Long, Norfolk) Sup., M. Paddock , Eaves Actress 8; res., M. Paddock , Eaves Cornishman 2.

British Saddleback (A. Long, Norfolk) Sup., S.J. Booth, Lewin Lady; res., M. Paddock, Lewin Lady 4.

Gloucestershire Old Spot (A. Long) Sup., T. Barlow, Millfields Star Antoinette; res.,J. Furber, Appletree Dolly 2.

Large Black (A. Long) Sup., J. Holroyd, Kingsdown Golden Harvest 7; res., J. Holroyd, Boswick Dorothy.

Middle White (A. Long) Sup., M. Paddock , Eaves Yootha 37; res., M. Paddock, Eaves Sovereign 10.

Any other traditional breed (A. Long) Sup., H. Heeley, Alkington Louise 13 (Berkshire); res., H. Heeley, Alkington Louise 14 (Berkshire).

Duroc (A. Long) Sup., A. and J. Walton, Deva Hover 2455; res., A. and J. Walton, Deva Havnbjerg 2422.

Large White (A. Long) Sup., H. Heeley, Alkington Viking 2; res., H. Heeley, Alkington Viking.

Welsh (A. Long) Sup., C. Holtom, Spring Impish 5; res., C. Holtom, Spring James.

Any other modern breed (A. Long) Sup., C. Holtom, Spring Alice (Pietrain); res., A. Pawson, Castlehills Merry 2 (Pietrain).