Commercial heifer claims supreme title at Hope Show

After having to settle for reserve in 2024, Tom and Jack Grattan, Matlock, returned to secure the beef supreme with their 20-month-old home-bred Limousin cross heifer.

By the Limousin bull Living the Dream, and out of a home-bred Limousin cross British Blue, Sabrina has had a successful showing season, being commercial champion at Leek and Ashby Shows, and will be going to Southwell Ploughing Match.

The panel of judges for the inter-breed championship were unanimous in their choice.

Malcolm Kidd, the commercial cattle judge who picked the heifer as his champion to go forward to the supreme championship said: "She is a very good butcher's animal and stood out from the other entries and caught my eye as soon as she came into the ring."

READ MORE: Midlock Inferno sets trade alight at Lanark

Reserve inter-breed went to Adele Sweetmore, Buxton, with her pedigree British Blue heifer, Mere Titch. The home-bred 28-month-old heifer by Heros Du Peroy is due to calve in the new year and has already taken nine breed championships and two inter-breed championships from her 10 show outings this year.

Sheep

In the sheep classes, 17-year-old Amy Furness, Buxton, won the inter-breed championship on her debut, with her shearling Suffolk ram by Cairness Milton. It was bought from the NSA Sale at Builth Wells as a lamb last September for 1,000gns.  

READ MORE: Limousin leads beef line up at Edenbridge and Oxted

The reserve went to K. and S. Kempson and Son, Rossendale, with a Lonk shearling gimmer. The Kempsons' Derbyshire Gritstone was also reserve breed champion.

In the hill inter-breed championship, judge John Thorp, Hawes, picked Jack Webster's North Country Cheviot four-crop ewe.

He said: "She is outstanding for her age and she is holding her conformation and all her breed characteristics very well. She stood out as an exceptional ewe."

Standing as reserve was Andrew Bland, Mottram, with home-bred two-shear Swaledale ewe.

In the Young Farmers cade lamb class, Molly Mills, aged two and a half, Redmires, Sheffield, won the overall title from 24 entries with her Beltex cross lamb.

Judge George Wainwright said: "Molly showed her lamb perfectly. It was an exceptional performance by the youngest competitor in the class."  

READ MORE: Best of Welsh breeds on display at Merioneth Show

Results

Cattle

Inter-breed (all breed judges) Sup., T. and J. Grattan, Sabrina (Limousin cross); res., M. and A. Sweetmore, Mere Titch (British Blue).

Commercial (M. Kidd, Congleton) Sup., T. and J. Grattan, Sabrina (Limousin cross); reserve, A. Dickinson, Hot Shot (British Blue cross).

Any other pure native beef breed (T. Brown, Selby) Sup., E. Trueman, Roundhill Lillian Tabitha (Beef Shorthorn); res., E. Trueman, Roundhill Saffron Tillie (Beef Shorthorn).

British Blue (J. Crowther, Sowerby Bridge) Sup., M. and A. Sweetmore, Mere Titch; res., S. and A. Mills, Remires Unity.

Highland (D. Rowbottom, Blairgowrie) Sup., R. Wain, Melody of the Rose; res., R. Wain, Hazel of the Rose.

Limousin (Mr McClements, Lisset) Sup., E. Sims, Simse Nigella; res., A. Clark, Mayfield Umilly.

Longhorn (P. Stanley, Coalville) Sup., V. Hopkinson, Briar Mead Walnut Whip; res., T. Mills, Wheatlands Yvonne.

British Blonde (C. Shenton, Handforth) Sup., S. Mycock, Whitepeak Valhalla; res., S. Mycock, Whitepeak Umbrella.

Sheep

Inter-breed (R. Davies, Edale) Sup., A. Furness (Suffolk); res., K. and S. Kempson and Sons (Lonk).

Hill inter-breed (J. Thorp, Hawes) Sup., J. Webster (North Country Cheviot); res., A. Bland (Swaledale).

Derbyshire Gritstone (T. Harding, High Peak) Sup., J. Eggleton; res., K. and S. Kempson and Sons.

Derbyshire Gritstone champion of champions (E. Tattersall, Burnely) E. and P. Howard; res., K. and S. Kempson and Sons.

Lonk (S. Driver, Chisworth) Sup., K. and S. Kempson and Sons; res, J. Mitchell.

North Country Cheviot (C. MacLeod, Stornoway) Sup. and res., J. Webster.

Swaledale (S.J. Handley, Carnforth) Sup. and res., A. Bland.

Whitefaced Woodland (G. Lees, Rochdale) Sup., G. Belfied; res., C. Campbell.

Whitefaced Woodland champion of champions (T. Wigham, Carlisle) Sup., G. Belfield; res., J.W. Thorp.

Mule and Masham (R. Alpe, Preston) Sup., W. Allen; res., I.D. and T.J. Gregory.

Jacob (R. Locker, Berwickshire) Sup.., B. and T. Stanley and family; res., Ridout and Higginson.

Rare breeds (S. Mather, Preston) Sup., L. Longden (Border Leicester); res., A. Boothby (Llanwenog).

Any other pure native breed (D. Baillie, South Lanarkshire) Sup., M. Carter (Kerry Hill); res., Messrs Plant (Poll Dorset).

Suffolk (A. Pinny, Northamptonshire) Sup., A. Furness; res., H. Lyons.

Texel (H. Fletcher, Peak Forest) Sup. and res., F. Rushton.

Bluefaced Leicester (M. Staunton, Co Tipperary) Sup., Mycock and Bright; J.H. Critchlow.

Any other continental breed (J. Craddock, Bolton by Bowland) Sup., R. Spooner (Beltex); res., C. Plant (Badger Face Texel).

Commercial lamb (P. Pennington, Glossop) Sup., R. Spooner.

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