Northumberland County Show: Limousin heifer crowned inter-breed beef champion

Claiming the supreme beef championship was the continental and Limousin champion, Whinfellpark Verandi, an in-calf heifer from the team at Whinfellpark Limousins, Penrith. It was the first time out for the two-year-old heifer, by the 180,000gns Graiggoch Rambo. Out of one of the herd's original foundation cows, the heifer will be attending the Royal Highland Show, Great Yorkshire Show and Royal Welsh Show next.

Judge, Michael Read, Lincolnshire, said his champion had ‘tremendous width and length' which is what he believes today's butchers are looking for.

Reserve supreme beef champion was the native and Hereford champion, Rm 1 Blade from Emma Hodge, Duns. The home-bred January 2024-born bull by Gouldingpoll 1 Duncan, was reserve male Hereford champion at last year's Royal Highland Show.

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Reserve continental beef champion was the British Blue champion Maidenlands Unique, from Dean Saunders, Ulverston. The home-bred heifer by Baron Du Bois Bauloye Is, was reserve overall champion at last year's Stars of the Future event. It heads to the Three Counties, Royal Highland Show and Great Yorkshire Show next.

Standing reserve native champion was the Highland champion Duke Dubh Of West Edmondsley, from Simon and Emma Haley, Eggleston. Purchased privately from Gary Braines as a weaned calf, the champion now resides with the couple's five-strong Highland herd in Teesdale.

Taking top honours in the dairy rings was the any other breed champion, Morwick Peggy 126, an Ayrshire cow from the Baynes family, Northumberland. Having last calved in March, it marks the second time the fourth calver has previously won the inter-breed championship at the show. Classified EX94 and giving 59 litres daily, the champion has also taken the top spot at Ayr Show for three consecutive years.

Standing reserve dairy supreme champion was the Holstein champion Arranview Lambda Amy, from Jack Wilson and Anna Clough, Appleby. The EX91 third calver, shown six weeks fresh, was previously shown as a calf at the Great Yorkshire Show where it stood reserve champion. Residing with the family's 80-cow dairy herd, it was shown giving 48 litres daily.

Clinching the supreme sheep championship was a two-crop Suffolk ewe from Aiden Mitchell, Carlisle. Bought out of Skipton Auction Mart as a shearling, and now residing with Mr Mitchell's 25 ewes, it placed reserve overall champion at last year's Great Yorkshire Show. It heads to this year's Royal Highland Show and Great Yorkshire Show next.

Standing reserve supreme sheep was the continental champion Katie's Little Mix, a Beltex gimmer from Katie Aiken, Ainstable. Only its first time out, the home-bred gimmer is out of a successful show ewe and resides with Ms Aiken's flock of 12 Beltex ewes.

Beef results

Inter-breed (M. Read, Lincolnshire) Supreme and continental, Messrs Jenkinson, Whinfellpark Verandi (Limousin); reserve and native, E. Hodge, Rm 1 Blade (Hereford); res. continental, D. Saunders, Maidenlands Unique (British Blue) res. native, S. and E. Haley, Duke Dubh Of West Edmondsley (Highland).

Limousin (J. Knaggs, Darlington) Sup. and fem., Messrs Jenkinson, Whinfellpark Verandi; res. and res. fem., Messrs Jenkinson, Whinfellpark Rebecca; male, J.M. and S.M. Priestley, Brontemoor Auctioneer; res. male, Messrs Jenkinson, Whinfellpark Avancii.

British Blue (G. Scott, West Lothian) Sup. and fem., D. Saunders, Maidenlands Unique; res. and res. fem., R. and E. Pattinson, Top Side Tasty; male, R. and E. Pattinson, Top Side U Belter; res. male, R. and E. Pattinson, Top Side Va Va Voom.

Any other continental (R. Coney, Berwickshire) Sup. and male, S. and G. Hartwright, Shamleys Victor (Charolais); res. and res. male, R. Sanders, Bavington Rockefeller 24 (Simmental); fem., W. Ashcroft, Highcroft Victoria (Charolais); res. fem., T. Walling, Cumbrian Jaconde (Salers).

Longhorn (C. Maclean, Duns) Sup. and fem., J.M. Grant and P.A. Mcdonnell, Longbridge Young Joan; res. and res. fem., J.M. Grant and P.A. Mcdonnell, Longbridge Velvet; male, J.M. Grant and P.A. Mcdonnell, Longbridge Zorro; res. male, J.M. Grant and P.A. Mcdonnell, Longbridge Zeus.

Highland (C. Maclean) Sup. and male, S. and E. Haley, Duke Dubh Of West Edmondsley; res. and fem., G. Braines, Hannah 6^th Of West Edmondsley; res. male, E. Halford, Teddy Of Kipper Lynn; res. fem., E. Halford, Freddie Dubh Of Kipper Lynn.

Hereford (M. Shaw, Warks) Sup. and male, E. Hodge, Rm 1 Blade; res. and fem., S.C. and G.L. Hartwright, Spartan 1 Victoria S Secret; res. male, T. and D. Harrison, Moralee 1 Cisco Pr403; res. fem., T. and D. Harrison, Moralee 1 Kylie Bz414.

Aberdeen-Angus (C. Maclean) Sup. and fem., W. Ashworth, Blackrodian Kristina; res. and male, A. Hodge, Rulesmains Black Rocco B110; res. fem., W. Ashworth, Blackrodian Lady Ruth.

Commercial (R. Coney) Sup. and fem., Sedgewick, Small and Wilkinson, The Rebel (Charolais cross); res. and res. fem., N. Slack and E. Haughan, Nelly; male, C.W. and J.E. Johnston, Archie; res. male, N. Slack and E. Haughan, Barney.

Dairy results

Inter-breed (I. Laird, Peeblesshire) Sup. G.G. Baynes, Morwick Peggy 126 (Ayrshire); res., J. Wilson and A. Clough, Arranview Lambda Amy (Holstein).

Holstein (C. Laird, Peeblesshire) Sup., J. Wilson and A. Clough, Arranview Lambda Amy; res., P.  and C.A. Harrison, Chishillways Sidekick Roma 131.

Any other breed (T. Moscrop, Cumbria) Sup. G.G. Baynes, Morwick Peggy 126 (Ayrshire); res., G.G. Baynes, Marleycote Queen (Ayrshire).

Sheep results

Inter-breed (M. Brown, North Yorkshire) Sup., A. Mitchell (Suffolk); res., K. J. and R. Aiken, Katie's Little Mix (Beltex).

Native (R. Field, Knaresborough) Sup. E. Wall (Coloured Ryeland); res., P. and L. Murray (Clun Forest).

Rare breeds (A. Fisher, Harrogate) Sup., D. Coupland (Oxford Down); res., D. Gibson (Border Leicester)

Primitive (J. Hawskhead, York) Sup.L. Whyte (Shetland); res., S. Tyson (Shetland).

Texel MV (J. Teward, County Durham) Sup. and res., K. J. and R. Aiken.

Texel non-MV (J. Davidson, Hexham) Sup., K. Young; res., E. Morralee.

Continental (D. Lynn, Newcastle) Sup., K.J. and R. Aiken (Beltex); res., A. Mitchell.

Zwartbles (T. Blamire, Carlisle) Sup., D. Breeze; res., P. and S. Addison.

Suffolk (A. Hewson, Carlisle) Sup., A. Mitchell; res., R. Denby.