This year’s Christmas National Hereford Calf Show held at Shrewsbury Livestock Centre saw a great entry of over 110 cattle forward on the day to go before judge, Donald Biggar of Castleton, Dumfries.

It was a great pleasure to welcome breeders at the event not only from all over the country but also breeders flying in from Eire and Northern Ireland which certainly added a certain amount of International flavour to the proceedings.

The Supreme Championship at this year’s Show went to first-time exhibitors, Fir Farm Ltd. of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire of BBC Countryfile fame with their March ‘15 born bull calf, Firbosa 1 Moreton. “Moreton”, already showing promising performance figures, his 400 Day Weight in the top 5%, is by Panmure 1 Knightsman who Fir Farm purchased at the Society’s Spring Show & Sale in 2014. Judge, Donald Biggar, commenting on his Champion considered that the young bull had a great future ahead in the Breed.

Standing in at Reserve was the Grand Female Champion, the September ‘14 born Romany 1 Ishbel D1 M11 exhibited by Miss Heather Whittaker, Halifax, W. Yorkshire. “Ishbel” bred by J.R.B. Wilson & Sons, Kelso, another animal showing tremendous performance figures with EBVs for Daily Weights in the top 1% to 5%, is by the Danish bull SMH Castro.

Miss Whittaker also took the Reserve Grand Male Championship with another Wilson bred animal, the September ‘14 born Romany 1 Mecca H12 M47, a bull with a 200 Day Milk EBV in the top 1% and Daily Weight EBVs in the top 5%, and is by Romany 1 Heavyduty A84 H12.

The Reserve Grand Female Championship went to the January ’15 born Rempstone 1 Foxwood V341, bred & exhibited by M. Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire. “Foxwood”, one of the group of three that won the Duke of Norfolk Trophy at the recent East of England Smithfield Festival is by Hawkesbury 1 Vespa.

The Commercial Beef Class was taken by a very attractive Hereford x Beef Shorthorn heifer, Raspberry Ripple born April ’15, sired by Lanscombe 1 Maxamillion and bred & exhibited by Roger Mitchell & family from Dorchester, Dorset.

The Sires Group award went to D.E., E.D. & A.L. Jones of Newtown, Powys, with three Dendor calves sired by Solpoll 1 Gilbert. They also took the Best Pair of Exhibitor Owned Bull Calves.

The award for the Best Pair of Exhibitor Owned Heifer Calves was won by M.J. & H.M. Timmis, Shraden Herefords, Baschurch, Shrewsbury.

Other leading prize-winners included the November born bull calf Pulham Miracle by the Australian bred Mawarra Sentimental, bred & exhibited by P.R.J. & L.R. Vincent, Diss, Norfolk.

A February ’15 born bull calf, Rempstone 1 Trendsetter by Hawkesbury 1 Vespa, bred & exhibited by M. Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire.

The April ’15 born bull calf, Dendor 1 Montana by Solpoll 1 Gilbert, bred & exhibited by D.E., E.D. & A.L. Jones, Newtown, Powys.

The youngest Bull Calf Class winner was the May ’15 born Haven Mustang by the Irish bred Knockmountagh Marshal, bred & exhibited by E.L. Lewis & Son, Leominster, Herefordshire.

In the Heifer Classes the November ’14 born Blakesley 1 Kimberley by Kinglee 1 E-bay, bred & exhibited by P. & A.M. Riley fresh from their recent success “Kimberley” winning the Interbreed Championship at the East of England Smithfield Festival.

A March ’15 born heifer, Free Town Passion Fruit by the Australian bred Bowmont Storm A584, bred & exhibited by R.A. Bradstock & Partners, Tarrington, Herefordshire.

The April ’15 born Fabb 1 Mia by Classic 1 Galaxy, bred & exhibited by D.R.A. Fabb, Warboys, Cambridgeshire.

Then in the final Class it was the May ’15 born Bounds 1 Milly by Ford Abbey 1 Albert, bred & exhibited by H. Weston & Sons, Much Marcle, Herefordshire.

The well supported Young Handlers Classes judged this year by Hazel Timmis, saw Ryan Shaw of Hallwood Herefords, Cheshire winning the under 16s group; Oliver Smith of Classic Herefords, Wiltshire second and John Watkins of Hollybush Herefords, Shropshire in third position.

Andrew Whitlow of HighHouse Herefords, Worcester won the over 16s group and went on to take the overall award. In second position, and taking reserve overall, was Joe Taylor of Mow Cop Herefords, Staffordshire and in third was Richard Whitlow of HighHouse Herefords, Worcester.

It was certainly one of the best showings of calves we have seen at the National Calf Show and to quote one of our friends from Eire “with cattle of the quality on show here today, you needn’t go any further afield to find just what you are looking for”.

The 2016 Christmas Calf Show will be held on Saturday, 10th December, again at Shrewsbury Livestock Centre and the next National Calf Show will be held at Agri Expo, Carlisle in October.