A LUNCH was held to celebrate winners of a recent Westcountry cattle breeders’ competition where a Dorset and Cornwall herd took the top awards.

South West Blonde Cattle Club’s herd competition took place throughout last year where the judge would visit each exhibitors’ farm individually and judge each herd against one another.

The lunch event, re-arranged following a postponement due to hazardous icy roads before Christmas, was held on May 21 at Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum, near Crediton, Devon.

Abbie Westcott, of Exmoor Herd kindly judged the contest, awarding Robin Joyce, of Fiveways Herd, Dorset, the trophy for Best Large Herd, and Kevin Renals, of Poplars Herd, Cornwall, with the Best Small Herd accolade.

Miss Westcott said: “I would like to thank all the herds that entered for their hospitality. 

“It was wonderful for Ed and I to get a brief break from our farm and be able to walk around everyone’s beautiful herds. 

“It was especially nice to see that all the cattle were so chilled out and perfectly comfortable with us walking around. Your cattle are a true credit to you all.” 

Blonde Cattle Society: South West Blonde Cattle Club herd competition results:
Stock Bull and Progeny – The Bibby Cup: 1st Milou (Huberto x Dormeuse) – R Joyce, Fiveways; 2nd Polgreen Ivor (Druk Lance x Polgreen Deanna) – P Kingdon & Sons, Polgreen; 3rd Silverwood Oliver (Aneto x Silverwood Lou) – D Skinner, Allacott.

Junior Heifer – 1st Tangier Sapphire (Fiveways Ollie x Doncombe Orzora) – S Gregory & Daughters, Tangier; 2nd Bowbeer Sandy (Aaron Optimus x Bowbeer Olive) – A&B Bowden, Bowbeer; 3rd Polgreen Shania II (Polgreen Ivor x Polgreen Jolie) – P Kingdon & Sons, Polgreen.

Two-Year-Old Heifer – 1st Fiveways Remi (Milou x Fiveways Mia) – R Joyce, Fiveways; 2nd Poplars Ruby (Polgreen Hurler x Poplars Ivory) – K.J Renals, Poplars; 3rd Bowbeer Roo Roo (Aaron Insengard x Mandeville Louisa) – A&B Bowden, Bowbeer.

Cow and Calf - The Westlake Cup – 1st Fiveways Megan (Doncombe Hendrix x Fiveways Harla) and Fiveways True (Sired by Milou)– R Joyce, Fiveways; 2nd Kinaston Manuka (Bridge ET x Kinaston Greylace) and Allacott Trojan (Sired by Whistley Dollar ET) – D Skinner, Allacott; 3rd Katem Nova (Hallmark Boxster x Stubbswalden Giselle) and Tangier Terranova (Sired by Fiveways Ollie) – S Gregory & Daughters, Tangier. 

Heifer Calf, born in 2022 – Exmoor Glass Tumbler – 1st Fiveways True (Milou x Fiveways Megan) – R Joyce, Fiveways; 2nd Polgreen Tequila (Nantygelli Leonardo x Polgreen Nancy) – P Kingdon & Sons, Polgreen; 3rd Tangier Tinkerbell (Fiveways Ollie x Katem Nixi)– S Gregory & Daughters, Tangier. 

Bull Calf, born in 2022 – Exmoor Glass Tumbler – 1st Allacott Trojan (Whistley Dollar ET x Kinaston Manuka) – D Skinner, Allacott; 2nd Bowbeer Thyme (Aaron Optimus x Bowbeer Olivia) – A&B Bowden, Bowbeer; 3rd Tangier Tigereye (Fiveways Ollie x Doncombe Orzora)– S Gregory & Daughters, Tangier.

Judges Choice – The Cosdon Plate – 1st Fiveways True (Milou x Fiveways Megan) – R Joyce, Fiveways ; 2nd Polgreen Peter and his crop of 2022 born calves (Nantygelli Leonardo x Polgreen Georgina) – KJ Renals, Poplars and P Kingdon & Sons, Polgreen (special) 

Most Promising Young Bull – Hillhead Sambuca (Budore Utah x Hillhead Olivia) - A&B Bowden, Bowbeer 

Best Large Herd – The TRR Turner & Sons Cup 

The Fiveways Herd - R Joyce 

Best Small Herd – The Stewart Turner Cup 

The Poplars Herd – K J Renals