Herefords Finish 2025 on a High

What a way to end the 2025 showing year at the Hereford Cattle Breeders Calf Show, held at Shrewsbury Livestock Auction Centre. Not only were numbers strong, but the quality of cattle on display truly shone through. To follow this with a record-breaking Designer Genes sale was the icing on the cake, some might even say it was a Christmas cracker of a day.

Proceedings began with the best pair of bull calves, owned by the exhibitor. Taking first place was the Baybridge herd of LG Gould, closely followed by the Beca herd exhibited by GJ Twose, a fitting start to a super Saturday.

Moving into the senior classes, the overall supreme championship was decided in a strong class of 11 September/October 2024-born bull calves. Taking the top spot was Normanton 1 Charlie Boy, exhibited by the Livesey family. This September 2024-born bull is no stranger to success, having already secured the overall male and senior male championships at Borderway Agri Expo earlier in the autumn. Judge Mr Arwel Owen, a beef supply chain manager for Genus, praised the strength and power of the class, which was clearly evident in the Normanton entries, with Normanton 1 Crumbie securing reserve senior champion. Both bulls are sired by Cleland 1 Nelson, with Charlie Boy out of Normanton 1 Grifola 10th and Crumbie out of Normanton 1 Fistulina 38th V479.

The reserve supreme championship went to a true star of the showring, Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th, exhibited by DE, ED & AL Jones. This flashy September 2024-born heifer has enjoyed an outstanding summer, including claiming overall junior champion at the National Poll Show, alongside numerous accolades alongside her dam, Lilac Wine 37th. Now winning in her own right, she is sired by Solpoll 1 Vanquish. This success capped an exceptional day for the Dendor herd, with four of their five exhibits making the final line-up.

Further success followed in the junior male championship, once again for the Dendor family, with Dendor 1 Cruzcampo taking the title. This stylish March 2025-born bull won his split class and impressed the judge with his length and head carriage. Cruzcampo is also sired by Solpoll 1 Vanquish and is out of Dendor 1 Echo 36th. Stablemate Dendor 1 Colorado won the April-born class and went on to secure reserve junior male champion. Sired by Hoghton View 1 Utah and out of Dendor 1 Greta 36th, this marked an outstanding achievement for the Powys-based herd.

In the senior female section, the reserve senior female championship went to another Dendor exhibit, Dendor 1 Jano 25th, shown in the September/October 2024 class. Born in September 2024, she is sired by Romany 1 Distiller A84 D53 and out of Dendor 1 Jano 21st. With numerous animals presented across the day, it was all hands-on deck for the Dendor team as they collected an impressive haul of awards.

The junior female section brought success for the Ludgate family’s Rempstone herd, with Rempstone 1 Luna P741 winning the January 2025-born class. Sired by Fisher 1 Prospect P464 and out of Rempstone 1 Luna D588, the judge described her as a strong, exceptional heifer. Further honours followed when Rempstone 1 Tessa A768 secured reserve junior female champion. This April-born heifer is sired by Auckvale 1 Avatar 2238A and out of the renowned Rempstone 1 Tessa P667 and was expertly presented by young stockman Joe Clark.

In his closing remarks, Mr Owen commented that it had been a privilege to judge such a high-quality show. He noted that the breed was clearly moving in the right direction, highlighting the impressive loins and rumps seen throughout the classes. He praised his overall champion for being correct behind the shoulder with a strong loin, while his reserve female, he felt, showed all the attributes of an excellent future cow.

The Young Handlers once again put on a superb display, with judge Tony Bradstock putting senior handlers Archie Roberts and Jorja Snook-Bevis through their paces, including swapping animals and removing show sticks. Archie narrowly took the overall title, with Jorja in reserve. Strong performances were also seen from intermediates Mia Shaw and Abbie Jackson-Carr, and juniors Henry Hawkins and Sid Shaw, with the judge commending all competitors for their professionalism and stockmanship.

To round off a memorable day, a new breed record was set in the Designer Genes sale, with the highest-priced bull ever sold under their banner. Tom and Di Harrison of the Moralee herd were delighted to see their favourite bull knocked down to SC & GL Hartwright of the Spartan herd for 22,000gns, a truly fitting finale to an outstanding day for the breed all round.

Full Results

Overall supreme and senior male champion – Normanton 1 Charlie Boy – TD & WT Livesey

Overall reserve supreme and senior female champion – Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th – DE, ED & AL Jones

Reserve senior male champion – Normanton 1 Crumbie – TD & WT Livesey

Junior male champion – Dendor 1 Cruzcampo – DE, ED & AL Jones

Reserve junior male champion – Dendor 1 Colorado – DE, ED & AL Jones

Reserve senior female champion –  Dendor 1 Jano 25th – DE, ED & AL Jones

Junior female champion – Rempstone 1 Luna P741 – M Ludgate

Reserve junior female champion – Rempstone 1 Tessa A768 – M Ludgate

Best pair of bull calves owned by the exhibitor 

1st – LG Gould – Baybridge Herd

2nd – GJ Twose – Beca Herd

3rd – The Benacre Company Ltd – Benacre Herd

Bull calf born September/October 2024 

1st – Normanton 1 Charlie Boy – TD & WT Livesey

2nd – Normanton 1 Crumbie – TD & WT Livesey

3rd – Porton House 1 Calon-Lan – P & V Moyle

Bull calf born November/December 2024 

1st – Coley 1 Centurion – Miss H Whittaker

2nd – Big Red 1 Electric – H Pocock & G Scott

3rd – Alderoak 1 Clarkson – P & E Williams

Bull calf born January/February 2025 (split class)

1st – Coley 1 Condor – Miss H Whittaker

2nd – Beca 1 Chilli Pepper – GJ Twose

3rd – Rempstone 1 Chucky – M Ludgate

1st –  Keadyview 1 Casino – S & H O’ Kane

2nd – Beca 1 Cookie – GJ Twose

3rd – Pulham 1 Capable – PRJ & LR Vincent

Bull calf born March 2025 (split) 

1st – Moralee 1 Caraboa – T & D Harrison

2nd – Hollyvale 1 Casper – A & P Massey

3rd – Benacre 3 Cassius Clay – The Benacre Company Ltd

1st – Dendor 1 Cruzcampo – DE, ED & AL Jones

2nd – Benacre 1 Christian Grey – The Benacre Company Ltd

3rd – Bosbury 1 Cracker – S Hawkins

Bull calf born April/May 2025

1st – Dendor 1 Colorado – DE, ED & AL Jones

2nd – Benacre 1 Centurion – The Benacre Company Ltd

3rd – Rough Moor 1 Cookie – T & M Goodwin & C Powell

Best pair of heifer calves owned by the exhibitor

1st – FJ Wood & Sons – Allwood Herd

2nd – W Awan – Midford

3rd – P & V Moyle – Porton House

Heifer calf born September/October 2024

1st – Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th – DE, ED & AL Jones

2nd – Dendor 1 Jano 25th – DE, ED & AL Jones

3rd – Normanton 1 Jews Ear 56th – TD & WT Livesey

Heifer calf born November/December 2024

1st – Studdolph 1 Precious 975 – Miss EN Thorne

2nd – Porton House 1 Starlett – P & V Moyle

3rd – Porton House 1 Lilac Wine 4th – P & V Moyle

Heifer calf born January/ February 2025 (split class) 

1st – Rempstone 1 Luna P741 – M Ludgate

2nd – RM 1 Starlet – E Hodge & H Whittaker

3rd – Pepperstock 1 Blossom C1144 – Speirs Farms Ltd

1st – Allwood 1 Greta 2nd – FJ Wood & Sons

2nd – Bosbury 1 Laurel C213 – S Hawkins

3rd – Bosbury 1 Laurel C208 – S Hawkins

Heifer calf born March 2025 

1st – JC 1 Marrigold 2nd – L Jackson-Carr

2nd – Moralee 1 Pippa TE401 – T & D Harrison

3rd – Ashdale 3 Queen 986 – TG, EI & EN Thorne

Heifer calf born April 2025

1st – Rempstone 1 Tessa A768 – M Ludgate

2nd – Hollyvale 1 Anna Mary 8th – A & P Massey

3rd – Rough Moor 1 Amethyst 492 – T & M Goodwin & C Powell

Young handlers 

19 – 26 years 

1st – Archie Roberts

2nd -Jorja Snook -Bevis

13 – 18 years

1st – Mia Shaw

2nd – Abbie Jackson-Carr

7 – 13 years

1st – Sid Shaw

2nd – Harry Hawkins

Overall champion 

Archie Roberts

Reserve champion 

Jorja Snook- Bevis