Hereford Breed Championship Presentation
Amongst a highly competitive line-up of breed champions at West Mid Showground on Saturday 23 May, it was the Hereford bull Coley 1 Centurion from Miss Heather Whittaker, Halifax, which took home the coveted native inter-breed and reserve overall inter-breed titles, before teaming up with JC Herefords’ calved heifer Coley 1 Malan 697 to claim the overall inter-breed pairs championship.
Having been awarded the breed championship earlier in the day, Coley 1 Centurion was described by judge Maddie Clarke, Clwyd, as having “great character, width and power”, and being “a bull that any pedigree breeder should be snapping up”. Born by embryo transfer in December 2024, Centurion is a son of Gouldingpoll 1 Gold Spice, and out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 916, purchased as a heifer by Miss Whittaker from the Goulding Opportunity Sale in 2019 and awarded a prestigious female championship at the Royal Highland Show in 2022. This mating has now proved doubly successful for the Coley herd, with a full brother to this bull having achieved the championship and top price at the recent Hereford Cattle Society Sale in April.
The reserve breed championship went to the August-2023-born heifer Coley 1 Malan 697 shown with her February-born first calf JC 1 Del Boy at foot, the outfit exhibited by young Hereford breeder Miss Abbie JC, Sheffield. Purchased by JC Herefords in 2024 and described by judge Maddie Clarke as “an impressive calved heifer with an exceptional bag of milk, feminine but still with the power and width that I like to see”, Malan 697 is sired by Romany 1 Distiller and out of the Danish import Kammerherre Malan.
Standing as reserve male champion was the March-2025-born Dendor 1 Cruzcampo, marking yet another success for progeny of the Jones family’s prominent stock sire Solpoll 1 Vanquish since his purchase from breeders J & W McMordie, Co Down, in 2022. Cruzcampo is out of Dendor 1 Echo 36th EX90, a Danish-sired cow by Bakgard 1 Keno, herself a previous reserve female champion of the National Calf Show in 2018.
The reserve female championship went to the winner of the youngest heifer class of the day, the May 2025-born Coley 1 Lilac 758, another from Miss Heather Whittaker. Sired by the Cogent Signature Beef sire Gouldingpoll 1 Duncan, Coley 1 Lilac 758 is out of Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 29th, another Bakgard 1 Keno daughter bred by DE, ED & AL Jones and purchased by Miss Whittaker in 2018.
Commenting on her day of judging, Maddie Clarke said: “It was a great honour to be asked to judge the Hereford section at Shropshire County Show. A smaller number of Herefords forward, but quality cattle on display.”
In the Traditional Hereford section, it was the 2019-born cow Boresisle Regina 87th from Mrs Sarah Cowle, Aylesbury, which took the top spot under judge Mr Tony Bradstock, Tarrington. Shown with her March-born heifer calf Eutierria Regina 2nd at foot by previous Shropshire County Show breed champion Carpenters Brigadier EX90, Boresisle Regina 87th VG86 is sired by Lower Eaton Diamond, a son of the 1963-born MMB bull Monkland Dorando.
Standing as reserve breed champion and taking home the John Featherstone Trophy for best yearling in the Traditional Hereford classes was the maiden heifer Albany Dowager 48th from Mr Leslie Cook, Cambridge. Born in January 2025, this heifer is by the prolific stock sire Boresisle Richmond EX94 and out of Albany Dowager 46th GP83.
What was notable throughout the day was the number of young Hereford breeders taking charge of the cattle during every class, as well as showing their expertise in the young handlers’ competition, with Hereford handlers Ashlee H, Summer H, and Nathaniel J making up three of the four finalists and winning both champion young handler (Ashlee H) and reserve (Summer H). The level of professionalism and standard of production of the cattle forward at the show was a testament to these young Hereford handlers’ hard work, the strength of the Hereford Youth programme, and to the world-famous docility of Hereford cattle.
Results – Hereford
Class 501 Pair of animals, property of the same exhibitor
1st Hoghton View, A & P Massey
2nd Ashnan, A & N Hughes
Class 502 Group of three animals, property of the same exhibitor
1st Hoghton View, A & P Massey
Class 504 Bull born on or between 1st September 2023 and 30th June 2024
1st Bounds 1 Brooklyn, H Weston & Sons Ltd
Class 505 Bull born on or between 1st July 2024 and 31st December 2024
1st Coley 1 Centurion, Miss Heather Whittaker
Class 506 Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2025
1st Dendor 1 Cruzcampo, DE, ED & AL Jones
2nd JC 1 Cody, JC Herefords (Exhibited by Liam)
3rd Hollyvale 1 Casper, A & P Massey
Class 507 Bull born on or after 1st April 2025
1st Dendor 1 Colorado, DE, ED & EL Jones
Class 508 Cow born on or before 30th June 2023, shown with her calf at foot, or to calve in four calendar months of the day the Show
1st Pepperstock 1 Molly V715, Mr J Spiers
2nd Beca 1 Duchess Alanah, Miss Sian Jones
Class 509 Heifer born on or between 1st July 2023 and 30th June 2024 in-calf, or with her own calf at foot
1st Coley 1 Malan 697, JC Herefords (Exhibited by Abbie) 2nd Hoghton View 1 Beth 1st, A & P Massey
Class 510 Heifer born on or between 1st July 2024 and 31st December 2024
1st Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th, DE, ED & AL Jones
Class 511 Heifer born on or between 1st January 2025 and 31st March 2025
1st Coley 1 Mink, Miss Heather Whittaker
2nd JC 1 Marrigold 2nd, JC Exh(ibited by Liam)
3rd Hollybush 1 Eva 6th, Mr Greg & Mrs Ruth Watkins
4th Ashnan 1 Angel, A&N Hughes
5th Woodside Moss 1 Eira, Miss Emily Lloyd
Class 512 Heifer born on or after 1st April 2025
1st Coley 1 Lilac 758, Miss Heather Whittaker
2nd Pepperstock 1 Molly D1200, Mr J Spiers
3rd Hollyvale 1 Anna Mary 8th, A & P Massey
4th Ashnan 1 Shakira, A&N Hughes
5th Woodside Moss 1 Foxglove, Miss Emily Lloyd
6th Bounds 1 Seraphina 2nd, H Weston & Sons Ltd
Male champion Coley 1 Centurion, Miss Heather Whittaker
Reserve male champion Dendor 1 Cruzcampo, DE, ED & AL Jones
Female champion Coley 1 Malan 697, JC Herefords (Exhibited by Abbie)
Reserve female champion Coley 1 Lilac 758, Miss Heather Whittaker
Breed champion Coley 1 Centurion, Miss Heather Whittaker
Reserve breed champion Coley 1 Malan 697, JC (Exhibited by Abbie)
Native & reserve overall inter-breed champion Coley 1 Centurion, Miss Heather Whittaker
Overall inter-breed champion pair Coley 1 Centurion, Miss Heather Whittaker, & Coley 1 Malan 697, JC Herefords (Exhibited by Abbie)
Photo credit: Sarah Cook
Results – Traditional Hereford
Class 650 Bull any age
1st Albany Odyssey, Mr L Cook
2nd Caebach X-Calibur, N & R Johnson
3rd Rhydri Kaleb, A & G Crow
Class 651 Cow born in or before 2023
1st Boresisle Regina 87th, Mrs S Cowle
2nd Caebach Whitney Plum, N & R Johnson
Class 652 Heifer born in 2024
1st Eutierria Regina 1st, Mrs S Cowle
2nd Albany Leopard, Mr L Cook
Class 653 Heifer born in 2025
1st Albany Dowager 48th, Mr L Cook
2nd Rhydri Kate Julia, A & G Crow
3rd Caebach Yamaha Amorous, N & R Johnson
Class 654 Pair of animals, property of the same exhibitor
1st Caebach, N & R Johnson
2nd Albany, Mr L Cook
3rd Rhydri, A & G Crow
Male champion Albany Odyssey, Mr L Cook
Reserve male champion Caebach X-Calibur, N & R Johnson
Female champion Boresisle Regina 87th, Mrs S Cowle
Reserve female champion Albany Dowager 48th, Mr L Cook
Breed champion Boresisle Regina 87th, Mrs S Cowle
Reserve breed champion Albany Dowager 48th, Mr L Cook