Saturday 23 December 2023
Midford 1 Ravette 1st from Will Awan stroke into the top spot at this years Annual Christmas Calf show held by the Hereford Cattle Breeders Association at Shrewsbury Livestock Centre.
This is the first championship win for the heifer but follows a string of high positions wins over the last few months, one of which was taking overall reserve at AgriExpo.
Born-January ’23, Ravette is the first calf from stockbull, Kinglee 1 The New One, and is a natural calf from foundation cow Gouldingpoll 1 Ravette 738 a cow purchased in from Ireland in 2021. The supreme championship win came behind Ravette taking the junior championship title and the win within her class.
Midford 1 Ravette 1st from W Awan
Overseeing the line-up was judge William McMordie, Northern Ireland, of the Solpoll herd. When reviewing the final selection for the supreme champion, William selected the Ravette above the rest as he reflected on words of wisdom passed to him by his father. ‘It came down to which one I would be most devastated not to win with if I was showing. When I though that way it was an easier selection, as the top two were so close. But the winner was a heifer I’d want in my herd.’
Stood in reserve was Dendor 1 Greta 37th from DE, ED & AL Jones following her victory taking top position in the senior female championship and her class. A daughter of Pepperstock 1 Trigger, out of Dendor 1 Greta 24th. Mr McMordie wasn’t alone in taking a shine to the September 22 born heifer as she found a new home with a post-show sale, taking her to the Suffolk cost to the Benacre herd.
Dendor 1 Greta 37th from DE, ED & AL Jones
From Phillip and Laura Vincent Pulham 1 Olive 7th claimed the reserve title in the senior female championship. Born Sep-22, Olive was second in her class behind the overall reserve champion. Out of Pulham 1 Olive 1st, Olive is sired by Appel 1 Kaboom.
Pulham 1 Olive 7th from Phillip and Laura Vincent
Occupying the reserve junior heifer position was Moralee 1 Kylie PR294 from Tom and Di Harrison. January 2023-born she is by Moralee 1 RHS Prince KR R8 who’s progeny has seen a string of success. Out of Moralee 1 Kylie, Kylie PR294 was second in her class behind the supreme champion.
Moralee 1 Kylie PR294 from Tom and Di Harrison
In the male section, Rempstone 1 Avalanche N674 took the junior male champion title. From M Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire, Jan 2023-born Avalanche N674 is out of Rempstone 1 Dowager V424, sired by Dendor 1 Nairobi, who himself was named junior male champion at both the National Poll show and Kington in 2016 at six months old.
Rempstone 1 Avalanche N674 from M Ludgate
From young breeder, Liam Jackson-Carr, JC 1 Austin took reserve junior male champion. Hailing from Sheffield, the out of Coley 1 Vincent, the current joint bull of the year, out of Coley 1 Dowager 545.
JC 1 Austin from Liam Jackson-Carr
From TD & WT Livesey, Normanton 1 Anthony A617 claimed the senior male champion title. From Leicester, Anthony A617 is out of Normanton 1 Fistulina 18th R360, sired by Normanton 1 Twm T611.
Normanton 1 Anthony A617 from TD & WT Livesey
Alongside the Normanton bull, Pulham 1 Achilles took reserve senior male champion marking another success for the Pulham herd. Out of Pulham 1 Curly 3rd, Achilles is a son of Appel 1 Kaboom.
Pulham 1 Achilles from Phillip and Laura Vincent
In November to December 2022 bull class, Spartan 1 Arabian King SP 204 was tapped out victorious. Arabian King also won his class earlier this year at AgriExpo. From SC & GL Hartwright, exhibited by stockman, Luke Murphy, the bull is son of Solpoll 1 Perfection, the current sire of the year, out of Spartan 1 Peppa.
Spartan 1 Arabian King SP 204 from SC & GL Hartwright
In bull calf born March 2023 class, with Non-Thorne at the helm, Ashdale 3 Henderson from TG, EI & EN Thorne took the red rosette. Out of Ashdale 3 Queen 509, sired by Alderville 1 Dover.
Ashdale 3 Henderson from TG, EI & EN Thorne
Another win for the Thorne family, this time within the female classes, Studdolph 1 Barbie 884 partied into first position. November 2022-born out of Studdolph 1 Barbie 719 and sired by Vexour 1 Palmer.
Studdolph 1 Barbie 884 from TG, EI & EN Thorne
From the home of last year’s Christmas calf show champion Holmefold 1 Rocco, young breeder Maddy Scott re-entered the ring this year with heifer Holmefold 1 Lady Luck. Proving that luck is in more than the name, Maddy lead her Feb born heifer into pole position. Lady Luck is the full brother to Holmefold 1 Rocco, sired by Hoghton View 1 Kid Rock, out of Hoghton View 1 Chico 1st.
Holmefold 1 Lady Luck from Maddy Scott
Another win for the Dendor herd, with Dendor 1 Wattle 15th from DE, ED & AL Jones. March 23-born, out of homebred Dendor 1 Wattle 9th and sired by Dendor 1 Vernon.
Dendor 1 Wattle 15th from DE, ED & AL Jones
Winning the ‘best pair of bull calves’ was M Ludgate from Rempstone herd.
Best pair of bull calves from M Ludgate
Leading the way in the ‘best pairs of heifers calves’ class was TG, EI & EN Thorne, Glendale/Studdolph Herefords.
Best pairs of heifers calves’ class from TG, EI & EN Thorne Glendale/Studdolph Herefords.
The young handler section was greatly supported with a large uptake of entries. Boomer Birch selected his winner within the ring whilst Millie Birch kept a close eye on the competitors as the undercover guest judge.
Winners were as follows.