Starlet Shines Bright at National Show

The National Poll Hereford Show held on 6^th September, once again showcased the depth of quality within the Hereford breed. With a strong turnout of cattle and enthusiastic support from the nearly forty breeders and spectators alike, the day highlighted the strength, versatility, and ongoing progress of the breed.

Judge Neil Lloyd of Herefordshire commended the exhibitors on presenting cattle of exceptional quality, noting particularly the depth of muscle, breed character, and uniformity across the classes. He felt privileged and enjoyed the challenge of judging amazing cattle.

Kicking off proceedings was the group of three animals by the same sire and owned by the exhibitor, which was won by the Cato Herd of Somerset. The group of three animals to include both sexes and owned by the exhibitor was claimed by Will Awan of Somerset with a strong trio from his Midford herd. In the best pair of animal’s class, G. Llewellyn and D. Sharman of the Harvest herd took top honours, seeing off competition from four other well-presented pairs.

The individual classes began with the Cow, born before 31st August 2022, with calf at foot born in 2025. This was won by Pulham 1 Starlet 11th, co-owned by E. Hodge and H. Whittaker and shown expertly by head stock manager Andrew Hughes. Purchased from the Vincent family for 8,000gns in December 2022, Pulham 1 Starlett 11th has already built up an impressive show record. Among her successes are the championship and overall supreme at Berwickshire County Show and the Interbreed Supreme title at Moreton-in-Marsh, cementing her reputation as a standout female in the breed. This 2021 born cow is sired by Appel 1 Kaboom and out of Pulham 1 Starlet 7^th. Mr Neil Lloyd praised the cow for her breed character and the obvious hard-working job she was doing in raising her calf, an animal he would like in his own herd.

Standing in the overall reserve supreme position was the much-admired Moralee 1 Big Time RK349, a bull with a strong record of show success, exhibited by T. and D. Harrison. Born in March 2024, he faced a highly competitive class of 11 other outstanding young bulls, the largest class of the day, and came out on top. From there, he progressed to take both the intermediate and overall male championship, before being tapped out as reserve supreme champion. Big Time is sired by the noted Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks and out of the herd’s renowned Moralee 1 Kylie female line. Rebel Kicks himself has produced numerous prize winners, and his influence is once again evident here.

The reserve female championship went to Coley 1 Keepsake, a September 2023-born heifer exhibited by B. Hutchinson of the Bethanfield herd. Another feather in the cap for the renowned Coley herd, Keepsake continues the Coley line’s tradition of producing stylish, well-balanced females with plenty of ring presence. The judge commended this heifer on her exceptional beef traits and said she had a great future ahead of her.

Adding further excitement to the male section was the success of young breeder Will Awan, who is no stranger to prize-winners but was elated when his October 2024-born bull, Midford 1 Crackerjack, came through to shine. After winning his class, Crackerjack went on to secure the junior and reserve male championships. He is sired by the purchased bull Kinglee 1 The New One and out of Gouldingpoll 1 Ravette 738, a proven female line with depth of quality behind it.

Taking the overall junior championship was the stylish young heifer Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th. This up-and-coming star has already enjoyed a highly successful summer campaign, often shown alongside her dam, Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 37th.

Sired by Solpoll 1 Vanquish, she represents the next generation of quality breeding from the well-known Dendor herd. Judge Mr Neil Lloyd commented that this striking heifer immediately caught his eye, praising her femininity, ring presence, and classic Hereford breed character.

Standing just behind Starlet in the line-up was Rempstone 1 Tessa P667, exhibited by the Ludgate family, who secured the reserve senior female championship. This September 2022-born heifer first won her class before going on to stand in reserve to the champion. She is sired by Fisher 1 Prospect P464 and out of homebred cow Rempstone 1 Tessa N553, a female line that has proved consistently successful for the Rempstone herd.

Another success for the Birch & Brindley team came with Sky High Louis Vuitton Lucy, who topped the heifer born on or after 1st November 2024 class. This January 2025-born youngster beat off strong competition from six other females. She is out of Sky High 1 L’Amour Lucy and sired by homebred bull Sky High 1 Take-a-Chance, a bloodline that continues to make its mark in the show ring.

The senior male championship was won by Dendor 1 Alabama, exhibited by F.J. Wood & Sons, giving another notable win for the Dendor family. Standing in the reserve male championship line-up alongside him was Dendor 1 Ben, bred by the Dendor family and now owned and exhibited by Will Awan.

Other prominent awards went to JC 1 Brando, exhibited by young member Liam Jackson-Carr, who secured the reserve intermediate male championship, and Porton House 1 Calon Lan, marking a welcome comeback for the Porton House herd, who took the Reserve Junior Male Championship.

Judge Mr Neil Lloyd concluded his assessments by praising the standard of bulls presented in the final line-up, commenting that the breed is in safe hands with cattle of this quality coming forward.

Young Handler Classes

Other promising achievements came in the young handler competitions, which attracted a strong entry of both familiar faces and exciting newcomers.

Taking the championship on both the Friday evening and Saturday competitions was 13-year-old Abbie Jackson-Carr. Judge Will Awan, himself a successful young breeder, praised Abbie’s performance, noting that she displayed true professionalism for someone so young and was particularly impressed with her calmness and ring craft.

In the runner-up position, Mia Shaw of the Thornysure herd produced a polished performance with a spirited heifer, which the judge said added to her ring presence and ability, especially in the Friday evening competition.

These classes showcased the depth of talent among the next generation of handlers, reinforcing confidence that the Hereford breed’s future is in safe hands.

Full Results

Senior female, grand female and overall supreme champion – Pulham 1 Starlet 11th – E Hodge & H Whittaker 

Intermediate male champion, grand male and reserve overall supreme champion – Moralee 1 Big Time RK349 – T & D Harrison

Intermediate female and reserve female Champion – Coley 1 Keepsake 706 – B Hutchinson 

Junior Male champion and reserve male champion – Midford 1 Crackerjack – W. Awan

Reserve senior female champion – Rempstone 1 Tessa P667 – M J Ludgate 

Reserve Intermediate Female Champion – Sky High 1 Trueloves Fancy – Birch and Brindley

Junior Female Champion – THE KAYPARK TROPHY 

Champion – Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th – D.E., E.D., & A.L Jones

Reserve champion – Sky High 1 Louis Vuitton Lucy. – Birch & Brindley

Reserve Champion – Coley 1 Keepsake 706 – B Hutchinson 

Senior Male Champion – THE GRAFTON TROPHY

Champion – Dendor 1 Alabama – F.J Wood & Sons 

Reserve Champion – Dendor 1 Ben – W. Awan

Intermediate Male Champion – THE KINGLEE TROPHY 

Champion – Moralee 1 Big Time RK349 – T & D Harrison 

Reserve Champion – JC 1 Brando – L. Jackson-Carr

Junior Male Champion – THE BEAUDESERT CUP 

Champion – Midford 1 Crackerjack – W. Awan 

Reserve Champion – Porton House 1 Calon Lan – P & V Moyle 

Grand Male Champion – THE WINSON TROPHY 

Moralee 1 Big Time RK349 – T & D Harrison 

Reserve Champion – Midford 1 Crackerjack – W Awan

Supreme Champion – THE TALBOT RICE TROPY

Pulham 1 Starlet 11th – E. Hodge & Miss H. Whittaker

Reserve Supreme Champion – THE PETER RICHMAN TROPHY

Moralee 1 Big Time RK349 – T & D Harrison 

Overall Junior Champion – THE HALLWOOD PERPETUAL TROPHY

Champion – Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th – D.E., E.D., & A.L Jones

Reserve champion – Sky High 1 Louis Vuitton Lucy – Birch & Brindley

Class 1 – GROUP OF THREE ANIMALS by the same sire, owned by the Exhibitor

AWARD – THE BLYTHEBARN TROPHY.

1st – J D Moorhouse – Cato Herefords

Class 2 – GROUP OF THREE ANIMALS to include both sexes, owned by the Exhibitor

AWARD – THE DIAMOND JUBILEE TROPHY 

1st – W Awan – Midford Herefords

2nd – T & D Harrison – Moralee Herefords

3rd – J D Moorhouse – Cato Herefords

Class 3 – BEST PAIR OF ANIMALS owned by an Exhibitor

AWARD – THE NITRAM TROPHY 

1st – G Llewellyn & D Sharman – Harvest Herefords

2nd – T & D Harrison – Moralee Herefords

3rd – M & C Shaw – Thornysure Herefords

Class 4 – COW, born before 31st August 2022 with calf at foot, born 2025

1st – Pulham 1 Starlet 11th – E Hodge & H Whittaker

2nd – Rempstone 1 Luna D 588 – M J Ludgate

3rd – Moralee 1 Pippa RK281 – T & D Harrison

Class 5 – HEIFER, born between 1st September 2022 and 31st December 2022 calf born 2025

1st – Rempstone 1 Tessa P667 – M J Ludgate

2nd – Pebworth 1 Amber – N & L Holdsworth

Class 6 – HEIFER, born on or between 1st January 2023 and 31st August 2023, in-calf or with calf.

1st – Midford 1 Elke – W Awan

2nd – Coley 1 Malan 697 – L Jackson- Carr

3rd – Kinglee 1 Nikita 717 – P.K & I.F Cobley

Class 7 – HEIFER, born on or between 1st September 2023 and 31st December 2023

1st – Coley 1 Keepsake 706 – B Hutchinson

2nd – Pepperstock 1 Jennefer B1003 – Speirs Farms Ltd

3rd – Hallwood 1 Mistletoe 2nd – R & R. I Shaw

Class 8 – HEIFER, born on or between 1st January 2024 and 28th February 2024

1st – Studdolph 1 Pearl 939 – E.N Thorne –

2nd – Mairwen 1 Maggie Moultan – N. Owens

3rd – Midford 1 Kate – W. Awan

Class 9 – HEIFER, born on or between 1st March 2024 and 31st March 2024

1st – Sky High 1 Trueloves Fancy – Birch and Brindley

2nd – Moralee 1 Pippa TE347 – T & D Harrison

3rd – Cathedral 1 Thelma 243 – H.M Scarterfield Ltd

Class 10 – HEIFER, born on or between 1st April 2024 and 31st August 2024

1st – Rempstone 1 Lily P731 – M J Ludgate

2nd – Ashdale 3 Queen 956 – T.G., E.I. & E.N Thorne & Miss H Whittaker

3rd – Coley 1 Mink – Miss H Whittaker

Class 11- HEIFER, born on or between 1st September 2024 and 30th September 2024

1st – Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 46th – D.E., E.D & A.L Jones

2nd – Thames 1 Charot Viola 1191 – A & S Timbrell

3rd – Dendor 1 Jano 25th – D.E., E.D., & A.L Jones

Class 12 – HEIFER, born on or between 1st October 2024 and 31st October 2024

1st – Dendor 1 Greta 42nd – D.E., E.D., & A.L Jones

2nd – Banjos 1 Eva Cassiopeia – A.B Yaldren

3rd – Thames 1 Char Viola 1196 – A & S Timbrell

Class 13 – HEIFER, born on or after 1st November 2024

1st – Sky High 1 Louis Vuitton Lucy – Birch & Brindley

2nd – RM 1 Starlett – E Hodge & Miss H Whittaker

3rd – Moralee 1 Ishbel PR396 – T & D Harrison

Class 14 – BULL, born on or between 1st January 2023 and 31st August 2023

1st – Dendor 1 Alabama – F. J Wood & Sons

Class 15 – BULL, born on or between 1st September 2023 and 31st December 2023

1st – Dendor 1 Ben – W Awan

2nd – Maxstoke 1 Bounder – D.P Jones Agri. Cont

Class 16 – BULL, born on or between 1st January 2024 and 28th February 2024

1st – Pebworth 1 Bowie – N & L Holdsworth

2nd – Allwood 1 Brigadier – F.J Wood & Sons

Class 17 – BULL, born on or between 1st March 2024 and 30th April 2024

1st – Moralee 1 Big Time – T & D Harrison

2nd – JC 1 Brando – L. Jackson- Carr

3rd – Porton House 1 Bandit – P & V Moyle

Class 18 – BULL, born on or between 1st May 2024 and 31st August 2024

1st – Thornysure 1 Chuckles – M & C Shaw

2nd – Coley 1 Coldstream – Miss H Whittaker

3rd – RTC 1 Biggus Dickus – R. Coates

Class 19 – BULL, born on or between 1st September 2024 and 31st October 2024

1st – Midford 1 Crackerjack – W Awan

2nd – Porton House 1 Calon Lan – P & V Moyle

3rd – JC 1 Copper – L. Jackson-Carr

Class 20 – BULL, born on or after 1st November 2024.

1st – Coley 1 Centurion – Miss H Whittaker

2nd – Banjos 1 Cosmic – A.B Yaldren

3rd – Thornysure 1 Caesar – M & C Shaw

Young Handlers – Friday evening

7 – 12 years

1^st – Mia Shaw

2^nd – Summer Armitage

3^rd – Sid Shaw

4^th – Greg Saunders

5^th – Harriet Edwards

13 – 17 years

1^st – Abbie Jackson-Carr

2^nd – Thomas Wren

19 – 21 years

1^st – Sam Wren

Saturday results

7 – 13 years

1^st – Abbie Jackson-Carr

2^nd – Sid Shaw

3^rd – Mia Shaw

4^th – Thomas Wren

5^th – Summer Armitage

6^th – Ellie Cobley

14 – 21 years

1^st – Simon Chubb

2^nd – Hettie James

3^rd – Sam Wren