At Shropshire County Show, SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire led the judging with Spartan 1 Typhoon tapped out by judge Andrew Owen as supreme and male champion. This two year old bull also had a successful lap around the show circuit last summer, winning its class at the Great Yorkshire and Shropshire County, while placing reserve male champion at Royal Lancs and reserve champion at Stafford.

Spartan 1 Typhoon from SC and GL Hartwright

It is sired by Solpoll 1 Perfection, purchased at the 2019 society spring show and sale for 8,000gns which went on to win the 2019 Devon County and Royal Bath and West breed championships that year with stockman Luke Murphy on the halter.

Reserve supreme, Hallwood 1 Lady Jewel, from R and RI Shaw

Taking the reserve spot and leading the female section was Hallwood 1 Lady Jewel from R and RI Shaw, Ledsham, Cheshire. January 2021-born and sired by Fabb 1 Northern Star, it is out of a home-bred dam.

Spartan 1 Duchess T95 frpm SC and GL Hartwright

Standing reserve in the female championship was Spartan 1 Duchess T95 from SC and GL Hartwright, a daughter of Solpoll 1 Perfection which has bred so many of the breeders’ show ring successes. Out of Ruckmans 1 Orange 1332, it was born in February 2020 and also won the senior female class.

Free Town Versatile from RA Bradstock and partners

Free Town Versatile from RA Bradstock and partners was chosen as Andrew Owen’s reserve male champion. By stock bull Moyclare Quinlan, it is out of Free Town Penchant, which is a daughter of Hustyn Scotty, bred by Cornwall’s Fred Hawke.

The January to March 2021-born bull class was led by another Bradstock-bred bull; this time Free Town Vaughan. Also by Quinlan, it is bred from their long established Plum family.

Dendor 1 Vivian from DE, ED and AL Jones

Dendor 1 Vivian from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys won the red ticket in the junior bull class at just shy of 14 months of age. By AI sire Gouldingpoll 1 Moonshine, it is out of Dendor 1 Holly 10th, a daughter of Bakgard 1 Keno 1178.

Spartan 1 Victoria’s Secret from SC and GL Hartwright

It was back to Hartwrights’ stable to find the winner of the July to December 2020-born heifer class in the form of Spartan 1 Victoria’s Secret. Another Perfection sired member of the Spartan show team, it is out of Cleland 1 Glissade 26th.

Moorside 1 Violet from G and MC Shepherd

In the junior heifer class, Moorside 1 Violet from G and MC Shepherd, Preston, Lancashire stood at the top-end of the line out. By the 13,000gns Coley 1 Pilot, the female line goes back to Bernard and Barbara Rimmer’s Jackie family.

In the pairs, Emma Jackson’s home-bred duo came to the fore with Eveter 1 Gin 3rd V27 and Eveter 1 Gin 4th V28 while the group of three came from A and P Massey’s Hollyvale herd.

Katherine Shaw of Hallwood Herefords took the top honours in the young handlers’ class.

Young handler champion, Katherine Shaw

Spartan 1 Polly T122 from SC and GL Hartwright

Spartan 1 Polly T122 from SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire stepped into the supreme position at the HCBA Christmas calf show at Shrewsbury Auction Centre. With stockman Luke Murphy on the steering end, this September 2020-born heifer also took the grand female title, adding to the reserve junior female champion accolade it won at the National Poll Show this summer. Out of Ruckmans 1 Polly 1306, it is by Solpoll 1 Perfection which the breeders purchased at the 2019 spring show and sale for 8,000gns and won the breed championships at Devon County and the Royal Bath and West in the same year.

Normanton 1 Fistulina 34th from TD and WT Livesey V631

In his role as judge, Jim Barber described the heifer as ‘feminine and balanced’ while being ‘long and full of meat’ with ‘great commerciality’.
Following Polly through its class and the female championship into the reserve supreme spot was Normanton 1 Fistulina 34th V631 from TD and WT Livesey, Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire. Three days younger than the supreme, it is by Panmure 1 Pudding which was purchased for 4,000gns at the 2018 society autumn show and sale.

Jim said his reserve supreme was of a similar stamp to the champion and moved with great mobility.

Pulham Victory from PRJ and LR Vincent

Leading the male section and taking the grand male title was Pulham Victory from PRJ and LR Vincent, Pulham Market, Norfolk. September 2020-born, it is by the Irish-bred Shiloh-Farm Elite and out of Pulham Blossom 16th which is a Haven Hotspur daughter.

Rempstone 1 Venom from M Ludgate

Nearly 12 months old, Rempstone 1 Venom N597 from M Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire stood reserve grand male, led by Joe Clark. It is by Solpoll 1 Nobility and out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 911 which is by Remitall Super Duty 42S.

Pepperstock 1 Vesuvius from Speirs Farms

Elsewhere in the classes, Speirs Farms took the red ticket in the November/December 2020 born bull calf class with Pepperstock 1 Vesuvius. A son of SMH Kingsize 87K, it is out of Pepperstock 1 Tamerisk which is a daughter of stock bull Kinglee 1 Gangster.

Dendor 1 Virginian from DE, ED and AL Jones

Displayed on the Royal Welsh Winter Fair stand, Dendor 1 Virginian from DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys headed up the March to April 2021 born bull calf class. By the 2018 National Poll Show supreme champion Dendor 1 Nairobi, it is out of Dendor 1 Jano 18th.

Spartan 1 True Love V127 from LD and LL Powell

Another from Hartwrights’ stable, Spartan 1 True Love V127, owned and exhibited by LD and LL Powell, Penpedaorheol, Mid Glamorgan, won the November to December 2020-born heifer class. Again a Solpoll 1 Perfection daughter and out of Cathedral 1 Stephanie, and carries Dorepoll breeding on both sides of its pedigree.

Rempstone 1 Curly N604 from M Ludgate

Rempstone 1 Curly N604 from M Ludgate took the top spot in the January to February 2020 born heifer class. By Solpoll 1 Nobility, it is out of Rempstone 1 Curly C453.

Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 37th from DE, ED and AL Jones

With a packed ring of baby heifers, Dendor 1 Lilac Wine 37th from DE, ED and AL Jones won the 2 March to 22 March 2021-born class. Another by Nairobi, it is out of a home-bred Bakgard 1 Keno 1178 daughter.

Midford 1 Ruby 2nd from Will Awan

The final class of the day, the younger half of the split baby heifer class, was won by Midford 1 Ruby 2nd from Will Awan, Bath. With two Dendor parents, it is by Naiorbi and out of the SMH Euro 30E daughter, Dendor 1 Ruby 17th.

Best pair of heifer calves from SC and GL Hartwright

The pairs classes saw DP Jones Agricultural Contracting, Maxstoke, Warwickshire lead the bull calf section while it was another red ticket for the Hartwrights in the heifer pairs class.

Best pair of bull calves from DP Jones Agricultural Contracting

The young handlers’ classes were very well supported and judged by HCBA vice chair Andrew Whitlow of HighHouse Herefords. The junior class was won by 15 year old Beth Vincent of Beckhall Herefords, Pulham Market, Norfolk who went on to take the overall championship. First time exhibitor, 24 year old Alex Newton of Thellow Herefords, Antrobus, Cheshire won the senior section and stood reserve overall.

Young handlers’ championship

Will Griffiths with steer Penrhiwgoch Progress 508

Standing champion in the Hereford section at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair was steer Penrhiwgoch Progress 508 from Messrs Griffiths, Ferryside, Pembrokeshire, with Will Griffiths on the steering end.

Home-bred, it is by Border Napier N57 and out of Penrhiwgoch Binks Rachelia 220 which also carried Border breeding on its maternal side and was born in May 2020. The Griffiths family also won the steer championship in three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018.

In the sale on Tuesday afternoon, this steer passed through the ring to a top call of £2.31/kg and weighing 702kg, it grossed £1,621.62, and sold to Douglas Willis, a butchery business in Cwmbran, Torfaen.

The reserve champion and reserve steer position was also secured by the Griffths family, again with a home-bred beast, this time Penrhiwgoch Progress 516, another Border Napier N57 son, born in June 2020. Weighing 656kg, it sold for £2.48/kg, amounting to £1,626.88, bid by J and S Wareham, Broadoak, East Sussex.

In the heifers, July 2019-born Celynen Envy 2nd from Alun Richard, Pumpsaint, Carmarthenshire. Born a twin to a male, it is by Windycreek 1 Notary and out of Blackwell 1 Envy. The breeder was also successful at the 2018 Royal Welsh Winter Fair, where they won the heifer championship and reserve in 2019. The sale saw R and S Rattray, New Cross, Ceredigion pay £2.36/kg for the heifer, and at 638kg it grossed £1,5050.68.

The reserve heifer rosette was handed to Scott Coates, Monmouth with February 2020-born Parkapella 1 Serena 1447. By Moeskaer Upgrade, it is out of Nanhoron 1 Serena 10th and weighed 590kg. It sold at £2.36/kg, totalling £1,392.40 to butchers ER East and son located on Brecon high street which are keen supporters of the breed.

The society stand was busy throughout the course of the show with members, interested parties and prospective new members.
Thanks must go to the Jones family of Dendor Herefords, Caersws, Powys for once again supplying stock for display on the stand. Two bull calves were loaned and were Dendor 1 Vivian and Dendor 1 Virginian.

Dendor 1 Virginian is by Dendor 1 Nairobi which was the supreme champion at the National Poll Show in 2018. Dendor 1 Vivian is by Gouldingpoll 1 Moonshine which stood supreme champion at the Royal Welsh Show in 2018 as well as making up one half of the Fitz Hugh Trophy winner with stablemate Dendor 1 Ruby 29th.

At the English Winter Fair, TD and WT Livesey, Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire, won the Hereford section for the fourth consecutive year and took the reserve native-bred championship with the October 2019-born Normanton 1 Jews Ear 35th. It is a Normanton 1 Laertes son and out of Normanton 1 Jews Ear 5th. Going through the ring at the end of the day, it sold for £2.74/kg.

The Livesey family led the Hereford steer class and won reserve Hereford champion with Normanton 1 Telepathic. Born in October 2019, it is Normanton 1 Laertes and out of Normanton 1 Jurana 8th.

Normanton 1 Jews Ear 5th

Sky High 1 Miss Allure from Nick Griffths and Boomer Birch and Graham Brindley, Staffordshire took the supreme spot in the National Pedigree Calf Show, hosted annually at the English Winter Fair.

Sky High 1 Miss Allure

Richard Rettie, Perthshire had travelled south to judge, and said this heifer caught his eye as soon as it came into the ring.

Born in February 2021, it led the junior heifer calf class and followed hot on the heels of its success as junior champion at Stars of the Future. By Dendor 1 Kohinoor, it is a son of Danish-imported SMH Euro 30E and out of Dendor 1 Jennefer 15th, the two times Hereford female of the year which is a daughter of Solpoll 1 Gilbert, the three times UK sire of the year.

Tom and Di Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland also had a National Pedigree Calf Show with Moralee 1 Villain RK V17, a Rebel Kicks son, and out of Moralee 1 Kylie which is bred from Romany Herefords’ Ishbel family.

In the carcase hall, the supreme and native champion carcase was from Hereford Cattle Society young breeder, 15 year old Harvey Heath, Derbyshire. Sired by Tydesmoor 1 Jubilee purchased out of Bakewell market, it is out of a home-bred pedigree British Blue cow. Weighing 550kg live, it was 320kg when cold and graded as R4L. The carcase was sold at 5.70kg to Howdens, Yorkshire.

Isla Soutter of Normanton Herefords also won the young handlers’ championship along with the John Yates Memorial Challenge Trophy, presented to the person showing the most professionalism in the presentation and handling of their stock, which every stockperson at the show was automatically entered in.

Finlay Soutter, also of Normanton Herefords, won his young handlers class.

Grifford 1 Princess from Nick Griffiths, Penkridge, Staffordshire was selected as senior and senior female champion at the Stars of the Future held at United Auctions, Stirling. September 2020-born, it is a Normanton 1 Laertes son, and out of Coley 1 Clara 315, a daughter of Blakelaw 1 Calzaghe.

Grifford 1 Princess

Judging was Panmure Herefords’ Audrey Anderson, who commented on the high quality of calves forward.

Leading the junior section was March 2021-born Moralee 1 Valuabull RK V19 from Tom and Di Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland. March 2021-born and having already taken the grand male title at Agri Expo, it is by Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12 which did so well on this year’s summer show scene. Its dam is the Harrisons’ ‘original Pippa’, Coley 1 Pippa 356, which won the Royal Highland Show in 2017.

Moralee 1 Valuabull

Saltire 1 Vinnie from Willie and Pauline Wason, Kinglassie, Fife took the reserve senior and senior male champion titles. Born in October 2020, it also did well at Agri Expo, being named reserve senior male champion. Another Laertes son, it is out of Baldinnie 1 Cathy 40th, which is a Baldinnie 1 Orient daughter.

Saltire 1 Vinnie

Sky High 1 Miss Allure from Nick Griffiths and Boomer Birch and Graham Brindley took the reserve junior and junior female champion. Out of Dendor 1 Jennefer 15th and by Dendor 1 Kohinoor, a SMH Euro 30E son, it is February 2020-born.

Sky High 1 Miss Allure

From Strathaven-based Gavin Dunbar, February 2020-born Drumboy 1 Vindicator 1103 won the reserve junior male champion accolade. Home-bred, it is by AI sire Fabb 1 Northern Star, and out of the Danish -bred Moeskaer Kashmir 1655.

Moralee 1 Mink RK V2

Another from the Harrisons’ stable, this time Moralee 1 Mink RK V24, won the reserve junior female champion title. Out of Romany 1 Mink DL L24, it is again by Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12.

Rempstone 1 Curly N604 from MJ Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire stood supreme, grand female and junior female champion in the Hereford section of Agri Expo, hosted by the Scottish and North of England area associations. Born in January 2021, it is by Solpoll 1 Nobility, a Panmure 1 Henry son, which the Ludgates describe as the most consistent bull they have ever used and also sired Rempstone 1 Pansy N513, the top price at the 2019 autumn society sale at 4,200gns.

Judging, Panmure Herefords’ Abbie Anderson described her champion as the sort of heifer she likes, being ‘big and powerful with a cracking head’.

Rempstone 1 Curly N604 – supreme, grand female and junior female champion

It was the grand male and junior male champion which found its way to the reserve supreme spot in the form of Moralee 1 Valuabull RK V19 from T and D Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland. March 2021-born, it is by Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12 which did so well on this year’s summer show scene. Its dam is the Harrisons’ ‘original Pippa’, Coley 1 Pippa 356, which won the Royal Highland Show in 2017.

Abbie again praised this animal for its power, and added it had ‘great length with plenty of potential’.

Moralee 1 Valuabull RK V19 – grand male, junior male and reserve supreme champion

Commenting on the quality of juniors on show, Abbie placed Moralee 1 Pippa RK V21 as reserve junior and reserve grand female. Born in March 2021, it is a full sister to the Harrisons’ grand male champion.

Moralee 1 Pippa RK V21 – reserve junior female and reserve grand female champion

Staying in the limelight, Ludgate’s Rempstone 1 Venom N597 was tapped out as reserve grand male. Another by Nobility, this time it is out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 911, purchased from Ireland’s Matthew Goulding.

Rempstone 1 Venom N597 – reserve junior male and reserve grand male champion

The senior female championship was won by Bishop Auckland-based W and R Kemp and sons with Auckvale 1 Beth 2023T. By stock bull Auckvale 1 Ramesses, it is out of Auckvale 1 Beth 1791R, an embryo imported from Canada, bred from CBB 4R Iggy 511C which the Kemps own a share of in Canada.

Auckvale 1 Beth 2023T – senior female champion

Reserve senior female champion was Bethanfield 1 Lisette 080 from Bethan Hutchinson, Billingham, County Durham. By Coley 1 Petrus, which Bethan showed for Heather Whittaker at the 2018 Royal Highland, before purchasing for her own use.

Bethanfield 1 Lisette 080 – reserve senior female champion

Coley 1 Vincent from Heather Whittaker, Halifax, West Yorkshire, took the senior male championship, having already stood reserve supreme and junior champions at the 2021 Great Yorkshire Show. A September 2020-born embryo calf originating from Gouldingpoll Herefords’ programme, it is a Fabb 1 Northern Star son, with Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 591 as its dam, which the Gouldings say is their most successful female.

Coley 1 Vincent – senior male champion

Reserve senior male champion was Saltire 1 Vinnie from WP and K Wason, Kinglassie, Fife. A Laertes son, it is out of Baldinnie 1 Cathy 40^th, which is a Baldinnie 1 Orient daughter.

Saltire 1 Vinnie – reserve senior male champion

Fellowhills 1 Viking from Jimmy Hodge, Horndean, Berwick-upon-Tweed led the November to December 2020-born bull class. Sired by SMH Kingsize 87K, it is out of Fisher 1 Cheerful J364.

In the pairs class, Tom and Di Harrison won the red ticket, before going on to also stand top of the line up in the group of three class, with a trio of Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12 sired progeny.

From Jimmy Hodge, Fellowhills Kris won the commercial class at nine months old.

The United Feeds calf show returns for another year and will be held on Saturday 13 November at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

This will be an opportunity to see some of the best young Hereford stock in Northern Ireland and is to be held in conjunction with NI Shorthorn Club in a multi breed showcase.

Entries close Friday 29 October.

The HCBA Christmas calf show will return to Shrewsbury Auction Centre on Saturday 11 December, by kind permission of Halls, to commence at 9am.

Entries are open and will close on Friday 12 November. Further information and relevant paperwork available here.

For further information please contact HCBA secretary Emma Davies on 07944 519860 or emmajadedavies@hotmail.co.uk.

Harveybros 1 Crocus S2 from George and Sophie Harvey won the senior championship at the 2019 show

Stirling’s United Auctions is once again hosting the Stars of the Future calf show, which is planned for Saturday 13 November. The biggest one day calf show in the UK, it would great to see strong representation from the Hereford breed, which will be judged by Panmure Herefords’ Audrey Anderson.

Solpoll 1 Starlet M19 from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, led the honours at Balmoral Show which this year was held in September rather than its usual May date. Judged by Devon cattle breeder Jeff Thomas who travelled from Cornwall, it lay host to 29 entries from 10 different exhibitors.

Solpoll 1 Starlet M19

Six and a half years old, this McMordie-bred cow is a daughter of the renowned Panmure 1 Henry which has already sired three Balmoral-winning daughters. Its dam is a Solpoll 1 Dynamite daughter and carries Canadian breeding on either side of its pedigree.

Shown with its heifer calf at-foot, Jeff Thomas described the female as a ‘good, strong, powerful cow with real style’, adding it had ‘bred and fed a real good calf’.

In the interbreed championship, this cow went on to be placed third by judge John Elliot of Rawburn Angus, Kelso.

John said: “All three females put on a maternal masterclass and on another day the Hereford could have won the show”.

In the final interbreed class of the week, the native team of five, consisting of cattle from the Haire family, John and William McMordie, Marcus Murdock, Stephen Cherry and Andrew McMordie took first prize.

The reserve Hereford champion was from the same stable and came in the form of Solpoll 1 Triumph which also won the junior championship. March 2020-born, it is by Moeskaer Mentos and out of another Starlet female and Henry daughter. In the interbreed performance recorded championship, this bull was tapped out as champion by well-known Kilrea-based Limousin breeder Paul Rainey, having already taken the native title.

Solpoll 1 Triumph

During the breed judging, Jeff commented the bull was a ‘good type of bull’ with ‘excellent feet’ being ‘thick and full in its plates and nice across its top’.

McMordies were back on top in the senior bull class, won by Solpoll 1 Real Good, out of another Panmure 1 Henry daughter, but this time it is an ET son of Canadian-bred NBG 69T The Wonderer 36R 3W.

Solpoll 1 Real Good

Success continued for the McMordie family in the 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2019-born heifer class where the reserve female champion was also found in the form of Solpoll 1 Starlet T4. Born in October 2019, it is a daughter of the show’s champion, Solpoll 1 Starlet M19. It is sired by Solpoll 1 Promoter, which is a son of the Canadian-bred FCC Twenty X 20X and was also reserve native and reserve overall interbreed beef performance champion. This heifer was also a class winner in the NIHBA virtual calf show last year.

Solpol 1 Starlet T4

The 1 January to 30 June 2019 heifer class was taken by Magheraknock Niki S2 from David Smyth, Ballynahinch, Co Down. By Free Town Mentor, a Mara Humorous son, it is out of a home-bred female, sired by Border Quaestor H5, bred by Stan Quan, Herefordshire.

Magheraknock Niki S2

The 2020-born heifer class was won by Stephen Cherry’s Ballypallady 1 TigerLily, a January-born Dorepoll 1 60G Chinook daughter. It is out of Boghill 1 Nicola, bred by FA and E Kerridge, Templepatrick, Co Antrim and by Trillick Hotspur, bred by Ireland’s JJ and C Farrell.

Ballypallady 1 TigerLily

The group of three class was again taken by John and William McMordie, with the trio made up of Solpoll 1 Triumph, Solpoll 1 Starlet T4 and Solpoll 1 Starlet M19.

Marcus Murdock took the pairs class with two Romany 1 Lawbreaker progeny.

Marcus Murdock’s pair

A duo of Solpoll animals placed third in the interbreed pairs competition from John and William McMordie. The Hereford group of three also placed third in the interbreed and was made up of Solpoll and Ballypallady animals.

A Hereford-cross heifer named Hetty from JCB Commercials, Newtonwards, Co Down led the native sired commercial class, bred by Aaron Quigley and out of a British Blue dam.