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Beltex take the double at Agrifest

Continental breeding took the spotlight in both the sheep and cattle rings at Agrifest South West. Ellie Layton reports.

clock • 4 min read
Beltex take the double at Agrifest
Winning the champion and reserve double in the sheep section were pairs of lambs from Robert Garth and Sarah Priestley, North Yorkshire.ÌýÌýÌý

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They were bred from their 60-head pedigree Beltex and Texel flocks, and all the lambs were by their pedigree Beltex stock ram, Todhall Freddie. It also sired their home-bred winter fair lambs last year, which won at Agri Expo and the English Winter Fair.ÌýÌý

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The champion pair were pure Beltex, which won the purebred continental section before taking the overall title.ÌýÌýÌý

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Champion and reserve pairs

The overall reserve champions were winners of the butcher's weight section and weighed 80kg in total.ÌýÌýÌý

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Carmarthenshire farmer Caryl Howells, who is no stranger to the show ring herself, judged the sheep section.

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She said: "The pairs were a full package; well turned out with a solid top and full in the leg."Ìý

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Reserve in the butchers weights section was A. Lockyer, Somerset, with a pair of Beltex lambs weighing 86kg.ÌýÌýÌý

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The champion native pair were a pair of Kerry Hill lambs, also exhibited by Garth and Priestley.ÌýÌýÌý

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Reserve went to a pair of Hampshire Downs from R.A. Rundle, Newquay.Ìý

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Beltex lambs also won the Young ²ÝÁñÉçÇø class, with a pair from Libby and Rosie Garth, North Yorkshire, and took first prize in the single lamb class for Garth and Priestley.

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Fist Full of Dollars from J.M. and S.M. Rowlands

Katrina Donaldson, Carlisle, tapped out the steer winner as the champion in the baby beef section.ÌýÌýÌý

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This was the April-born calf, Fist Full Of Dollars; a 332kg Limousin cross calf bred by J.M. and S.M. Rowlands, Newtown.ÌýÌýÌý

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Reserve was Roan'a from James May, Bromsgrove. The 402kg heifer is a January-born Limousin, sired by his stock bull, Mystyle Rova.Ìý

Handsfree from Michael Kirby

The supreme primestock championship saw Michael Kirby, Holsworthy, claim the highest honours with his home-bred British Blue cross heifer, Handsfree. The April 2022-born heifer weighed in at 556kg. This makes Mr Kirby the first exhibitor to win the cattle section at Agrifest three times.ÌýÌý

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The reserve championship went to a Limousin cross, Gothi Tiktok, exhibited by Richard Wright, Somerton, who bought the 674kg, June 2022-born heifer from Dafydd Lewis, Carmarthen.ÌýÌýÌý

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Champion steer went to the winner of the bred and fed section, Under Pressure, a March 2022-born Limousin cross bred and exhibited by Paul and Lin Calcraft, Devon.ÌýÌý

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A Speckle Park cross, Lionheart, bred by Columbpark and Saphire livestock, Crediton, won the native championship. The March 2023-born steer was shown by Jess Maynard.Ìý

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Overall pedigree calf, Starlight Uppercut

The pedigree section - judged by Millie Birch, Staffordshire - saw the continental champion, Starlight Uppercut, come out on top.ÌýÌýÌý

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The February-born Charolais bull calf by Brampton Rampage was bred and exhibited by Will Glover, Yeovil.ÌýÌýÌý

Reserve went to the continental heifer champion, Arradfoot Udine; a January-born Limousin calf by Upperffyrydd Power, exhibited by Thor Atkinson, Cumbria. ÌýÌý

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The native champion went to the March 2023-born Hereford bull calf, Allwood 1 Acrobat, by Dendor 1 Triple H and from F.J. Wood, Devon. ÌýÌý

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Foxhill Diamond Mist, an Aberdeen-Angus heifer, took reserve in the native championship. Bred and exhibited by the Alford family, Cullompton, the January-born heifer is a daughter of the 13,000gns Weeton Diamond Mist M35.ÌýÌý

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Nealford Twister was crowned Young Bull of the Year, bred and exhibited by the Neale family, Launceston. The Limousin is an April 2022-born son of Loosebeare Nelson.Ìý

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Reserve was a Hereford, Lanscombe 1 Dude; a May 2022-born bull from R.A. and V.A. Mitchell, Dorset.

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ResultsÌý
SheepÌý
Overall (C. Howells, Carmarthen) Supreme and reserve, R. Garth and S. Priestley (Beltex).Ìý

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Pedigree (C. Howells) Sup. and res., R. Garth and S. Priestley (Beltex); res., Bodily family (Blue Texel).Ìý

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Native (C. Howells) Sup. and res., R. Garth and S. Priestley (Kerry Hill); res., R.A. Rundle (Hampshire Down).Ìý


Butchers (C. Howells) Sup., R. Garth and S. Priestley (Beltex); res., A. Lockyer.Ìý

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Single lamb (C. Howells) Sup., R. Garth and S. Priestley.Ìý

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Young ²ÝÁñÉçÇø (C. Howells) Sup., L. and R. Garth.Ìý

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CattleÌý
Overall (K. Donaldson, Cumbria) Sup., M. Kirby, Handsfree (British Blue cross); res., R. Wright, Gothi Tiktok (Limousin cross).Ìý

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Native (K. Donaldson) Sup., Columbpark and Saphire livestock, Lionheart (Speckle Park).

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Bred and fed (K. Donaldson) Sup., P. and L. Calcraft, Underpressure (Limousin); res., D. Cox, Itsadream (Limousin).
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Baby beef (K. Donaldson) Sup., J.M. and S.M. Rowlands, First full of dollars (Limousin); res., J. May, Roan'a (Limousin).Ìý

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Calf showÌý
Overall (M. Birch, Stafford) Sup., W. Glover, Starlight Uppercut (Charolais); T. Atkinson, Arradfoot Udine (Limousin).Ìý

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Continental (M. Birch) Sup., W. Glover, Starlight Uppercut (Charolais); res., T. Atkinson, Arradfoot Udine (Limousin).Ìý
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Native (M. Birch) Sup., F.J. Wood, Allwood 1 Acrobat (Hereford); Alford family, Foxhill Diamond Mist (Aberdeen-Angus).Ìý
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Best Young bull (M. Birch) Sup., Nealford family, Nealford Twister (Limousin); res., R.A. and V.A. Mitchell, Lanscombe 1 Dude (Hereford).Ìý
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