Solpoll 1 Pansy T17 from FJ Wood

First time exhibitors FJ Wood and sons, Morleigh, Devon went all the way on home soil at Devon County Show, picking up the supreme championship and reserve as well as both the champion male and reserve titles.

Tapped out as breed champion by Northamptonshire’s Martin Coates was Solpoll 1 Pansy T17, bred by John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down shown with its Fabb 1 Top Prize sired heifer calf at-foot. Born in April 2020, it is by Danish-bred Moeskaer Mentos. Purchased in-calf at the 2022 spring show and sale at 6,200gns, it has a pedigree full of success, with its dam a full sister to Solpoll 1 Lawman. What’s more, its grand dam is a full sister to Solpoll 1 Gilbert, the three times UK sire of the year, having also sired five females of the year.

Standing in the reserve supreme and female champion spot was February 2021-born Lanscombe 1 Cilla from regular Devon County winners, RA Mitchell, Dorchester. By Lanscombe 1 Wizard, it is out of Lanscombe 1 Winkie, a daughter of Brangwyn 1 Emperor, bred by the Roderick family, Gower, Swansea.

The Wood family dominated the male championships, with Dendor 1 Triple H taking the reserve supreme and male champion titles. Bred by DE, ED and AL Jones, Caersws, Powys, this April 2020-born bull also goes back to Brangwyn 1 Emperor on its paternal side, being a Dendor 1 Nairobi son. Last year, Triple H stood reserve male champion at Shropshire County and a second place card in its National Poll Show class.

It was the turn of February 2022-born Rempstone 1 Wasabi to take the reserve male championship, again from the Wood family. Another Nairobi son, it is out Rempstone 1 Anna Mary N506, which stood reserve supreme and female champion at the 2022 National Poll Show while under ownership of the exhibitors.