Following a busy show season, the results were announced for the Herefords of the Year competition at the annual awards dinner in Shrewsbury. The night marks the climax and conclusion of a year of hard work and dedication, behind a season of exhibiting stock up and down the country from Scotland to Cornwall and everywhere in- between. Each individual win not only racks up the ribbons but also adds points to move an animal, herd or breed a step closer to claiming one of nine coveted silverware pieces to take home and display pride of place.
The room filled with anticipation as the presentation for the 2023 Hereford of the Year winners began.
The bull of the year cup is sharing its home this year with two worthy winners, following a tie for the first-place spot. L & L Bowen’s, Nelson, Glamorgan, Solpoll 1 Trailblazer and Liam Jackson-Carr’s, Sheffield, Coley 1 Vincent. Both bulls have been a staple in the showring this season, accumulating points throughout the years show calendar.
Solpoll 1 Trailblazer bred by J & W McMordie, owned by L & L Bowen, named joint bull of the year
Solpoll 1 Trailblazer was bought into the Bowendu herd in 2021 from breeders John and Williams McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down and has earned the Bowens numerous championship titles this year from shows such as Bath and West and the Royal Welsh. His triumphs haven’t ended there, his progeny Bowedu 1 Ruby 2nd seeing success this year in her own right.
Coley 1 Vincent bred by H Whittaker, owned by L Jackson-Carr, named joint bull of the year
Bred by Heather Whittaker, Coley 1 Vincent from Liam Jackson-Carr of JC Hererfords has dominated the north, taking home the championship title at both the Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire shows. With the herd calving their first Coley 1 Vincent sired crop this year, this impressive bull will no doubt pass his winning touch to his progeny, setting the team up for future success.
Polled female of the year, Coley 1 Duchess 609 from Heather Whittaker
With her breeding taking home both the poll and bull of the year title, Heather Whittaker did not go home empty handed as Coley 1 Duchess 609 claimed the title for both female of the year and poll female of the year. Earlier this year Duchess strode into the supreme champion position at the Royal Norfolk Show, also having won the junior and female championships.
Sire of the year – Solpoll 1 Perfection from SC and GL Hartwright
Following their outstanding success at last year’s awards, Simon and Gemma Hartwright, Spartan herd, will be adding their names for a second year, with their stock bull, Solpoll 1 Perfection, taking the much-anticipated sire of the year title. Bred by Northern Irish breeders John and William McMordie, the Hartwrights made its purchase at the 2019 society spring show and sale for 8,000gns. It is son of the renowned Panmure 1 Henry.
Show herd of the Year, Tom & Di Harrison, Moralee Herefords
Tom, and Di Harrison, Stocksfield, Northumberland headed to the front of the room to collect the award for the show herd of the year. The couple weren’t in their seats long before returning to collect horned female of the year with their homebred heifer Moralee Curly C1288, sired by Parkhill Pompeii out of Auckvale Curly 1831S. Familiar faces on the scene this year, the team have travelled the breadth of Britain collecting red ribbons.
Horned bull of year, Pulham Admiral from PRJ & LR Vincent
After being tapped out in the top spot at this year’s national horned show at Tenbury Wells, Pulham Admiral from PRJ & LR Vincent, sired by Mawarra Influential Q162 an Australian bred bull shared within a syndicate, marks the exciting success of the imported genetics, earning him the cup for horned bull of the year. The night saw further success for the Pulham team as they returned to the stage, presented with the Horned Herd of the year trophy. Both cups will be heading to their home in the east of England.
Congratulations to all those who won and took part in the points shows. All will agree that there was a strong presence of Hereford cattle at the shows throughout the summer, drawing interest from parties within and outside the farming community.