Devon County kicks off the show season for the Southwest, after mopping up the awards last year, exhibitors, FJ Wood and Sons, Morleigh, Devon, return to the ring at Westpoint to take the top spot for the second year running.
Tapped out as breed champion by Cornish breeder, John Williams of Anhay Herefords was Solpoll 1 Pansy T17, bred by John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down. It is the second championship ribbon earned by the Irish bred, April-20 born cow. Purchased in-calf at the 2022 spring show and sale at 6,200gns, by Danish-bred Moeskaer Mentos, she has a pedigree full of success, with her dam a full sister to Solpoll 1 Lawman. What’s more, her 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.
Last year Pansy T17 went on to have a successful summer collecting red ribbons and standing as reserve champion at the Royal Cornwall Show.
Porton House 1 Lilac Wine 2nd bred by P & V Moyle based in Goldcliff, Newport, now owned and exhibited by FJ Wood and Son took the top position in her class. The heifer is a full sister to Royal Welsh winner, Porton House 1 Lilac Wine.
Next in the ribbons was Romany 1 Valium FR V57 exhibited by Mr Barry Cambridge, bred by Scottish breeder, JRB Wilson & Sons, Cowbog, Kelso. First catching the judge’s eye in the senior bull class, he moved up the ranks taking male champion and finishing with reserve overall champion.
Sired by Fabb 1 Rocco, this bull has been shown with great success at one day events throughout last summer. Consistently leaving with a red ribbon and often taking home the champion ticket in the Hereford division.
Standing as reserve male champion, bred, and exhibited by Mr E G Mills, Severnvale Herefords was Severnvale Rogue. Sired by Somerwood Rondo and out of homebred Severnvale Hazel 1st, this isn’t the first time the April-22 born animal has caught the eye of the judges, as he stood reserve male champion at Tenbury last summer.
From R A & V A Mitchell’s, Lanscombe herd based in Dorchester, class winner Lanscombe 1 Ebony finished the day stood as reserve female champion. Born January 23, sired by Vexour 1 Phantom, out of Lanscombe 1 Lotty. Her grandsire on the paternal side, is the renowned Panmure 1 Henry.
This success wasn’t stand-alone as the breeders also came out on top with bull, Lanscombe 1 Endeavour within the junior bull class. Paternal half-brother to the reserve champion Lanscombe female, out of homebred Lanscombe 1 Susie. The team then went forward to win the pairs class.
Out of Dendor 1 Greta 29th and sired by Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman, owned, and exhibited by S & H O’Kane, Santa Maria 1 Alcatraz won the junior bull class. Purchased from the Santa Maria dispersal at the foot on his mother in June 2023 for 3,000gns. He saw success at the English Winter fair finishing first in his class.
Prize winners at the Devon County show
Judge – Mr John Williams (Anhay Herefords)
Overall Breed Champion = Solpoll 1 Pansy T17 – F J Wood & Sons ( Allwood Herefords)
Reserve = Romany 1 Valium – Mr Barry Cambridge (Buryhill Herefords)
Female Champion = Solpoll 1 Pansy T17 F J Wood & Sons (Allwood Herefords)
Reserve Female champion = Lanscombe 1 Ebony – R A & V A Mitchell (Lanscombe Herefords)
Male champion = Romany 1 Valium – Mr Barry Cambridge (Buryhill Herefords)
Reserve Male Champion = Severnvale Rogue – Mr E G Mills (Severnvale Herefords)
Cow and with calf at foot or heifer born in or before 2021
1st Solpoll 1 Pansy T17 – FJ Wood & sons (Allwood Herefords)
2nd Keadyview 1 Pippa Kicks – Keadyview Livestock (Keadyview Herefords)
Heifer born 2022
1st – Porton House 1 Lilac Wine 2nd – F J Wood and Sons (Allwood Herefords)
2nd Moralee Curly CI288 – T & D Harrison (Moralee Herefords)
3rd Allwood 1 Great – F J Wood and Sons (Allwood Herefords)
Heifer born on or between 1st January and 31st May 2023
1st Lanscombe 1 Ebony – R A & V A Mitchell (Lanscombe Herefords)
2nd Midford 1 Elke 1st – Mr William Awan (Midford Herefords)
3rd Allwood 1 Lilac Wine – F J Wood and Sons (Allwood Hereford)
4th Moralee 1 Kylie PR302 – R & D Harrison (Moralee Herefords)
5th Lanscombe 1 Eliza – R A & V A Mitchell (Lanscombe Herefords)
Calf born after 1st June 2023
1st Santa Maria 1 Alcatraz – Keadyview Livestock (Keadyview Herefords)
2nd Buryhill 1 Victoria – Mr Barry Cambridge (Buryhill Herefords)
3rd Buryhill 1 Elizabeth – Mr Barry Cambridge (Buryhill Herefords)
4th Allwood 1 Pancy 2nd – F J Wood & Sons (Allwood Herefords)
5th Keadyview 1 Pippa B29 – Keadyview Livestock (Keadyview Herefords)
Bull on or before 31st December 2022
1st Romany 1 Valium – Mr Barry Cambridge (Buryhill Herefords)
2nd Severnvale Rogue – Mr E G Mills (Severnvale Herefords)
Bull born or or between 1st January and 31st May 2023
1st Lanscombe 1 Endeavour – R A & V A Mitchell (Lanscombe Hereford)
2nd Lanscombe 1 Edwin – R A & V A Mitchell (Lanscombe Herefords)
3rd Allwood 1 Aztec – F J Wood and Sons (Allwood Herefords)
Pair of animals
1st Lanscombe Herefords
2nd Buryhill Herefords