On their first time entering, TG and FM Hart, Monmouth, won the champion carcase accolade at the English Winter Fair, as judged by D Morland, Tebay, Cumbria.
Scott Coates, a familiar face within the society who is associated with the Monmouthshire-based business, decided to enter the carcase competition after being shut down with TB and therefore unable to show the March 2021-born animal in the live classes.
By Danish-bred sire Moeskaer Upgrade, the steer weighted 630kg at home before making its way to HP Westwoods of Cannock, the designated slaughterhouse for the show, before hanging up at 347kg on the hook, grading at an R4H. During Sunday afternoon sale, the carcase sold back to the slaughterhouse at £4.70/kg.
In the Hereford classes of the pedigree primestock section, Tom and Di Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland led the judging with steer, Moralee 1 Venture RK V23. A Rebel Kicks son, weighing in at 625kg, the March 2021-born steer won its class before being promoted to Hereford champion, by judge Tecwyn Jones, Llantrisant, Anglesey. The steer was led through the sale ring at £2.85/kg.
Leading the heifer class was Normanton 1 Jurana 22nd V398 from TD and WT Livesey, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. April 2021-born, it is a Laertes daughter, and out of a home-bred Alvian 1 Emperor daughter. It sold for £3.30p/kg and weighed 525kg.
There was also more success for the Herefords at the show when the Moralee and Normanton herds teamed up to win reserve champions in the Duke of Norfolk group of three interbreed competition. The team consisted of Normanton 1 Jurana 22nd V398, Normanton 1 Victor and Moralee 1 Venture RK V23.
In the non-pedigree section, Porkie, a home-bred Vexour 1 Phantom sired steer from Dorset’s RA and VA Mitchell won the Tim Bickford Trophy for the champion Hereford cross animal sired by a Hereford bull.
Porkie from RA and VA Mitchell
Reserve in the cross-bred Hereford championship was Ruby from Steven and Helen O’Kane, Adfa, Powys. Sired by Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks, the heifer weighed 605kg and sold at £3/kg.
Within the National Pedigree Calf Show which is hosted at the Winter Fair, Normanton 1 Winter Wonderland W372 stood second place in the any other native senior calf class, having already stood reserve senior male champion at Agri Expo. By the 4,000gns Panmure 1 Pudding it was purchased at the 2018 autumn show and sired Normanton 1 Fistulina 35th V569 which sold for 4,800gns.
Staying within the any other native breed classes, judge Charlie MacLean, Eastleigh, Hampshire of Mortimers Charolais directed Newtoncroft 1 Whole Lot-of-Fun into the first place position, ahead of other competing breeds. Born in January 2022, it is by Hawkesbury 1 Swift and out of Dendor 1 Honeysuckle.
SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire led the senior heifer class with Spartan 1 Oyster Gem SP166. Born in October 2021, it is by sire of the year Solpoll 1 Perfection and won its class at Agri Expo.
An all-Hereford junior heifer class saw Tom and Di Harrison come to the fore with Moralee 1 Kylie OR263. By Scottish-bred Baldinnie 1 Orient, it is out of a home-bred Spurstow 1 Recruit 1st daughter.