Waterproofs and an umbrella were a must this year at Tenbury show, with both handler and beast appreciative of the livestock tents. Despite this, the show was far from a washout with nearly fifty quality animals on parade.
Armed with high expectations of what he expected from the breed displayed on the day, Mr Richard Bartle, from Hereford oversaw the proceedings. Richard is a keen pedigree breeder, recently returning from the Royal Welsh show as an exhibitor this year.
The animal to catch the judge’s eye taking home the coveted overall supreme champion rosette and trophy was Pulham Admiral from PRJ & LR Vincent. Despite his age, this young bull dominated the ring throughout the day, following his win in the Bull Calf born in September 2022 class, earning the Pulham herd multiple championship titles and the best exhibitor-bred accolade.
Outside Tenbury show, Admiral was named best September-born bull calf for the ‘Midlands and East Anglia Herd competition’ last month. Judged by Clive Roads, another of Admirals admirers, who sighted a bright future for this animal.
Sired by Mawarra Influential Q162, purchased by a syndicate comprising of PRJ and LR Vincent, E L Lewis and son and Graham Genetics (Australia) for AUS$42,000. Influential is having the desired effect both parties hoped to see within their herds, seeing his progeny taking home numerous titles on Saturday.
Pulham Admiral from PRJ & LR Vincent – Bull Calf born in Sep ‘22, Junior Male Champion, Grand Male Champion, Supreme Champion, Best Exhibitor Bred
Alongside Admiral in reserve, making an unusual but well-deserved line up, was Pulham Tiara 5th exhibited by James & Ellen Lake. Bred by the Supreme Champion winner, PRJ and LR Vincent, Tiara was purchased in 2019 at the Designer Genes sale for £4,095.
Mr Bartle brought her forward for ‘her width throughout’ and how she embodied the maternal values of the Hereford breed – rearing her calf well at foot whilst keeping in good condition, in-calf herself.
Tiara, started with a first within the senior cow class before moving ahead to win senior female champion and then grand female champion before claiming reserve overall, comes from a line of National Hereford Show champions. Haven Kermit, Tiara’s sire, took Supreme Champion at the National Hereford Show in 2014. Kermit’s sire, Haven Cavalier, a Churchill Storm V583 son, was Senior Male Champion at the National Hereford Show in 2010.
Pulham Tiara 5th from James & Ellen Lake, Bred by PRJ & LR Vincent – 1st Senior Cow Class, Senior Female Champion, Grand Female Champion, Reserve Champion
Free Town Wealth entered the ring last year and took home first in his class. Back for a second year, Wealth surpassed his success from 2022, winning not only bull born on or between September ’21 and February ’22 but Intermediate Male Champion and finishing alongside Admiral as reserve Grand Male Champion. Owned and bred by R A Bradstock & Partners, from Herefordshire, Wealth comes from a long line of Free Town dams.
Free Town Wealth from R A Bradstock & Partners – 1st Bull born on or between Sep 21 and Feb 22, Intermediate Male Champion, Reserve Grand Male Champion
Winning the senior bull class, Haven Rover, owned by D J Makin, bred by E L Lewis and Son, went on to uphold the family tradition by following his sire, Haven Lamborghini, the 2019 Senior Male Champion, by claiming this year’s Senior Male Champion title.
Haven Rover from D J Makin, bred by E L Lewis & Son – 1st Senior Bull Class and Senior Male Champion
Sired by Pute Nascar N13, a New Zealand bull bred by Anna & Brent Fisher of Silverstream Hereford herd, Heath House Virgil from R & EC Lywood, took Reserve Senior Champion.
Heath House Virgil from R & EC Lywood – Reserve Senior Champion
Severnvale Rogue, from E G Mills, was tapped out by Richard within bull born on or between March and August ‘22 class, placed alongside Free Town Wealth as reserve intermediate male champion.
Free Town Wealth Intermediate Champion from RA Bradstock & Partners, Severnvale Rogue from E G Mills as reserve champion
The Haven herd took home the red rosette within the junior bull class with Haven Amazon, sired from Haven Voltage and Haven Louisa 70th, some who’s progeny was sold last year within the bicentenary sale at E L Lewis and Sons farm in Herefordshire. Another victory within the Haven herd, saw Haven Akubra claim the reserve junior male champion spot. Akubra being another bull with star quality sired by Mawarra Influential Q162.
Haven Akubra from E L Lewis & Son 1st Junior Bull Class
The Pulham prefix repeated over the commentary throughout the day, with both animals within the Grand Female Championship bred by Vincents. Pulham Tiara 8th, from PRJ & LR Vincents herd, who’s breeding again sees the Australian bull, Mawarra Influential Q162’s influence and winning touch, Tiara 8th won Junior Female Champion and reserve Grand Female Champion, following her victory in heifer born in September ’22.
Pulham Tiara 8th from PRJ & LR Vincent – 1st Heifer Born in Sep ‘22, Junior Female Champion, Reserve Grand Female Champion
Half-sister to the Supreme Champion, Admiral and Junior Female Champion, Tiara 8th. Pulham Dowager, won in the junior heifer class. Dowager teamed up with Tiara 8th to win the pairs competition and with addition of Pulham Arthur were brought forward to achieve first in the group of 3 class.
Group of three from PRJ & LR Vincent
Elsewhere on the day, Sparkwood Pansy 11th, from Mrs L Jackson, previously attended the show in 2018, re-enters the ring victorious, taking reserve in the senior female championship.
Mrs S A Cowle’s HighHedges team, followed a string of wins throughout the day. First of which was HighHedges Diadem 9-21, tapped out by Mr Bartle in heifer born on or between September ’21 and February ’22. Then HighHedges Blossom 25-22 taking first in heifer born on or between March ‘22 and August ’22. The pair share the same sire, homebred HighHedges Synergist, in 2019 gained the reserve supreme champion title. Blossom held the advantage finishing the friendly between the two stable mates, winning Intermediate Female Champion with Diadem as reserve.
HighHedges Blossom 25-22 as Intermediate Female Champion and HighHedges Diadem 9-21 in reserve both from Mrs S A Cowle
The president of the Hereford Cattle Society, David Smyth of Co Down, Magheraknock herd, made the trip across the water to enjoy the spectacle “The horned show is one of the highlights of the year as far as I’m concerned being a horned breeder myself. However, it is sad to see that the numbers have declined over recent years having said that we had a good turnout of stock today, weather wasn’t that kind but eventually dried up and it was nice to see it all going according to plan.”
Society President, David Smyth
On its 37th year at Tenbury show the society receives a great support from the show community. Anthony Bunn, the president of Tenbury show, visited the Hereford section whilst classes were in full swing and commented that “In my eye they [Hereford cattle] are one of the best breeds Britain has to offer and the standard today has been first class.”
Michael Church along side Judge Richard Bartle.