At a sun soaked Royal Three Counties Show, the senior female Hereford champion and reserve stuck together all the way to the supreme championship. Leading the way with Joe Clark on the steering end was Rempstone 1 Curly N604 from M Ludgate, Thame, Oxfordshire which also won the supreme championship at Agri Expo in November 2021 as a calf. January 2021-born, it is a daughter of Solpoll 1 Nobility and from the Curly line which goes back to the Badlingham herd.

Rempstone 1 Curly N604 from M Ludgate

Tapped out by judge George Harvey was Pebworth 1 Vesper from Nick and Lucy Holdsworth, Pebworth, Warwickshire, mirroring the outcome of its class, the senior female and grand female championships. Six weeks younger than the supreme champion, it is by stock bull Dendor 1 Smokin’ Joe, it is out of Blakesley 1 Glamour, a FS 1 Versache daughter.

Pebworth 1 Vesper from N and L Holdsworth

Grand male champion was Solpoll 1 Trailblazer from L and L Bowen, Nelson, Glamorgan which has already had a successful show season so far, including reserve interbreed champion at the Royal Bath and West and interbreed champion at Shropshire County Show. It also stood senior male champion and won the most senior bull class.

Solpoll 1 Trailbalzer from SC and GL Hartwright

Spartan 1 Voyager SP V138 from SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire was successful as reserve grand male champion, and also stood next to Trailblazer in the senior male championship. March 2021-born, it is by Solpoll 1 Perfection and out of Panmure 1 Plum K19, which is by Hawkesbury 1 Volcano.

Spartan 1 Voyager SP V138 from SC and GL Hartwright

The junior male championship victor came from Paul Dickin, Solihull in the form of January 2022-born Jacobean 1 Warrior. By SMH Euro 30E son Dendor 1 Kununurra, it is out of Jacobean 1 Willow 047 which goes back to many generations of Lowesmoor breeding.

Jacobean 1 Warrior from P Dickin

Standing as reserve junior male championship was Lanscombe 1 Doormouse from RA Mitchell, Dorchester. By Vexour 1 Phantom which was junior male champion at the 2018 autumn show and sale at Hereford market, it is out of Lanscombe 1 Sonnet.

Lanscombe 1 Doormouse from RA Mitchell

Bowendu 1 Ruby 2nd led the proceedings in the junior female championship. Bred and shown by L and L Bowen, it is a daughter of Trailblazer and out of Dendor 1 Ruby 23rd which was third place female of the year in both 2019 and 2017.

Bowendu 1 Ruby 2nd from L and L Bowen

Reserve junior female was selected as Kingsland 1 Starlet 22 from Vaughan Farms, Kingsland, Herefordshire. Sired by 2018 Royal Welsh Show champion Gouldingpoll 1 Moonshine, its Starlet name originates from its Solpoll breeding.

Kingsland 1 Starlet 22 from Vaughan Farms

Elsewhere in the classes, RA Bradstock and partners, Tarrington, Herefordshire led the bull born September to November 2021 class with Free Town Wealth. September 2021-born, it is by stock bull Boycefield Stormzy and from generations of Free Town females.

Free Town Wealth from RA Bradstock and partners

Kinglee 1 Will-I-Am, another from Nick and Lucy Holdsworth, took the red ticket in the March to April 2022 bull class. Bred by Pete Cobley, Leicestershire, this bull is out of Kinglee 1 Miss 520 which goes back to Costhorpe’s Miss family.

Kinglee 1 Will-I-Am from N and L Holdsworth

Continuing their lap round the summer show circuit, FJ Wood and sons, Morleigh, Devon won the cow and calf class with Solpoll 1 Pansy T17. Purchased from John and William McMordie, Co Down, it was 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, its dam is a full sister to Solpoll 1 Lawman while 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.

Solpoll 1 Pansy T17 from FJ Wood and sons

Another from the Hartwrights’ stable, this time Spartan 1 Oyster Gem SP166, moved to the fore in the September to December 2021 heifer class. Sired by the UK sire of the year Solpoll 1 Perfection, its dam is from the Cleland Oyster Gem line.

Spartan 1 Oyster Gem SP166 from SC and GL Hartwright

The junior heifer class was taken by Bosbury 1 Rosa W129 GT from Sarah Hawkins, Bosbury, Herefordshire. Born in May 2022, it is by Grifford 1 Try which was purchased at 5,500gns at the 2021 spring show and sale and has bred well for the herd.

Bosbury 1 Rosa W129 GT from Sarah Hawkins

The pairs class was won by Mike and Caroline Shaw of Thornysure Hereford, Ilmington, Warwickshire.