After a very active and successful summer show circuit, visiting shows from the Royal Highland to the Royal Norfolk, Simon and Gemma Hartwright’s Spartan herd was a volume award winner at the Hereford Cattle Society’s annual awards dinner, taking an assortment of silverware back home to Oxfordshire.
Bull of the year was among the herd’s victories, with Spartan 1 Typhoon named as the winner, with points accumulated throughout the year’s show calendar.
Bull of the year – Spartan 1 Typhoon from SC and GL Hartwright
The Hartwrights’ triumph in the show ring have increased in recent times, having won a string of breed championships this summer with Typhoon the most successful animal to come from the Spartan stable to date. Born in February 2020, Typhoon is a son of Solpoll 1 Perfection, and out of Panmure 1 Plum K19.
Poll bull of the year – Spartan 1 Typhoon from SC and GL Hartwright
Spartan 1 Typhoon was also named poll bull of the year on the night. This bull’s successes include supreme champion at the National Poll Show, the Great Yorkshire, the Royal Highland, Bucks County, Shropshire County, Burwarton and Royal Norfolk.
Sire of the year – Solpoll 1 Perfection from SC and GL Hartwright
It was Typhoon’s sire, Solpoll 1 Perfection, which took 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 a son of the renowned Panmure 1 Henry which has really produced for the Northern Irish breeders.
Female of the year – Spartan 1 Duchess T95 from SC and GL Hartwright
From the same stable, Spartan 1 Duchess T95 was announced as female of the year. This February 2020-born heifer is out of Ruckmans 1 Orange 1332 and by the now current UK sire of the year, Solpoll 1 Perfection.
Poll female of the year – Spartan 1 Duchess T95 from SC and GL Hartwright
The trophy for poll female of the year was also presented to the Hartwrights for Spartan 1 Duchess. Duchess has had an active show season, and was tapped out as female champion at the Great Yorkshire, reserve supreme and female champion at the Royal Norfolk and won its class at the Highland, reserve female champion at Shropshire County.
Show herd of the year – Spartan Herefords, SC and GL Hartwright
It therefore came as no surprise that SC and GL Hartwright also headed to the front of the room to receive the show herd of the year accolade. With stockman Luke Murphy at the helm, the Spartan herd has enjoyed one success after the other this year, making it its most fruitful year to date.
Horned bull of the year – Free Town Versatile from RA Bradstock and partners
In the horned Hereford awards, the horned bull of the year was received by Tony Bradstock of RA Bradstock and partners, Tarrington, Herefordshire for their success with November 2020-born Free Town Versatile. A Moyclare Quinlan son, this bull is out of Free Town Penchant, which carries generations of Bradstock breeding on its dam side and stood reserve grand male champion at the National Hereford Show, Shropshire County and the Royal Three Counties.
Horned female of the year – Pulham Pansy 26th from J and E Lake
Horned female of the year was named as September 2020-born Pulham Pansy 26th from James and Ellen Lake, Froxfield, Hampshire, a first-time exhibitor at the National Hereford Show, where it stood reserve supreme and grand female champion. Hereford Cattle Society members since 2019, Pansy was purchased from Philip and Laura Vincent from their Norfolk-based herd as a calf at-foot to its mother Clipston Pansy T3.
Horned herd of the year – Free Town Herefords, RA Bradstock and partners
Returning to RA Bradstock and partners was the horned herd of the year title which was also won by the breeders in 2019 when the awards were last held, having had success at the National Hereford Show, Shropshire County and Royal Three Counties.