JESS SIMMS & MATTHEW WRIGHT WIN YLBC TITLE AT DEVON SHOW

South West wins Senior Team

Junior Team title goes to Northern Ireland

Jess Simms and Matthew Wright were crowned joint overall individual winners of the National Young Limousin Breeders Club (YLBC) Stockjudging Competition held at the Devon County Show, Westpoint, Exeter on Saturday 19^th May 2012.

Both Jess & Matthew, representing the North West Midlands & North Wales region, have enjoyed considerable success in this annual competition in recent years with Jess (16) – from Hulse Farm, Lach Dennis, Northwich, Cheshire – winning the overall title for the second year running, and the Junior title for the third year on the trot. Matthew, aged 23, who works at home on the family farm at Tixall, Stafford and also runs his own Fourcrosses Limousin herd, had previously taken overall individual and team honours in 2010 and had stood runner-up in the senior team competition last year.

Following the format of recent years, the competitors were tasked with judging two rings of animals – four heifers and four young bulls respectively, with the juniors giving reasons on the bull class and the seniors giving reasons on the heifers. Master Judge was Dr Delana Davies of the Tierston Herd, Steynton, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, who said she was very impressed by the standard of judging and the enthusiasm of the young breeders.

Winning the senior team title was the South West region represented by Michelle Batting, Widhayes Farm, Devon & Stuart Persey, Allhallows, Cullompton.   Taking home the Junior team award on behalf of Northern Ireland was the brother and sister partnership of Ruth & Andrew Hamill, Dunmurray Lane, Belfast.

The event presented the first opportunity for new YLBC Co-ordinator, Caroline Stephens, to meet Young Limousin Breeders. Said Caroline: “I was really impressed by the youngsters’ skill and enthusiasm as well as by the support given to them by the Senior Limousin Regional Clubs. It’s a really encouraging start for putting together a programme of events into the future.”

The Young Limousin Breeders Club would like to thank Mike Cowell Construction, Kivells Auctioneers and Farmers Guardian for their sponsorship of the event, as well as expressing grateful thanks to Harpers Home Mix Ltd for providing the refreshments. Thanks are also extended to the South West Limousin Club, particularly those bringing out stock to be judged, the Master Judge and Stewards.

2012 YLBC Stockjudging Competition Results

Individual Overall

1^st Joint – Jess Simms, Hulse Farm, Cheshire               NW Mids & N Wales

Matthew Wright, Kennels Farm, Stafford                        NW Mids & N Wales

2^nd Joint –Stuart Persey, Allhallows, Cullompton          S West

Katrina Donaldson, Hazel House, North Yorks            North East

Senior Teams

1^st S West   Michelle Batting, Widhayes Farm, Devon

Stuart Persey, Allhallows, Cullompton

2^nd NE   Katrina Donaldson, Hazel House, North Yorkshire

Karl Suddes, South Farm, Cornsay, Durham

3^rd NI    Kim Nicholson, Antrim

Lynsey Lawrence, Co. Londonderry

Junior Teams

1^st NI   Ruth Hamill, Dunmurry Lane

Andrew Hamill, Dunmurry Lane

2^nd SW Jess Maynard, Caseberry Farm, Exeter

Millie Hendy, Woodlands Farm, Doynton

3^rd NE Hannah Donaldson, Hazel House, North Yorkshire

Rebecca Parkinson, Forge Farm, North Yorkshire

Douglas Crighton Silver Salver & Overall Winner: Jess Simms & Matthew Wright

Noel Lusby Cup & Junior Winner: Jess Simms

Andrew Hamill, Dunmurry Lane

2^nd SW Jess Maynard, Caseberry Farm, Exeter

Millie Hendy, Woodlands Farm, Doynton

3^rd NE Hannah Donaldson, Hazel House, North Yorkshire

Rebecca Parkinson, Forge Farm, North Yorkshire

Douglas Crighton Silver Salver & Overall Winner: Jess Simms & Matthew Wright

Noel Lusby Cup & Junior Winner: Jess Simms