National Spring Spectacular Show Supreme Overall & Baby Beef Champion
Reserve Overall & Continental Champion
Runner-up in Young Show Stars Challenge
The National Beef Association’s annual Beef Expo held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern on Thursday 24th May 2012 saw the Limousin breed enjoy considerable success both in and out of the show ring. As well as a raft of titles in the National Spring Spectacular Show, the runner-up position in the inaugural Young Show Stars Challenge competition went to a team of Young Limousin Breeders representing the South Wales & Mid West Limousin Club.
Taking home the National Spring Spectacular Show Supreme Championship under Judge Mr Pearse McNamee, Kiltoal, Convoy, S Ireland was the October 2011 born heifer calf, Tequila, from Tecwyn Jones, Ty Newydd, Nebo, Llanwrst, Conwy. Capping a fine day this young heifer had earlier secured the Baby Beef title.
Described as a “beautifully put-together, super-stylish heifer” by the judge, Tequila was purchased from breeders Messrs A & MJ Trafford at Carlisle. Weighing in at 299kg, she is sired by the pedigree Limousin bull, Netherhall Emperor, a Mas Du Clo son who was purchased by the Traffords at Carlisle in October 2010 for 16,000gns. This was the fourth Beef Expo title for Tecwyn Jones and Tequila will now take aim at the Royal Welsh in July.
Standing Reserve Overall was the Continental Champion & Steer Champion, Suarez, exhibited by Julie Sedgewick & Neil Slack, Ricknall Grange, Aycliffe, Co Durham. Exhibitor-bred, the 514kg May 2011-born Suarez is sired by the French bull, Rossignol, and is out of the Limousin-cross dam bred by Chris & Jeff Bell, Appleby who had previously bred the 2006 Beef Expo Champion. Suarez now heads to the Northumberland, Cumberland & Yorkshire Shows respectively later this summer.
Reserve Overall Continental & Reserve Steer went to Mr & Mrs MJ Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon with their 522kg No Likey No Lighty sired by a Fieldson Alfy bull and purchased at Brecon for £5,500 from AJ Powell.
Continental Heifer Champion was Sexy & I Know It from Mr D Hughes, Ty Cerrig, Ty Nant, Corwen scaling 491kg. Reserve Baby Champion was Rob Roy, a September born 343kg crossbred Limousin steer brought out by TA & CL Lyon & Son, Lintre House, Water Lane, Thurlby, Lincs. By Bailea Umber, this one was bred by GHP & NM Jones & Sons.
The first-ever Young Show Stars Challenge saw two Limousin-sponsored teams competing against eight others including a team from Ontario, Canada. This comprehensive competition saw marks awarded for cattle preparation, parading, stockjudging and presentation. Achieving the runner-up position was the South Wales & Mid West Limousin Club team comprising Lowri Davies (23) from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire; Nia Griffiths (21) from Hen-Dy-Gwyn, Carmarthenshire; and Jess Maynard (14) from Bradninch, Devon. The trio scored 813 points and was narrowly pipped by the “Ladies In Red” team with 822 points.
Below is a selection of photographs taken on the day:-
