National Spring Spectacular Show Supreme Champion
Baby Beef Champion
Limousin Young Show Stars Placed Third
Limousin cattle secured the two major titles at The National Beef Association’s Beef Expo held at Hexham Mart on Thursday 22nd May 2014 in the shape of Overall Supreme Champion and Baby Beef Supreme in the National Spring Spectacular Show. A team of Young Limousin Breeders also gained an excellent third position in the Young Show Stars Challenge.
Taking home the Supreme Championship was the June 2013-born Limousin-cross heifer, Watabootie, from Neil Slack, Plum Tree House, Newby, Penrith. Scaling 669kg, she was purchased at Penrith in March 2013 from breeder W Richardson & Son, Ghyll House for £5,000. Sired by Culnagechan Egbert, she was successfully shown last summer in partnership with Julie Sedgewick. Having stood reserve on two previous occasions at Beef Expo, it was a case of third time lucky for Neil.
Judge Philip Parrott, Whitchurch, Bucks described his champion as “An outstanding heifer with tremendous length, she is well balanced with an even top with lots of width in her hind quarters. Full of flesh right through her rib and loin, on the day she is a good butcher’s animal, and exactly what is needed for today’s trade.”
Securing the Baby Beef Championship was Gareth Small, Co Down, N Ireland with his 404kg Limousin-cross heifer Khaleesi who had stood Reserve Overall Commercial Champion at last week’s Balmoral Show. Purchased from James Alexander’s Jalex suckler herd, she is sired by Swarland Eddieand out of a Limousin-cross dam.
Commenting on his Baby Champion, judge Kevin Ludgate, Leighton Buzzard, Beds said: “This is a superb baby heifer with great presence, excellent conformation and tremendous width.”
YLBC Co-ordinator, Annabelle Wint, writes:
“Congratulations and thank to Young Limousin Breeders John Graham, Stephanie Dick and Sophie Harvey who entered into the Young Show Stars Challenge competition and did fantastically well coming third in face of tough competition. Judged over two days, the team was assessed on stock judging, cattle preparation, promotion of the Limousin breed, and showing. It was a great event and brilliant to see the Young Limousin Breeders doing so well in the competition as well as having plenty of fun and interaction with the other clubs, it was great to see!”
