DINMORE LIMOUSIN DUO WIN BURKE TROPHY AT ROYAL THREE COUNTIES

Burke Trophy Winners Dinmore Glorious & Diamant 

Dinmore Glorious takes Individual Interbreed & Limousin Grand Prix titles

In what was a terrific achievement, two animals from the same exhibitor teamed up to win the Blue Riband Burke Trophy for the Limousin breed on the second day of the Royal Three Counties Show held at Great Malvern 13-15 June 2014. The Burke Trophy, formerly a highlight at the Royal Show between 1951 and 2009, has since moved around the country and this year was contested against the backdrop of the beautiful Malvern Hills. It is presented to the best pair of beef animals – one male and one female – chosen out of all the breed classes at the event.

Describing the win as a ‘huge honour’ was owner Paul Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore, Hereford whose pairing of the in-calf heifer Dinmore Glorious together with the French-bred bull, Diamant, took the accolade from the assembled 13 breeds in front of judge Mrs Kay Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar.

The November 2011-born homebred in-calf heifer Dinmore Glorious, sired by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Aghadowey Alix , teamed up with the 2008-born senior stock bull, Diamant, purchased privately from breeder Gaec Camus, Martinet, France being by Berliozb and out of Version (by Pacha 08), and who goes back to the noted bull Levrier. Diamant had stood first in his class at the French National Show at St Gaudens in 2013 and was Reserve Champion Male at the Paris Show in 2013.

Dinmore Glorious, who was presented in-calf to Crownhead Busby, is full sister to the 2010 Royal Welsh Champion and member of the winning Fitzhugh Interbreed Pairs, Dinmore Elle. Elle is also mother of the 18,000gns Dinmore Goldcrest. The duo of Dinmore Glorious and Daimant, who were brought out by Mary Cormack and Richard Bartle respectively, were described by the judge Kay Adam as ‘an outstanding pair and a tremendous credit to the stockmen.’ Both animals now head to the 2014 Royal Welsh Show.

The Burke Trophy pairing had been selected on the first day of the Three Counties Show from the hotly-contested Limousin Grand Prix by judge Mr James Hazard of the Mereside Herd Skillington, Grantham. Held here for the second consecutive year and supported with an additional £1,000 prize fund by the British Limousin Cattle Society, Limousin Grand Prix events are aimed both at supporting agricultural shows as well as showcasing the attributes of the breed. A further Grand Prix will take place at the Perth Show in Scotland in August. Described by the Judge as ‘a show of very good overall quality, particularly in the female section’, a total catalogued entry of 58 animals from 18 exhibitors competed in the 9 classes – four for males and five for females – and, of course, for Championship honours.

Friday 13 June proved a lucky one for Paul Dawes with one-two championship honours. Grand Prix winner was Dinmore Glorious, who was described by James Hazard as “simply an awesome heifer with power, volume and width, with a lovely head” whilst standing Reserve from the same home was the Junior Male and Overall Male Champion, Dinmore Immense. Sired by Mas du Clo and out of Dinmore Caprice, this 12-month-old bull was described by the judge as a “lovely young bull, full of breed character with width throughout.”

Reserve Male was Brockhurst Hardnut from Doug Mash, Torrington Farm, Chesham, Bucks, an embryo calf by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Brockhurst Bolshoi who herself stood Reserve Female Champion here. Being a previous Supreme Champion at the Great Yorkshire, the 2006-born cow Brockhurst Bolshoi is by Grahams Samson and is out of Ronick McAinsi and was shown with her October-born bull calf, Brockhurst Imacelebrity (by Brockhurst Centurion), at foot.

Taking the Junior Female award was Foxhillfarm Izzy from Mike & Melanie Alford, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Devon being an embryo calf by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Bankdale Alice. She was also Reserve Junior Overall behind Dinmore Immense. Reserve Junior Female was Dinmore Idetta (Wilodge Vantastic x Carmorn Danika). Continuing a superb run for Dinmore, Reserve Junior Male came in the shape of Dinmore Intelligence being by the French-bred Ionesco and out of Dinmore Elegance who had been a member of the winning Interbreed Pairs at the 2013 Three Counties Show.