Limousin cattle led the way in the championships on the first day of the East of England Smithfield Festival, Peterborough on Thursday 4th December 2014, lifting the Supreme Championship and the Reserve Supreme Championship as well as the Steer Championship and Reserve Steer championship in addition to the Purebred Championship title.
Heading up the roll call of honours was Dermot & Gareth Small’s Limousin-cross heifer Khaleesi, representing a historic first Smithfield Overall Championship win for a Northern Irish exhibitor.
Shown by Stephanie Dick, this heifer is a daughter of the noted crossbred calf breeder Swarland Eddie and was bred by fellow Northern Irishman James Alexander, Randalstown, and has an impressive show record behind her.
Previously Supreme Champion at Agri-Expo and Reserve Heifer Champion at LiveScot, she was also Reserve Commercial Champion at Balmoral back in May.
Khaleesi weighed 622kg on show day and was praised by judge Wendy Morgan for her evenness of fleshing as well as her show ring style and sparkle. “She’s an exceptionally well-put-together heifer with a balance of fleshing throughout and a great cover across her loin and her plates.”
Following this exceptional heifer through from her class to take the Reserve Crossbred Heifer title, the Reserve Overall Heifer Championship and the Reserve Supreme Championship was Guy Edwards at the halter of the Edwards Family’s heifer Miss Halfpenny.
This one is again Limousin-sired, being by a Penygelly bull bred by Bryan Griffiths, Kerry, Newtown, and weighed in at 542kg. She was Reserve Commercial Champion at the Royal Welsh in July as well as being first at Agri-Expo and first at the Welsh Winter Fair earlier this week.
Taking the Overall Steer Championship was James Nesbitt’s Carmorn Cantona-sired bullock Maybe This Time. Bred by William McAllister, Ballymena, Northern Ireand this one was Steer Champion at Agri-Expo in October as well as being Reserve Champion at the Royal Highland this summer. He was shown weighing 612kg.
Another Limousin-sired bullock then took the Reserve Overall Steer Championship, with this being the purebred Limousin steer Gelliwion Ivor, from Elfed Williams, Sennybridge.
Ivor came through from the show’s purebred classes, having been tapped out first as Purebred Steer Champion and then as Overall Purebred Champion before collecting the Reserve Steer title.
He is sired by Glangwden Charlie and is out of Church Daisy and was bought privately in September at Sennybridge Show.
