Limousin-sired cattle dominated the prime cattle championships at the 10th Anniversary Countryside Live held at Harrogate 20th-21st October, heralding the start of the winter primestock season.
Such was the domination, that the breed took both the Heifer and Steer Championships under Judge Hugh Dunlop, Ochiltree, Ayrshire as well as then going on to clinch the Overall Cattle Championship and Reserve to boot.
Standing top of the line overall was the noted Welsh showman Tecwyn Jones, Llanwrst, Conwy, with his Limousin-cross heifer, the aptly named Black Beauty.
Sired by Shire Apollo and bred by John Smith-Jackson at Hightown, Hexham, she weighed in at 524kg and had stood Heifer Champion before going on to take the overall title.
Mr Dunlop said the heifer was exactly what he was looking for, a great butcher’s beast with meat in all the right places and an excellent show animal, too. “She oozes style and class, walks really well and has that ring presence we all want to see in a champion.”
Tecwyn Jones’ heifer was bought privately and has been shown locally over the summer including picking up a Reserve Interbreed title at one local show.
Having stood Reserve Limousin, the Limousin-cross steer No Likey No Lighty went on to take the title of Reserve Overall for the Alford Family, Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Devon. This 670kg steer is by a son of Fieldson Alfy and was bought at Brecon in the spring from Andrew Powell. He had previously been Steer Champion at the Royal Welsh, Interbreed Champion at Frome, Reserve Overall at Royal Cornwall and Overall Champion at Three Counties.
Both beasts now head for Borderway Agri-Expo, Carlisle before heading on to the winter show circuit including the Welsh Winter Fair and the East of England Smithfield Festival at Peterborough.
Reserve in the Limousin-sired steers was Suarez from the Sedgewick & Slack team weighing 666kg. This one is a prolific winner from the summer show circuit having stood Reserve Overall Champion at Great Yorkshire, Reserve Overall Champion at Beef Expo and Champion of Champions at Glendale. He is homebred by Neil Slack being by the noted French Limousin sire Rossignol and out of a heifer which was Baby Beef Champion at the first Borderway Agri Expo.
Taking reserve honours in the Limousin-sired Heifer Championship was again Tecwyn Jones – this time with Tequila, his Champion from Beef Expo earlier this year. She is by a Mas Du Clo son bred in the Netherhall Herd and was bought in the spring from Carlisle while suckling her dam and was also Baby Beef Champion at the Royal Welsh in the summer. And taking the Exhibitor-bred Championship was Messrs ML Howatson & Son with their Limousin-cross heifer Jessie scaling at 510kg.
