- Frogmore Helen wins Supreme Individual Interbreed for Chris White
- Limousins win seven out of seven Interbreed titles
- Interbreed wins include Individual; Team of Five; Fitzhugh Pairs; Junior Heifer; Elite Junior Bull; Exhibitor Bred Pairs; & Team of Three (Exhibitor Owned)
A truly outstanding show of Limousin cattle produced a high quality Supreme Overall Individual Interbreed Champion in the shape of the in-calf heifer Frogmore Helen from Mr Chris White, Frogmore Farmhouse, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, on the opening day of the 2015 Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.
The October 2012 born Frogmore Helen had in the morning come through a memorable class of maiden and in-calf heifers before taking firstly the Female Championship and then the Limousin Supreme Overall title having been given the nod by judge for the day Steven Priestley who runs the noted 80 cow Brontemoor herd at Cracrop Farm, Kirkcambeck, Brampton, Cumbria. After a quick rest and turn around Frogmore Helen then went head to head with the respective champions of other breeds where she came powering through to be crowned Supreme Overall Individual Interbreed Champion by the judge Ronnie Mackie of The Ross Farm, Madderty, Crieff, Perthshire.
The roll call of prizes for Frogmore Helen continued to roll in as she picked up further Interbreed titles when being part of the Limousin winning Fitzhugh Pair and also the Team of Five! The win capped a remarkable story for the breeder Chris White who only established the Frogmore herd some 4 years ago and which now comprises six breeding females run along with a few recipients. 2015 marks only the third year the herd has been showing and Frogmore Helen is only the third female Chris White has bred. At the 2014 Royal Welsh the signs of things to come were there to see when Frogmore Helen placed Reserve in the Junior Heifer Interbreed. Sired by the noted Wilodge Cerberus the heifer, weighing in at 1100kgs, is out of the Clown sired Ironstone Frangelica who was purchased for 2500gns from a herd sale in Carlisle. Frogmore Helen is due to calf in December to the noted Goldies Comet.
Commenting afterwards the judge Steven Priestley said: “this has been without doubt the best show of cattle that I’ve ever had the privilege to judge. The females were exceptional and there was a real strength in both depth and quality throughout. The Champion was just full of style and breed character and had a tremendous ring presence. She had size, length, tremendous locomotion, and had great femininity. She is a great example of what the Limousin breed is all about and I have no doubt that she could be a cornerstone breeding female of any herd. The quality of the cattle shown throughout the day was a real credit to all of the exhibitors showing.”
For Chris White it was of course a remarkable and never to be forgotten show. Speaking on the morning of the second day he said: “To win the Individual Interbreed title at the Royal Welsh Show, arguably the UK’s leading show now, is the pinnacle of any showing ambition. I’m thrilled to have won in only the herd’s third year of showing and particularly with a homebred heifer which makes it really special. The standard of Limousin cattle shown was just fantastic to come through but to then go on and win the Individual Interbreed was just a dream come true.”
The standard of Limousin cattle on show was reflected by an unprecedented run of success in the prestigious Interbreed awards that saw Limousins win the first seven titles on offer as well as the Champion and Reserve in the Commercial Championships along with all of the section titles! As well as the Individual title the further Interbreed wins included; the Team of Five; Fitzhugh Pairs; Junior Heifer; Elite Junior Bull; Exhibitor Bred Pairs; & Team of Three (Exhibitor Owned).
The Team of Five comprised of Frogmore Helen along with Dinmore Glorious, Dinmore Immense, Foxhillfarm Ivy & Foxhillfarm Isla. The Fitzhugh Pairs was won by Frogmore Helen along with Dinmore Immense. Taking the Junior Heifer Interbreed title was Whinfellpark Jade. The Elite Junior Bull Interbreed was snapped up by Foxhillfarm Jasper and it was Foxhillfarm who also took both the Exhibitor Bred Open Pairs & Team of Three Open (Exhibitor Owned) Interbreed awards on the Wednesday.
The Dinmore herd of Paul Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore, Hereford, was again very much to the fore in the Limousin judging and Interbreeds and following on from their Supreme Championship wins at last year’s show. 2015 saw another mighty haul of prizes for their team that included Male Champion; Reserve Supreme Overall; Reserve Female; Reserve Junior Female; and of course Interbreed wins as part of the Team of Five and Fitzhugh Pairs.
Taking the Reserve Overall Supreme Championship and Reserve Female title was the noted Dinmore Glorious. November 2011-born Glorious is by Wilodge Vantastic and is out of Aghadowey Alix, a Broadmeadows Cannon daughter. Shown with her Crownhead Busby sired bull calf Dinmore Joules at foot, Dinmore Glorious is a full-sister to the 2010 Royal Welsh Champion and member of the winning Fitzhugh Interbreed Pairs, Dinmore Elle. In 2014 Dinmore Glorious had won the Limousin Grand Prix held at the Royal Three Counties where she also teamed up with the 2014 Royal Welsh Champion, Diamant, to win the Burke Trophy. This year Dinmore Glorious has also picked up Interbreed wins at both the Three Counties and Cheshire Shows respectively.
In the bulls Dinmore took the Male Championship with the powerful Dinmore Immense, a Mas Du Clo son out of the Vantastic daughter Dinmore Caprice. May 2013 born Dinmore Immense had previously won the Reserve Junior Male title at the 2014 Royal Welsh Show.
Dinmore Japonica took the Reserve Junior Female award after having won first prize in the youngest heifer class. July 2014 born Japonica is by Wilodge Vantastic and is out of Croftlimousin Primrose making her a full sister to the herd’s noted Dinmore Daffodil.
All the way from Cumbria Whinfellpark Jade from Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Penrith, won her class before moving on to take the Limousin Junior Female title and on the Tuesday, the Junior Heifer Interbreed title. 12th January 2014 born this heifer’s calf is another by Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Blageur sired Whinfellpark Glow.
Full report, pics, and results to follow……
