FROGMORE HELEN WINS INDIVIDUAL INTERBREED AS LIMOUSINS ‘SUPER EIGHT’ DOMINATE 2015 ROYAL WELSH SHOW

• Frogmore Helen wins Supreme Individual Interbreed for Chris White
• Limousins win eight Interbreed titles
• Interbreed wins include Individual; Team of Five; Fitzhugh Pairs; Junior Heifer; Elite Junior Bull; Exhibitor Bred Pairs; & Team of Three (Exhibitor Owned)
• Limousin sired cattle win Commercial Champion & Reserve

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 mount 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 eight 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; 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 with the interbreed having been judged by David Thomlinson, Scaleby, Carlilse.   The Fitzhugh Pairs, judged by E Williams, Bryncrug, Gwynedd was won by Frogmore Helen along with Dinmore Immense.  Taking the Junior Heifer Interbreed title was Whinfellpark Jade (judged by Clive Roads, Malvern, Worcester).  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.  12^th January 2014 born this heifer’s calf is another by Wilodge Cerberus and is out of the Blageur sired Whinfellpark Glow.   On the Thursday Whinfellpark Jade teamed up with Poolehall Iris from Dougie McBeath & Sarah Jane Jessop, to place Reserve Overall in the Females of the Future Interbreed for heifers under two years old.   The interbreed awards were the highest prizes attained to date by the Whinfellpark herd at the summer ‘major’ shows.

Poolehall Iris, bred by Mr N Matthews, had stood second in her class and is an embryo calf by Haltcliffe Ben and out of the 27,000gns Wilodge Flawless. Iris had been purchased at the 2014 Red Ladies Sale for 4800gns.

 

It was another strong show for the Foxhillfarm team of Michael, Melanie and Charlotte Alford, Cullompton, Devon.  Following on from Limousin Championship wins at both the Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire Shows, and also picking up the Burke Trophy at the Royal Cornwall, a number of further titles were secured at the Royal Welsh.  These included Junior Male Champion, Reserve Male Champion, Elite Junior Bull Interbreed, Junior Bull Interbreed; and Exhibitor Bred Open Pairs & Team of Three Open (Exhibitor Owned) Interbreed awards.  Foxhillfarm animals also featured in the winning interbreed Team of Five.

Taking the Junior Male & Reserve Male Overall title was Foxhillfarm Jasper (this year’s Royal Highland Limousin Champion). This January 2014 born embryo calf, is by the Wilodge Vantastic son Loosebeare Fantastic and is out of Bankdale Alice.  Back in May this year, Foxhillfarm Jasper was the Supreme Champion at the Society’s Premier Sale held in Carlisle where he sold for 35,000gns to the Whinfellpark herd.  As announced at the time of sale the Alfords have continued to show the bull at the summer major shows.  On the Tuesday, the bull picked up the Elite Junior Bull Interbreed title (for performance recorded cattle) from the judge William Bedell, Neuadd Isaf, Penybont, Llandrindod Wells, Powys.  Moving to Thursday and he also secured the Junior Bull Interbreed title in front of the judge E Williams, Bryncrug, Gwynedd.

The Exhibitor Bred Open Pairs was a new Interbreed title introduced to the 2015 show and was another judged by David Thomlinson.  The 2015 Burke Trophy winning pair of Foxhillfarm Jasper & Foxhillfarm Ivy did it again when picking up this new award.  Foxhillfarm also won another new Interbreed award when lifting the Team of Three Open (Exhibitor Owned) Interbreed title from judge William Bedell. This time Jasper & ivy were joined by Foxhillfarm Isla who had also featured in the winning Team of Five.

Lifting the Reserve Junior Male title, in what was the bull’s first show outing, was Garyvaughan Jade from the herd of Colin Lewis, Buttington New Hall, Buttington, Welshpool, Powys.  This smart young February 2014 calf with growth and style is by Garnedd Gower, a Bremore Djerk son and is out of Garyvaughan Godess the herd’s first daughter by the 35,000gns stock bull Plumtree Deus (and where the style of Jade came from according to the breeder Colin Lewis).  This growing herd of over 100 cows and 80 odd heifers was voted the Overall Champion in the region’s 2014 Limousin Herd Competition.

Not to be missed as a theme of the day was the influence of breeding through the catalogue from the noted Wilodge herd, Lodge Hill Farm, Park Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire.  Six of the seven female class winners were sired by Wilodge bred bulls including Cerberus, Vantastic, and Drummer.  This obviously included the day’s Supreme Champion Frogmore Helen (Wilodge Cerberus).

In the highly competitive Commercial Championships Limousin sired cattle won Supreme Champion & Reserve and every section title on offer!  Taking the Supreme Championship, from judge Wendy Pickard, Gaddesby, Leicester, was Tydr Edwards with his baby beef champion, Biwt.  Weighing 346kg, this home bred heifer is by a bull bred by the Davies family.  Standing Reserve was the Champion from the heavier section of the commercials, Black Beauty from Tecwyn Jones. Sired by Ronick Hawk she weighed in at 485kg.

The Reserve Heifer Champion went to Jason and Sarah Wareham with Munchkin. Weighing 586kg, this Limousin x British Blue heifer was bred by the Robertson family and was purchased for £5100 at Smithfield from Dougie McBeath and Sarah Jane Jessop. In the steers, Elfed Williams took the Championship with the 614kg Black Gold. This beast was also purchased at Smithfield, for £5000, from Andrew Gammie and was bred by Balfour Baillie, Orkney.

Reserve Champion in the steers was Robert Elias with Sky Walker. Weighing 576kg, Sky Walker was bred by Bowen and Bowen and was purchased for £6000 at the Welsh Winter Fair where it was baby beef champion.

To view a video of the judging, click here.

2015 ROYAL WELSH SHOW LIMOUSIN RESULTS

Bull born on or before 30 June 2012           

1. Fastueux                                     TE & HE Price
2. Brockhurst Elvis                      WJ & M Mash LTD

Bull, Born between 01 Jul 2012 & 30 Jun 2013

1. Dinmore Immense     PR Dawes

Bull, Born between 01 Jul & 31 Dec 2013

1. Whiskey Imp               Mr G Walters
2. Glencross Ioncalo      Catherine Davies
3. Idario                              Dylan Thomas

Bull, Born between 01 Jan & 31 Mar 2014

1. Foxhillfarm Jasper      Mr & Mrs M Alford
2. Garyvaughan Jade      CV & EM Lewis & Sons
3. Killerton Jackpot         Patrick Greed

Bull, Born between 01 Apr & 31 May 2014

1. Temeside Justwilliam VAS & TVS Corbett
2. Glangwden Josh           CL & FE Jerman
3. Sherry Joner                   Mr & Mrs T & S Jones

Bull born after 1 Jun 2014

1. Garyvaughan Jaroux  CV & EM Lewis
2. Beulah Jimbob                       MJ & JM Price
3. Glangwden Jimbo      CL & FE Jerman

Male Champion         Dinmore Immense     PR Dawes

Best Junior Bull          Foxhillfarm Jasper      Mr & Mrs M Alford

Reserve Junior Bull    Garyvaughan Jade      CV & EM Lewis & Sons

Cow, in milk with calf, born on or before 31 Dec 2011

1. Dinmore Glorious PR Dawes

Cow, In Milk With Calf At Foot, Born After 1st January 2012, & First Calf Before 39 Months

1. Absolute Honesty         M Cormack & R Bartle
2. Brockhurst Heavenly  WJ & M Mash
3. Lourie Hollie                  Mr & Mrs P & G Davies

Heifer, In Calf Or Maiden, Born between 01 Aug 2012 & 30 Jun 2013

1. Frogmore Helen          Chris White
2. Foxhillfarm Ivy             Mr & Mrs M Alford
3. Tweeddale Harika       Kevin Watret

Heifer, In Calf Or Maiden, Born between 01 Jul & 31 Dec 2013    

1. Pabo Icemaiden            Peredur & Llyr Hughes
2. Poolehall Iris                 D McBeath & SJ Jessop
3. Keadyview Iamlovely Hampshire Livestock

Heifer, Born between 01 Jan & 31 Mar 2014

1. Whinfellpark Jade      Messrs Jenkinson
2. Absolute Jezebel        M Cormack & R Bartle
3. Foxhillfarm Joslyn      Mr & Mrs M Alford

Heifer, between Apr & 31 May 2014

1. Bailea Jemstone         Matthew T Jones
2. Dylans Java                  GJ Morris
3. Whinfellpark Jaja       Messrs Jenkinson

Heifer born on or after 01 Jun 2014

1. Dinmore Japonica      PR Dawes
2. Tierston Javine           Mrs DB Davies
3. Specs Jojo                     JA Nicholls

Best Junior Heifer       Whinfellpark Jade      Messrs Jenkinson

Reserve Junior Heifer Dinmore Japonica      PR Dawes

Female Limousin Champion              Frogmore Helen         Chris White

Reserve Female Champion    Dinmore Glorious      PR Dawes

Champion Limousin                           Frogmore Helen         Chris White

Reserve Champion Limousin             Dinmore Glorious      PR Dawes

Arthur E Evans Perpetual Memorial Cup     Frogmore Helen         Chris White

Best Exhibitor bred Maiden Heifer born in 2014     Whinfellpark Jade      Messrs Jenkinson

Best Exhibitor bred Female owned by a breeder residing in Wales         

Pabo Icemaiden                     Peredur & Llyr Hughes

Group of 3                              Mr & Mrs M Alford

Best Pair                                 Mr & Mrs M Alford

Judge S Priestley, Cracrop, Cumbria