Sassys Sweet Treat, commercial champion for David Leedham
Claiming the commercial cattle honours was Sassys Sweet Treat, a Limousin cross heifer from David Leedham, Lutterworth, which tipped the scales at 570kg.
Continuing a good start to its show season after standing inter-breed champion at both Ashbourne Show and the Southwell Ploughing Match, it also stood reserve baby beef heifer at last year's English Winter Fair.听May 2025-born out of a past show heifer bred by Berwyn Hughes, Sassys Sweet Treat is sired by the Leedhams' Limousin stock bull.
The reserve heifer, Hot Stepper from the Newton Stewart-based Vance family 鈥� Alister, Liz and daughter, Amy 鈥� followed through to stand reserve overall. Another Limousin cross and this time weighing in at 628kg, Hot Stepper is by the family's own stock bull, Maraiscote Regis, and out of a past show heifer, Baby Bell, bred by Gary Bell. The 18-month-old had also been champion at Stranraer, Dumfries and Wigtown shows as well as first at the Great Yorkshire Show.
"Both heifers were just full of meat but also walked well and were very stylish, great show animals," said Jimmy Mulholland, Carlisle, who judged the commercial section.
In the steer section it was an 18-month-old Charolais-sired bullock from Richard Anderson, Middleham, that claimed the top title. The 724kg son of Anside Foreman is home-bred out of a British Blue cross Limousin cow and has secured a number of red tickets and Charolais championships this season.
Dougie, a 789kg Limousin cross from C. and G. Davies, Gaddesby, was reserve bullock.
Claiming the first championship of the day was the pick of the pedigrees, a Limousin heifer, Jorica Barley from Josh Knaggs, Darlington. The January-born Glenrock Stillgame daughter is out of the Goldies Nixon-sired Jorica Tari and was on its show ring debut.
"The heifer excelled in breed characteristic for a Limousin heifer and is very stylish," said the judge, Steph Dick, from Stirling.
Dylan Towend, Malton, took the reserve pedigree ticket with his British Blue,听 Clifftown Wasn't Me, a Dodou De St Remacle son born in January out of the Empire D'Ochain-sired Clifftown Naughty But Nice.
A hotly contested baby beef section saw the Edward Brothers, Corwen, secure the champion rosette with Buzz Ball, a nine-month-old daughter of Goldies Sensible bred by T. and C. Wynne, Alwen. Brought out by Cai Edwards, this 351kg entry is out of a Limousin cross cow.
Judge, James May, Bromsgrove, said: "I love her style, and the sheer width when you stand behind that carries over her plates. She's got a beautiful head and is an ideal weight for next June and July."
From the same class, a home-bred British Blue cross heifer from Dean Allen, Thorton Le Dale, was reserve baby beef. Born in March, Material Girl is by Almeley Tom Brady and tipped the scales at 374kg.
It was two at the top for the Hall family in the sheep section as they secured the supreme champion and reserve titles.
Taking top honours for John, daughter Joanne and her daughter, April, was the Beltex pair which weighed a combined 79kg and were sired by a home-bred Beltex ram from Joanne's Just The Job flock and out of Beltex cross ewes.
The Carlisle-based family saw their native leaders stand reserve supreme when brought out with help from Johnny and Robbie Aiken. This Suffolk-sired duo are by a Jalex tup, weighed a combined 100kg and again were out of Beltex cross dams.
Standing reserve in the butchers section was an 84kg Beltex duo from Martin and Val Brown, Leyburn, which are by a privately purchased Nikay tup.
A pair of Cheviots from the Thompson family, Colne, stood reserve in the native section.
Among the continental entries, Harry Askwith, Crook, took the top title with his Beltex duo by Airyolland ram which weighed 38kg apiece. 听
Reserve here was the Blue Texel winners from Luke Bell-Percy, Masham.
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听Carnforth-based Jam Robinson headed up the two Mule gimmer lamb classes for a pair and a single. 听
Results听
Beef
Commercial cattle (Judge, J. Mulholland, Carlisle) Supreme and heifer, D.M. Leedham, Sassys Sweet Treat (Limousin cross); reserve and res. female, A. and E. Vance, Hot Stepper (Limousin cross); steer, R.D. Anderson, Reggie (Charolais cross); res. steer, C. and G. Davies, Dougie (Limousin cross).
Baby beef (J. May, Bromsgrove) Sup., Edward Bros, Buzz Ball (Limousin cross), res., D. Allen, Material Girl (British Blue cross).
Pedigree calves (S. Dick, Stirling) Sup., J. Knaggs, Jorica Barley (Limousin), res., D.S. Townend, Clifftown Wasn't Me (British Blue).
Sheep
Overall (A. Glaves, Scarborough) Sup. and butchers, R. Hall and Son (Beltex cross), res. and native, R. Hall and Son (Suffolk cross).
Mule gimmer lambs (R. Lund, Sedburgh) Pair, Messrs Richardson and Robinson; single, J. Robinson.
Native (A. Glaves), Sup., R Hall and Son (Suffolk cross); res., A. Thompson (Cheviot).
Continental (A. Glaves), Sup., H. Askwith (Beltex); res., L. Bell-Percy (Blue Texel/DSS).
Butchers lambs (A. Glaves), Sup., R. Hall and Son (Beltex cross); res. M. and V. Brown (Beltex cross).
