Male Champion: Z Colcharton Jupiter 2
The decision by the South Devon Herd Book Society to relocate to Worcester for their Autumn Show & Sale proved the right one, and the trade buoyantly bucked the current general market trend for beef production. South Devon vendors and purchasers travelled considerable distances to trade strong breeding stock at this popular breed society venue.
Judge of the Show was Mr David Thomas from Launceston, Cornwall who selected his male champion from R J & C J Edwards’ Colcharton herd, Tavistock, Devon amongst a strong line-up of 13 bulls. Z Colcharton Jupiter 2 is an April-2017 born bull by Z Lumbylaw Jupiter 17 and out of home-bred cow Colcharton Tulip 223. This bull was also best polled male. Best bull judged on a combination of Breedplan performance and inspection points was also from the Edwards stable – Colcharton Rossco by the same sire and with a Quality Beef Index in the top 1% for the breed. These two bulls together were the best male pair.
Reserve Male Champion: Grove Claudius 145
Reserve male champion was Mr W H D Scott’s Grove Claudius 145 from Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, by Welland Valley Gemmason and out of Grove Celandine 118; and he was also reserve best bull for performance and inspection, with a Quality Beef Index in the top 10% for the breed.
Female Champion: Foxhole Clover 3
In the female section the champion was from K V & M A Plain’s Foxhole herd near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Foxhole Clover 3 is an in-calf April-2017 born heifer by Trewint Magnetto 12 and out of prize-winning cow Z Foxhole Clover. Clover 3 was also best female judged on a combination of Breedplan performance and inspection points, and one of the winning best pair of females.
Reserve Female Champion: Delhorn Polly Patch 21
Reserve female champion was from J A & Y J Hopkins’ Brent Knoll, Somerset herd – polled heifer Z Delhorn Polly Patch 21 by Z Godworthy Diablo 6 and out of Delhorn Polly Patch 16. She was best polled female, and one of the reserve best female pair.
Thornton Cup: Colcharton Rossco
A special award to the exhibitor gaining most points at both the Spring and Autumn Sales combined was made by Society President Mrs Anne Tully to Cornwall breeder Mr Peter Rowe from the Trewint herd.
In the sale ring, top priced bull at 4,500 gns was the Edwards’ Colcharton Rossco, selling to P S & A P Rowe, Menheniot, Cornwall. Next highest price at 3,500 gns was Mr Scott’s Grove Anthony 36 which sold to Mrs A Harris, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Aurora Storm from Messrs Irving & Cooper, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire sold to Mr A L Pascoe, Hayle, Cornwall for 3,350 gns. Reserve male champion Grove Claudius 145 sold for 3,300 gns to David Smallcombe Ltd, North Piddle, Worcestershire. The male champion Z Colcharton Jupiter 2 sold to R G Elliott & Son from Kislingbury, Northamptonshire for 3,250 gns; as did Mr R A Ford’s Goffe Cave Boom Boom from Market Harborough, Leicestershire to Mr D Nixey, Tetsworth, Oxfordshire.
Top priced heifer was the female champion Foxhole Clover, selling at 2,700 gns to N & E Bunkum, Liskeard, Cornwall. Next highest at 2,000 gns were M M & M L Rushbrooke’s Z Brettles SAS Gypsy 23 with male calf from Bewdley, Worcestershire, to C E & L Warner, Ledbury, Herefordhsire; and Z Brettles SAS Vera 11 to H R Taylor & Son, Church Eaton, Staffordshire. Another cow and heifer calf from the Rushbrookes sold for 1800 gns to T I & S D Jones, Builth Wells; and one from M E & T E Broome’s Welland Valley herd, Market Harborough also sold for 1800 gns to Ms L Salt, Leek, Staffordshire.
Breed Secretary Caroline Poultney said, “We are delighted to buck the trend in the current beef market, and have seen a good fair trade for high quality, well-prepared pedigree breeding stock.”
Averages: 10 x bulls £3,140; 7 in-calf heifers £1,747; 4 maiden heifers £925; 5 cows with calves at foot £1,901.
Auctioneers: McCartneys, Worcester