Royal Bath & West, 27^th-30^th May 2015!

This year’s National Show of South Devons, held at a different agricultural show venue each year since 2010 saw a huge influx of quality pedigree cattle to the Royal Bath & West Show.

Numbers forward from 25 exhibitors topped at 95 animals which dominated the cattle rings and drew crowds of spectators to watch Mark Thomas, breed judge and Society Chairman, carefully select his individual class winners, and then his champions.

A particularly strong class of 19 yearling heifers was won by M E & T E Broome’s Welland Valley Claudia 12 from Leicestershire, a smart young female by Z Welland Valley Trident 1. Second was Newquay breeder R K Rundle’s AI Kestle Dahlia 73, by Society selected proven bull AI Grove Bellerophon 3.

The two year old heifer class of 16 animals was won by A & C Farms’ homebred AI Langham’s Cornflake by former National Show breed champion AI X Mutterton Ashton Bitter. In second place was R J Dimond’s AI Shepton Buttercup 2, by AI Grove Bellerophon 3 and out of a Kestle cow.

W H D Scott from Gloucestershire took first place in the young cow class with AI Grove Buttercup 137 by Trevowah Joe Louis 11; beating M R & R J Rowe’s Tregondale Dewdrop 117 from Liskeard into second place.

The older cow class was won by A & C Farms’ Upper Norton Nazarene, bred by M & S Kettlewell from Oxfordshire, and by Welland Valley Hanbury 11. She beat Mells Park Trust’s Mells Park Brandy, from the Frome-based herd that regularly supports the Royal Bath & West. This class of 14 cows was described by one well-respected and long-standing breeder as the best he had ever seen.

The female championship was then decided, with Upper Norton Nazarene taking prime position, and AI Langham’s Cornflake taking reserve.

In the bull section, the male champion was from Cornwall – Z Polkinghorne Indiana, a five-year old polled bull bred and shown by Laity Farms. In reserve position was three year old polled bull from W P & S L Harper, Holsworthy – Z Welland Valley Trident 3 bred by M E & T E Broome.

Junior bull was from a strong class of twelve – A L Pascoe’s Carzise Claudius 1, by Grove Claudius 102; with Laity Farms’ Z Polkinghorne Bentley in second place.

The major title for breed champion and receiving the Liddell Perpetual Challenge Cup went to the male champion; with reserve and the SAS Trophy going to the female champion.

In the interbreed classes the crowd was delighted to applaud Laity Farms’ Z Polkinghorne Indiana as Reserve Supreme Champion. Welland Valley Claudia 12 was Reserve Champion Junior Beef Heifer.

The South Devon Society held a number of activities during the Show, including an Awards Dinner on the Showground; and an evening barbecue at Higher Farm, Shepton Montague which was very kindly hosted by Mr & Mrs Robert Dimond.

On the third day of the show, highlights included a Young Handler Competition for 11-15 year olds which was won by Oliver Laity; and a parade of some 40 South Devons which provided a tremendous spectacle for the crowd.

Society President Mrs Diana Rusher, the Burrow herd, Minehead, Somerset, congratulated all the exhibitors, and said that she had attended all of the National Shows and that the standard of cattle had risen at each and every one of them.

Breed Secretary Caroline Poultney commented, “It is a great credit to breeders to bring their cattle to our National Show in such excellent condition and displaying tremendous breed character, and the Royal Bath & West Show have pulled out all the stops to welcome us.”