Doncombe Blondes Second to None
28/10/08

The British Blonde Society held its presentation evening at Carlisle for the National Blonde herd competition on Thursday 23rd October 2008.

Doncombe Crescendo

Judges Rhydian Davies of the Fronfedw herd, Lampeter and David Grant of the Ardmore herd from Insch, Aberdeenshire gave a very informative set of reasons having visited 32 farms and travelling 2,422 miles in the third week of August.

The overall winner of the competition who was also winner of the large herd and reserve in the best stock bull class was David Knight’s Doncombe herd, who runs 230 head of pedigree Blonde cattle of which there are 100 breeding cows. Rhydian Davies said: “We were highly impressed in the uniformity of David’s cattle; having such a large herd all looking the same high standard was pretty amazing.”

The Doncombe herd’s achievements did not stop there, taking the top priced bull at the Carlisle sale on Friday with Mary Brough topping the bidding with £4,620 for Doncombe Crescendo. This 19 month old bull weighing 920kilos out of Doncombe Scheherazade sired by Druk Thor will be heading to the Chapelhouse herd, Uldale, Carlisle.

Supreme champion of the overall day also went to the Doncombe herd. Doncombe CK weighing 902kilos at nineteen months out of Doncombe Ricoco sired by Doncombe Vesuvius will be heading to W.E Stewart from Cumbria to join his herd having topped the bidding at £3780.

Top priced female and female champion was A&C Stott’s homebred maiden heifer Hilltop Crystal out of Hilltop Olive sired by Whitefield Leader. This smart 15 month heifer took the top bid of £1680.00 from JF & C Saunders of the Maidenlands herd, Cumbria.

Results of National Blonde Herd Competition:

Overall winner – David Knight ( Doncombe herd), Reserve winner- James Weightman ( Hallfield herd).

Large herd - David Knight ( Doncombe herd), Reserve winner- James Weightman ( Hallfield herd).

Small herd – Ian Calderbank (Blackwater herd), Reserve – Ivan McElroy (Ivaniskey herd).

Best Heifer – Roy Kinnish ( Kinaston herd), Reserve - Ivan McElroy (Ivaniskey herd).

Best Stock Bull – Elizabeth Don (Freefield herd), Reserve- David Knight ( Doncombe herd).

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