| 2016-08-03 |    |
Trueman Jagger Shines at 2016 National Limousin Show
Trueman Jagger, the world record breaking Limousin sale bull, thrilled the crowds and powered to the Overall Supreme Championship title at the highly anticipated 2016 National Limousin Show held in the Exhibition Hall at Carlisle’s Borderway Market on Friday 29th July 2016.
The 140,000gns two-year-old bull literally stood head and shoulders above his rivals and was brought out to perfection by Mike and Melanie Alford and their show team at Foxhill Farm, in Devon, on behalf of The Jagger Syndicate, which also includes the Dinmore, Whinfellpark and Swalesmoor herds respectively. Sold at Carlisle in October, 2015, by breeder Henry Savage and Sons, Altnamackin, Newry, Northern Ireland, Trueman Jagger is a son of Ampertaine Gigolo and is out of Trueman Grazia, a Haltcliffe Vermount daughter.
Trueman Jagger
Held every five years this was the first National Limousin Show since 2011 and, as the day and results played out in front of a packed ringside, the ultimate winner would once again come from the same breeding stable as the winner five years previously. In 2011 the two year old Trueman Euphonium, shown by the Savage family, had prevailed. Come 2016 and it was the turn of Trueman Jagger to take the top honours.
In the run up to the event there had been increasing speculation as to whether Jagger would make his first public appearance since his sale back in the autumn of last year. Come show time, and following a remarkably strong female section, Trueman Jagger took centre stage by winning his class and both the Intermediate Male and Overall Male Championships before lifting the Overall Supreme Championship and a prizewinning cheque of £1000.
After overseeing some thirty classes and ten Championships over a very fluid but marathon six hour judging stint, the 2016 National Limousin Show judge Bruce Goldie of the highly noted Goldies herd at Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries said: “In a very high quality field the bull was just a clear, outstanding Champion and I had no hesitation in putting him up. He has muscle, power, length and great locomotion. He’s a bull that potentially could have a significant influence across the breed.”
Of the show generally Bruce Goldie said: “It was a great honour to be asked to judge and I feel very privileged to have done so at such a prestigious event and one that is only held every five years. The quality of the stock presented was exceptional right through the sections and in depth. It is easy to see why the breed is the UK’s number one and it is clearly in tremendous order across the country. The greatest credit is due to the breeders and exhibitors who through their endeavour and expertise turned out such a great display of cattle. I’m already looking forward to the 50th anniversary show!”
Whilst the sun shone brightly on the ring for the occasion, the shining stars of the UK’s most popular beef breed electrified the crowd comprising of Limousin breeders, commercial producers, and international visitors. Through a catalogue of over 250 pedigree animals the common consensus was that this was probably the strongest show of Limousin cattle in both quality and depth that had been seen in the United Kingdom since the breed was first imported into the UK some 45 years ago. Previous prize winning cattle combined with first time exhibits from all four corners of the UK to provide classes of exceptional quality reaching down to ten places.
Beyond the pedigree judging and it was straight into a newly added feature, the ‘Sale of Champions’ that saw a top price of 40,000gns paid for the young bull Grahams Lorenzo from Robert and Jean Graham, Stirling. Judging simultaneously in another ring was the Commercial Classes and Championships under the eye of Northamptonshire based judge Frank Page, Lodge Farm, Elkington. Here, again amidst some fantastic competition, the Championship went to the heifer Black Beauty, a Keskadale Apollo daughter, from Mark Harryman and Sarah Warriner, Swainsea Barn Farm, Pickering.
It was an all action Limousin day played out within a setting of lights, big screens, cameras and music, as the exhibitors competed for the prize fund pot of £20,000 and the prestige of the National Limousin Show classes and titles.
The Overall Reserve Supreme came from the exceptionally strong show of females, which were eventually headed by Messrs Jenkinsons’ senior cow, Whinfellpark Glittered, from their farm at Whinfellpark, near Penrith.
Glittered, by Wilodge Cerberus and out of Grange Orleans, had her Foxhillfarm Jasper calf at foot, Whinfellpark Misschief. With one of those quirks of show fate, this five year-old-cow is in calf to Trueman Jagger. Whinfellpark Glittered has an enviable show record, having won Supreme Champion Limousin at this year’s Highland and also being Champion of Champions at Penrith a week previously, and following on from taking the same award at the Cumberland.
Wrapping up a memorable day Whinfellpark Glittered, brought out by herd stockman Colin Soutter along with Craig Douglas, also lifted the Best Bred by Exhibitor and Best Udder titles.
The Female Championship was dominated by the winners from the cow classes, which were made up of high quality working animals with calves at foot. The Reserve Overall Female, Brockhurst Heavenly, stood second to Glittered in her class and she was being shown fresh from winning the Interbreed Beef Title at the Great Yorkshire Show earlier in the month. Shown by Dougie McBeath on behalf of Doug Mash’s Brockhurst Herd, based in Buckinghamshire, she is a second calver by the £42,000 Wilodge Vantastic and out of Brockhurst Bolshoi herself a past Interbreed Champion at the Great Yorkshire and Limousin Supreme Champion at the Royal Highland.
Of his Female Champion Whinfellpark Glittered, the judge Bruce Goldie commented: “She’s just a super cow. She has size, femininity, has good conformation, is free moving, and is doing a great job of her calf. This cow was hard to fault and headed a tremendous show of females that had outstanding depth in quality in every class.”
The first two classes of Maiden Heifers were born between September and December 2015 and set the standard for the day. The winner of the first class was Martin Conway’s Craigatoke Liquidgold, another animal over from Northern Ireland. Liquidgold is by Lynderg Hero, a past Male Champion at the Royal Ulster, and is out of Craigatoke Ultrabright. She was followed into second by Gary Patterson’s Aultside Lambrini the Loosebeare Fantastic daughter out of Spittalton Flush. Third spot taken by RM Hazard and Sons’ Mereside Lucinda, a Jacot daughter out of Mereside Hanabel.
The second class of baby heifers was won by Kedzlie Farms’ Swalemoor Lisa, a Wilodge Vantastic daughter, out of Wilodge Amethyst. Second place was taken by Ian Wilson and Carol Woods’ Lowflan Lotto and third went to Aspenbank Lora from Forbes MacDonald.
The heifers born between May and August, 2015, proved to be one of the strongest sections in the show with the class being split into three.
The first class was won by R and J Grahams’ Grahams Lizzie, which took the red ticket ahead of her embryo full sister, Grahams Lilly. Both heifers are by Claragh Franco and out of a flush from Grahams Coffee. Later in the day Grahams Lizzie went on to sell for 16,000gns. Third prize went to Procters Farms’ Procters Lafayette, a Goldies Fandango daughter.
The next class of heifers of the same age was won by Chris White’s Frogmore Louise from his herd at Morton in the Marsh, Gloucestershire. This showy heifer is by Wilodge Cerberus and out of Ironstone Frangelica making her the same way bred as Frogmore Helen the herd’s Supreme Interbreed winning heifer at the 2015 Royal Welsh. Second was Lowflan Lilly from Ian Wilson and Carol Wood and third and fourth went to P Cairns’ Plumtree herd with Libby and Leamber, respectively.
The third cut in this age group was dominated by Mike and Melanie Alfords’ Foxhillfarm team with Looksthepart and Limitededition taking the first two places. Looksthepart is by Guards Boomer and out of the multi title winning Foxhillfarm Gracie, while Limitededition is by Kype Interrogate. Third place was taken by The McKinney Brothers’ Heathmount Leanna, an Ampertaine Gigolo daughter.
2015 spring born heifers dominated the show in numbers with four classes for the group. This was an extremely strong section of maiden heifers, which had really impressed the judge in their stature and outlook and the first two in the first group in the ring would go on to take the Overall Junior and Reserve Junior titles.
John and Paul Rainey’s Claragh Lily from the Kilrea, Co. Derry, Northern Ireland deservedly took the Junior Heifer title. The Claragh herd has only seven cows but is full of quality with Claragh Lily being a terrific example. She is again by the highly successful Wilodge Vantastic, out of Haltcliffe Avon, and has been unbeaten in her class since being shown as a calf. This year she won Reserve Overall in the Limousin Championship and went on to be Junior Interbreed Champion at the Royal Ulster.
Standing second to Lily was another quality heifer Brockhurst Littlegem, who took the Reserve Junior Female title. From WJ and M Mash’s herd, she is by the same sire as the Overall Reserve Female Champion Brockhurst Heavenly and is out of the herd’s prolific Ronick McAinsi. Standing third in this very strong class was Martin Conway’s Craigatoke Liquorice.
The next class in the same section was won by Smiths of Bloxhams’ Ironstone Lavender, also by Vantastic and this time out of Bailea Umelia. JH Davies and Co’s Glyncoed Lillie took second place followed by Strawfrank Lucy in third from Allan Campbell.
Messrs Jenkinsons’ Whinfellpark Lavender, by Gorrycam Hazzard and out of Whinfellpark Holly, led the next group in and Miss HC Burton’s Rempstone Ladyempress, stood second to her with Anside Lollipop taking third for Stephen Irvine.
The final group of spring heifers was won by Gordon Hendry’s Powerful Kango. Kango was bred by PF Crowe and is by Haltcliffe Dancer out of Liscarn Fantastic. Second place went to Garry Patterson’s Aultside Luscious with third to Procters Farms’ Proctors Latina.
Dinmore Japonica headed up the first of the two groups of autumn 2014 born heifers. Bred and exhibited by P Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore Manor, Hereford, Japonica is another Vantastic daughter, this time out of Croftlimousin Primrose. Standing second to her was W P Hughes and Son’s Pabo Jenelope and third was Brontemoor Justice from JM and S M Priestley.
D and L Graham’s Burnbank Jlo, from their herd at Mains of Burnbank, Blairdrummond, Stirling, took first prize in the second group of autumn born heifers. By Loosebeare Fantastic she is out of their home-bred Burnbank Geri. Second was Lissett Jolene from J H Tennant Ltd and third place went to Matt and Craig Ridley’s Haltcliffe Jezebelle.
The final group of heifers was again split into two and these April to June, 2014-born heifers would dominate the intermediate age group. The first prize in the first of the two groups went to Poolehall Iris who subsequently took the Intermediate Female Champion title. Bred by Mr and Mrs N Matthews, Shropshire, she was expertly brought out and exhibited by Dougie McBeath and Sarah-Jane Jessop. Iris is by Haltcliffe Ben and out of Wilodge Flawless.
Amongst a host of titles, Poolehall Iris has been Reserve Female Champion at The Royal Highland and Reserve Overall Champion at The Great Yorkshire this year already.
Her full sister, Poolehall Isabelle, stood second to her for Robert and Jean Graham and Aileen Ritchie’s Goldies Inchantress took third.
The first prize winner in the next group of the same age also took The Reserve Intermediate Champion. Ronick Jingo, who was bred by Ronald Dick at Mains of Throsk, Stirling and is by Rathconville Eugene out of Ronick Bingo, was bought privately last year by exhibitors W J & M Mash Ltd.
Standing second to her was G and E Jones’ Trisant Jini, part of the winning Interbreed Team of Five at this year’s Royal Welsh, and Aileen Ritchie again took third, this time with Emslies Jiggywithit.
An impressive young cow class was won by Aileen Ritchie’s Emslies Ieryl. Bred by Harry Emslie, in Aberdeenshire, and purchased for 15,000gns in January 2014, this cow is by Procters Cavalier and out of Emslies Eryl. Second place went to DC Wharton’s Withersdale Ibelle and third to Pabo Icemaiden from WP Hughes and Son.
The best in the females was left to last, when an outstanding show of senior cows in calf in milk and/or with calves at foot entered the ring. They demanded the attention of the ringside and the judge and were a great credit to the breed. “The final decision was very close,” said Mr Goldie. “These are all good milky cows with great bodies, which are clearly doing their job very well.”
His hand came down twice in this Senior Cow class when the first two cows not only took the Senior Female titles but went on to take the Overall Champion and Reserve Females.
Whinfellpark Glittered shone to be Female and Reserve Supreme Champion with Brockhurst Heavenly taking the Reserve Overall Female Title. Standing third in this strong class was P Dawes’s, Dinmore Glorious.
Back in the bulls and Trueman Jagger was flanked in the Male Championship by the Junior and Reserve Male Champion, Foxhillfarm Lordofthering, bred and exhibited by the Alfords and confirming an all-round celebratory day at the show. Lordofthering is a May, 2015-born bull by Guards Boomer, out of Bankdale Alice and was the Junior Male Champion earlier in the day. This young bull, now headed for the October sales, had previously taken Junior Male, Overall Male and Reserve Junior Inter-breed Champion at The Royal Highland this year.
The Senior Male Champion, Gritstone General, looked in fine fettle as he took the title. Now a five-year-old and by Greensons Gigolo out of Millington Candy, he was exhibited by his breeders, David and Emma Armstrong, of Chorley, Lancashire and made an impressive addition to the final line up in the Male Championship.
There was a strong show of young bulls forward and the first class in the ring was won by A Morgan and JC Johnsons’ Alamande Lance, an October, 2015-born calf by Ampertaine Foreman out of Springsett Elegance. Second went to S Bowe’s Wiggonby Lord and third to Stourhead Lochan from H and JL Parker.
The second group of junior bulls born between September and December, 2015, was headed by Kedzlie Farms’ Swalesmoor Liam. An October-born calf by Cloughhead Umpire and out of Nebo Favourite.
A strong show of junior spring-born 2015 calves saw Mike and Melanie Alfords’ Foxhillfarm Lordofthering take not only the first prize but subsequently the Junior and Reserve Overall Male titles. Standing second to him was E and E Normans’ Norman Lumberjack, another Claragh Franco son, with D and R Durno and Sons’ Glenlivet Livit taking third.
The second group in the same age bracket was won by Robert and Jean Graham’s Grahams Lorenzo, which also took Reserve Junior Male Champion. Lorenzo is the same way bred as the Grahams’ heifers which won for the family earlier in the day and ultimately Lorenzo stole the show in the sale later in the afternoon when he sold with 100 straws of semen to the Wilodge herd for an impressive 40,000gns.
Standing second to Lorenzo was another from the Grahams herd, Grahams Lamont. Again by Franco he is out of the French bred dam Cavaliere. Third prize went to Andrew Ewing’s’ Fairywater Len, a Harestone Grouse son.
Michael Loughran’s Millgate Logo from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, took first prize in the next section of the age group with a June, 2015-born bull by Swarland Eddie and out of their Millgate Hilary cow. Second place went to Ian Nimmo’s Maraiscote Lexi.
The final group in this age was headed by the Alfords’ Foxhillfarm Louisvuitton. Another of their string by Guards Boomer he is out of the aforementioned Foxhill Gracie. Second place went to Ian Nimmo’s Maraiscote Lothario and third to Stephen Irvine’s Anside Luigi.
There was a strong show of quality bulls in the January to May, 2015-born line up and this, the largest section in the male classes, was split into four.
The first class saw W P Hughes and Sons’ Pabo Legend take the red rosette. Legend is by Loosebeare Fantastic and out of Pabo Gabriel. This bull had headed a strong showing for the Pabo herd at the 2016 Royal Welsh Show where he picked up the Overall Reserve Championship. Standing second was Strawfrank Leroy from Allan Campbell and third Thorndean Farms’ Thorndean Liquidgold.
The second class was won by E and E Normans’ Norman Legacy, a Claragh Franco son out of Norman Harmonica. Second place went to Stephen Irvine’s Anside Loki with J Oakes’ Millstone Ludo taking third.
The next group of spring-born calves was led by Whinfellpark Luvabull from Messrs Jenkinson. He is by Anside Gigolo and out of Whinfellpark Geegee. Second was Anside Luke from Stephen Irvine and third, G and E Jones’ Trisant Limited Edition.
Miss Linda Pidsley, from Upton, Payhembury, Honiton, Devon produced the class winner in the final group in the junior second when Uptonley Livingthedream, by her homebred bull Uptonley Invincibull took the first prize followed in second by Haulfryn Lieutenant from RG Whitley and P Dawes Dinmore Lionheart taking third.
The intermediate bull class was of course dominated by the eventual Supreme Champion Trueman Jagger, with Malcolm Reid’s muscly Reids Jethro standing second to the Champion in his class and Norman Cruickshank’s Meenross Jameson taking third.
