Borderway Agri-Expo - the Biggest and Best
2010-Oct-31

The fourth Borderway Agri-Expo proved to be the biggest and best, attracting the cream of livestock from throughout the country, together with a record 10,000 visitors on Friday 29th October.

The event was buzzing throughout the day which culminated at a packed ringside with the final beef award being presented by BBC TV Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson who commended the event as being ‘excellent’. “Agri-Expo is showcasing British agriculture in such a professional and excellent way,” he said. The day also featured an auction which raised funds for The Great North Air Ambulance and Carlisle Youth Zone - a project for young people with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Aleandro, a 13 month old cross heifer from Michael and Melanie Alford, was awarded the supreme female and overall championship. In overall reserve place was the reserve female winner from Kevin Ludgate, Tebworth, Leighton Buzzard, the inaugural Baby Beef title went to Neil Slack, Newby, Penrith, while supreme honours in the sheep lines went to a pair of Texel cross lambs from John Hall, Inglewood Edge, Dalston.

Aleandro was awarded the supreme cattle honours by judge, Arfon Jones after the marathon eight hour judging stint which took in a record 248 entries. “It’s been one of the best shows I’ve ever judged. The quality of the stock has been fantastic from the first class through to the end, including the young farmers’ section,” he said. “However the champion took my eye as soon as she came in to the ring. She is very, very neat from her neck through to her hind quarters, she is compact and she handles well, and she is the type of beast I would like to own, along with the reserve champion who was of similar type.”

Champion Heifer & Supreme Champion ‘Aleandro’ shown by Michael & Melanie Alford

For the Alfords who were making a 660 mile round trip from Collumpton, Devon, it was their first major win in three years of attending the event. “It’s been an amazing show with an incredible atmosphere,” said Michael. “It means everything for us to win Borderway Agri-Expo which is held in the heart of livestock country and with support from such massive crowds at the ringside.”

Bred by J Lee & Sons of Agars Hill, Whitfield, Hexham,the 496kg Aleandro was by a Limousin and out of a British Blue cross Limousin from his 200 cow herd which also bred the 2005 English and Scottish Winter Fair champion, Sparky. Aleandro began her career in May when she was awarded the Baby Beef reserve heifer title at NBA Beef Expo, Hexham and also caught the Alford’s attention. They secured her in a private deal from J Lee & Son and brought her out again at South West Beef Expo where she headed her class. On Friday was among the six entries entered by the Alfords and their 11 year old daughter, Charlotte who amassed a total of four red and two blue tickets.

Pipped in to overall reserve place was the reserve female champion, Blossom, a 15 month old bred and exhibited by Kevin Ludgate, Tebworth, Leighton Buzzard who secured his most prestigious win in five years on the primestock show circuit. This 580kg Ronick Hawk sired heifer was out of Big Bum, a Blue cross Limousin, herself an interbreed winner. Blossom was no stranger to the ring having already taken the championships at Newbury and the Edenbridge and Oxted.

Cattle judge, Arfon Jones, judging a class of steers.

Tecwyn Jones, Llanrwst, Conwy, twice holder of the Borderway Agri-Expo supreme championship was back in the ring, this time with Black Jack, a homebred 16 month old by the Limousin, Cowtham Justice and out of a blue cross Limousin cow. Black Jack who had already secured three championships in the Welsh show ring this season and a placing in his class last week at Countryside Live, was awarded the champion steer title.

The overall reserve steer award went to Black Bob, a 15 month old Limousin cross bred by R Tiplady, Long Marton, Appleby and exhibited by Andrew Dickinson, Bradbourne, Ashbourne.

The new Baby Beef section was led by Neil Slack’s Alfie, a seven month old steer by the Limousin Fieldson Alfy and out of a Limousin cross dam from his 17 cow herd based at Newby, Penrith. Alfie was enjoying his second major award within a week after scooping the Baby Beef award at Countryside Live and having never been beaten in his class this season. For Neil it was his first major championship at Borderway Agri-Expo having been in overall reserve place in the main primestock section.

Standing below Alfie was Miss Dynamite, a seven month old Allanfauld Cracker daughter and out of a Charolais cross cow. Bred by Archie McGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow, she was bought by her exhibitors, Jennifer Hyslop and Andrew Richardson,Barrhill, Girvan for £2,000 in Stirling for the 2011 show season however she found herself cutting her teeth successfully on her first early outing.

Adam Henson with the Champion Texel cross lambs
© Robert Smith Photography

The supreme sheep award was made to a pair of homebred Texel cross gimmer lambs from John Hall’s 2,000 ewe flock. The pair who were making their debut tipped the scales at 103kg and were turned out by daughter, Joanne Hall and Johnny Aiken who were taking their first major win at Borderway Agri-Expo. “This pair stood out being very modern sheep ideal for the retail trade and likely to kill out at E3L,” commented judge, Brian Glaves.

Overall reserve honours was secured by a pair of pure Beltex weighing a combined 89kg from first time exhibitor, James Bailey. Bred by Andrew Bishop and purchased privately, they were placed in their class at Countryside Live on their only other outing.

The champion Mule gimmer lamb award went to Richard Batty, Red Hills, Kendal with a pair of March born entries bred by the Messrs Lord, Stainmore and secured in Hawes for £380 each. Reserve award was made to the 2009 championship holder Ron Wilson, Armathwaite with a pair bought in Kirkby Stephen, one at £500 from Andrew Brown, Ashby Hall and the other, £255 from Andrew Marston, Easegill Head, Kirkby Stephen.

Aberdeen Angus Winter National Show
The breed society’s inaugural Winter National Show’s calf section attracted 144 entries and was led by Bon Lea Emperor K079, a seven month old bull Rawburn Rommel E423 from Bon Lea Angus, and in reserve place, Netherton Blackbird K541, a January born heifer, again by Rawburn Rommel E423 from, W and D McLaren, Blackford, Auchterader.

The yearling championship went to Balmachie Ellen Erica J062, a 19 month old The Moss Florian B284 daughter from Messrs JF Lascelles, Carnoustie, Angus. The reserve slot was secured by Mr J and Mrs A Price, Staunton on Wye, Hereford with their 20 month old bull, Oakchurch Diplomat J118, by Oakchurch Dominator G035.

The cow and calf champion was awarded to Messrs W and D McLaren’s Netherton Fleur G413, and in reserve place, Balmachie Ellen Erica G033 from Messrs Lascelles.

Border British Blue Club
The British Blue section with 72 entries from throughout the country saw supreme honours going to Norbreck Fergus, a nine month old bull by Empire D’Ochain and out of a Tamhorn cow. He was bred and exhibited by Phil Halhead’s Cockerham, Lancaster based Norbreck Genetics.

The reserve champion was Graymar Europe, an 11 month old bull by Sjaka Zoeloe Van Zwaanhof from Graham Jones, Hadnall, Shrewsbury.

The Hereford Regional Calf Show
The supreme championship in the Hereford Regional Calf Show which attracted 47 entries was secured by HP and LS Whittaker Farms, Spurstow, Tarporley with Romany 1 Dawn, a 13 month old by Hereford Society’s Sire of the Year, Baybridge Atlas and out of a homebred cow. Standing below her in overall reserve place was the male champion, the 13 month old Barbern 1 Gargantuan, a son of the 3,000gns Dendor 1 Bonanza and out of a homebred cow from Bernard and Barbara Rimmer, Scorton, Preston.

The Beef Shorthorn Open Calf Show
The Beef Shorthorn Open was a new calf show at Borderway Agri-Expo attracting 45 entries from throughout the country and led by Meonhill Highland Captain, the 13 month old male champion from LEP Farms, Hambledon, Hants. He was sired by Eionnmor Highlander and out of a homebred cow.

Overall supreme honours went to the nine month old heifer, Holmeere Millicent 12, a Cairnsmore Thrasher daughter from Gilbert Brooke, Malton.

Harrison & Hetherington are grateful for the enormous support given by mainline and class sponsors, trade stands and all livestock exhibitors.

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