SMITHFIELD CENTRE-STAGE AT ENGLISH WINTER FAIR
· British Blue Team wins Duke of Norfolk Trophy
· Herefords Reserve
· Perrys of Eccleshall secure Beef Ribs Champion & Reserve
· Greenfields take Saddle of Lamb Championship
· Reserve Saddle goes to Stanedge Grange
· RABI Single Lamb trophy to Madders & Johnson
The English Winter Fair, held on the weekend of 18-19 November 2023 at the Staffordshire County Showground, drew a large and enthusiastic crowd with a number of highlights involving competitions supported by the Royal Smithfield Club.
The British Blue Team won the Duke of Norfolk Trophy
In the much-anticipated competition for the Duke of Norfolk Trophy, for the best group of three purebred animals, a packed ring on the Sunday saw seven breeds go head-to-head with the British Blues winning and the Herefords reserve.
Judge John Hall, Inglewood Edge, Penrith, Cumbria praised the winning trio as ‘an even, well-balanced group, very nicely matched.’ The winners comprised the junior heifer Brookley Blue Thumbelina from J Taylor together with two heifers from K Watret - Solway View Tesha and Solway View Sunlight.
Reserve Duke of Norfolk - the Hereford Trio
Standing reserve was the Hereford team of three steers: Pow from TG & EM Hart & Son, and Normanton 1 Woodonga & Normanton 1 Ant from TD & WT Livesey. Making the presentation was Geoff Burgess, Club President.
L-R Richard Saunders, Paul Sargeant, Steve Cartmail, Stephen Hill
The Club’s Beef Ribs & Saddle of Lamb competitions, with a record 28 entries across the two sections, was judged by Paul Sargeant of TG Sargeant & Sons, Bramshall, Uttoxeter, a family business comprising farming and butchery.
Champion Beef Rib
The Champion Beef Rib came from Perrys of Eccleshall with a Limousin-sired heifer from producer Steve Cartmail and presented by butcher Stephen Hill. The judge praised the winner for its ‘thickness of eye muscle and nice fat cover.’ Reserve Rib again went to Perrys with a Lim-cross steer from Simon Hamplett. The winning rib later sold for £390 in Bagshaws’ post-show auction with the reserve rib proceeds donated by Perrys to benefit family food boxes at Christmas.
L-R Ben Greenfield, Richard Saunders, Paul Sargeant
The Perpetual Lamb Saddle Trophy was awarded to Greenfields Farmers & Butchers with their 23kg Texel-cross described as having ‘great thickness of eye muscle and length’ by the judge. The reserve title went to Stanedge Grange Butchery with another Texel-sired lamb.
Champion Saddle of Lamb
Earlier on the Sunday, the Royal Smithfield RABI Single Butchers Lamb trophy judged by Antony Glaves was presented to Mary Madders of Madders & Johnson by Richard Saunders, RSC Secretary, and Kate Jones, RABI Regional Manager.
Part of the this year’s bumper entry!
The Royal Smithfield Club extends its thanks to judges Paul Sargeant, John Hall and Antony Glaves, to carcase hall Stewards John Bradshaw & Antony Key, to all exhibitors, and all the team from the Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society.
RIBS & SADDLES RESULTS
Heifer Ribs
1. 880. Perrys of Eccleshall/Steve Cartmail Lim-cross – Overall Champion
2. 888. EW Coates/M Wynne Lim-cross
3. 881. Perrys of Eccleshall/Steve Cartmail Lim-cross
Steer Ribs
1. 885. Perrys of Eccleshall/Simon Hamplett Lim-cross – Overall Reserve
2. 889. G Maycock & Son Angus-cross
3. 886. Warrendale Wagyu Wagyu-cross
Lamb Saddles
1. 894. Greenfields Texel-cross
2. 890. Stanedge Grange Texel-cross
3. 897. M&C Morris