| News
Honours well spread in
youth competitions at the
East of England Smithfield
Festival
Youngsters from across the UK took the top honours in a
brace of competitions for young people at last week’s
East of England Smithfield Festival, Peterborough, with
winners from England, Scotland and Wales collecting the
top tickets.
he Young Stockperson of
the year finals saw a duo of
English winners in the
younger age catergory for
those aged 15 to 17 years
old, with the first prize in
this age group going to
Newark, Nottinghamshire-based
Liam Goodard. Second to Liam
was William Riddington, currently
a student at Hartbury College,
Gloucestershire, and hailing from
Oundle, Northamptonshire.
In the senior section for
handlers aged 18-21 years old the
top spot was taken by Wrexham
youngster Kevin Jones, while
second spot went to Kirkmichael,
South Ayrshire-based Louise Allan.
Judge Boomer Birch said all the
competitors had impressed him
with their knowledge and cattle
handling skills, with the winners
real beacons for the future of the
industry. “Everyone in the final
deserved to be there, they are
T
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exceptionally talented young
people with great knowledge and
a real passion for the livestock
industry. The winners were truly
outstanding and are give me huge
confidence that the industry is in
safe hands going forward.”
Meanwhile, the College
Challenge stockjudging
competition was equally hard
fought, with 22 teams of four vying
for top spot.
Taking top place in this
competition was a team of four
from Riseholme College, Lincoln,
with second place going to Bishop
Burton College, York.
The victorious Riseholme team
comprised Jackson Maplethorpe,
16, Vicky Haywood, 18, Alex
Walker 17 and Lucy Robinson, 18.
Meanwhile the Bishop Burton
team included 21 year old Peter
Elcombe, Lydia Hewison, 18, Jess
Milner, 19 and Andrew Holt, 17.
January 2015 | Farming Monthly | 09