The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2019 - Issue 62 | Page 21

FARM NEWS 21
• APR/MAY 2019
Huge support for cattle
competitions at Beef Expo 2019
ORGANISERS of the beef industry show-
Beef Show Judging NBA Beef Expo
Overall Champion and Reserve
The South Devon champion, bull Al X Rufford
SAS Quest from R. W. and S. M. Bostelmann
case, the National Beef Association (NBA)
Beef Expo 2019, taking place in Cumbria on
23rd May, have announced huge support
for its two key competitions, as entries start
to draw to a close.
The NBA Commercial Cattle Show and the
South Devon Herd Book Society Performance
Championships have both attracted encour-
aging entry numbers, as the national event
for the beef sector, Beef Expo 2019, this year
takes place at North West Auctions’ J36 Rural
Auction Centre in Crooklands, Cumbria.
“We are currently up to 115 entries, with
only five spaces free as we draw to the
entry deadline,” explains Julie Sedgewick,
organiser of the Cattle Show Competition.
Sponsored by Caltech Crystalyx, there is
more than £6000 of prize money up for
grabs for the national competition.
“It has been really encouraging, we are
really happy with the excellent level of
support,” she adds. “It is particularly pleas-
ing to see new entrants coming in, and the
central location and being in a low-risk TB
area certainly helps.”
Entries have been recorded from
across the UK, with many coming down
from Scotland, as well as from as far
afield as Somerset and Lincolnshire, as
well as a good level of competitors from
Wales.
“We will have four classes of Limousin
heifers, split into weights, with 35 entries
anticipated,” adds Julie. There are no
more than 10 animals in any class.
Experienced judge at many national
shows, and award-winner himself, Gavin
Scott of Gateside Farm, Linlithgow, will
be judging the Native and Continental
classes, as well as the Supreme Champi-
onships.
Another well-known name and face,
Tudur Edwards of Corwen will be judging
the Baby Beef classes, Baby Champion-
ship and Young Handlers competition.
Mr Edwards brings a wealth of experi-
ence, and was also the 2015 winner of
the Agri-Expo Supreme Beef Champion-
ships.
For the fourth year, the South Devon
Herd Book Society is also holding its
Performance Championships, in which
performance breeders from across the
country are invited to compete.
Caroline Poultney, breed secretary at the
South Devon Herd Book Society, says, “We
are still taking in bookings, and are aiming
for 20-25 animals.
“We are excited to be bringing this event
to a different part of the country, and look
forward to showing off the breed here and
its fabulous attributes. Exhibitors will be
coming from north, east, south and west!”
There is £500 prize money up for grabs
from the Society, plus money back on
animals forward. Entries are open until 7th
May.
Caroline adds, “It’s the fourth such annual
event, aimed at pushing the use of genetic
and performance information as a breeding
tool.”
Both competitions take place during NBA
Beef Expo, taking place on Thursday 23rd
may at North West Auctions’ J36 Rural Auc-
tion Centre in Crooklands, Cumbria.
Entry forms, schedules and visitor tickets
are available by visiting
www.nationalbeefassociation.com/beef-expo/