Borderway Agri-Expo 2013 – A Diamond of a Show!
On Friday 1st November Borderway Agri- Expo held at Carlisle attracted la crème de la crème of livestock from across the UK, more trade stands than ever and in the region of 12500 spectators.
This is an event that during the last seven years has continually grown from strength to strength. The event attracted more than 750 livestock entries, trade stands and exhibitors from the length and breadth of the country and was also the platform for 5 Breed Society Shows.
Organised by Harrison & Hetherington and sponsored by Carrs Billington, Morrison’s, Cogent Breeding, Lloyds Bank, and Norbrook Laboratories this is undoubtedly one of the leading lights of the UK’s winter livestock shows.
Commenting afterwards Operations Director David Pritchard said: “The success of this event really is down to the support that we have received from the sponsors, the trade stands, the exhibitors and the thousands of people who attended. We have received tremendous feedback and are absolutely delighted that Borderway Agri-Expo has strengthened its position year on year and provides a positive benchmark for the livestock industry.”
In the National Suckled Calf and Primestock Show there were 26 classes and 19 continental and traditional breed classes in the The National Prime Sheep Show.
The supreme champion in the National Suckled Calf and Primestock Show,was a Limousin cross heifer born July 2012, Daddy’s Big Bucks from the Alford family, Foxhill Farm,Cullompton, Devon Reserve overall was the reserve heifer champion, Jade, from Hefin Parry, Langefni, Anglesey. July 2012-born, and bred by Bowen and Bowen, this heifer also won the newly introduced class for this year sponsored by the Charolais Society was the Special Class for Best Charolais Sired heifer.
Judge, Charlie Anderson, Dumfries, said, there was very little between the heifers, they were both very well fleshed, with style and good movement but not over fat, but my champion was slightly sweeter than the reserve.
Taking the sheep championship was Andrew Morton, Lochend Farm, Denny, Stirlingshire with the winners of the continental supreme pair of Beltex sired lambs, in reserve overall were the reserve continentals – the winners of the Beltex sired lambs up to 40kg from Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains, Carstairs, Lanark. The judge, Andrew Finch, of Dunbia, Preston, said it was a very close call between the two pairs and his champions were ‘a tremendous pair of lambs with good cover, great loins and no waste, which are ideal for either export or the home butcher’s market.’
The champion lambs bred from a Hill ewe were from Neil and Elliot Cavers, Sorbie Farm, Ewes Langholm, by a Texel out of South Country Cheviots.
C.R. Graham and Sons, Carruthers Farm, Lockerbie, took the Hill bred lamb championship with a pair of pure Cheviots which weighed 46kg each.
The Baby Beef Championship was won by John Smith-Jackson, Hightown, Haltwhistle with the April 2013-born British Blue cross heifer She’s A Diamond. In reserve was A and E. Vance, Bridgehouse, Farm Whithorn with the May 2013-born Limousin cross heifer, Bonnie Betty.
Commenting on the calibre of entries and the event overall cattle judge, Charlie Anderson said: “I don’t think I will ever have the opportunity to judge such fantastic livestock again. I would like to take my hat off to all of the exhibitors, the organisers and all of the stage at Harrison & Hetherington as this is definitely the leading show in the country.”
The Special Breed Society Show Classes included:
- The Border British Blue Calf Show = won by Kevin Watret, Annan with Solway View Horny
- The Beef Shorthorn National Calf Show – won by Harry Horrell, Peterborough with Podehole Madeline Glamour
- The Hereford Regional Calf Show – won by LR & AM Ayre, Exeter with Frenchstone Capri
- The Simmental Regional Calf Show – won by Barlow Bros, Preston with Allroch Eve
- The Walkers Shortbread Aberdeen-Angus Show Herd of the Year Competition and the Aberdeen Angus Winter National Show – the female award won by EC & MC Jones, Devon with Rull Evita L127 and the male award won by Neil Wattie, Aberdeen with Tonley Jose Enrique N957
As always the next generation were well represented and encouraged to participate in competitions. In the “Young Farmers and Open Competition Agri Expo Stocksman of the Year” the junior class was won by Tom Blamire from Mid Whinnow, Carlisle the over 18’s class was won by Richard Ridley of Woodhall, Wigton The Young Farmers’ heifer class was won by Andrew Ewing, Dumbretton, Annan with Black Diamond who was also homebred
On presenting to the prize to the Supreme Champion, guest Alistair Christmas, said: “There is a fantastic turnout of exhibitors which makes Borderway Agri-Expo very memorable to all, and congratulations to all of the prize winners.”
With 165 trade stands, Borderway Agri Expo is, this year, full to capacity. The trade stands included breed societies, the latest in on-farm machinery and technology, livestock genetics and feed and supplement providers. New exhibitors this year included Purple Energy Limited who used Agri Expo as part of the company’s launch in the North West, The British Wool Marketing Board. Carlisle and Penrith based Rickerby Ltd used Borderway Agri- Expo to launch their new Abbey Feeder with roller.
Judged by Bill White of the Willis Group the “Best Trade Stand” was won by Paul Chuter Agricultural Services from Cockermouth and the “Best Breed Society Stand” was won by the “Herdwick Sheep Society.”
Each year Borderway Agri-Expo supports and raises a significant amount of money for Charity this year supporting Headway, the Brain Injury Association and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
