Woodhouse Kerry Hill clinches top honours at Burwarton Show

A scorching hot Burwarton Show saw a championship winner from this year’s Royal Welsh go through as interbreed sheep champion. 

A home bred Kerry Hill shearling ewe from John and Philippa Owens and family, took the eye of interbreed judge Jonathan Long. Commenting on his champion he said: “This ewe is full of breed character with tremendous style and presence in the show ring. She also handled exceptionally well across her top line.” 

This is one of 60 pedigree Kerry ewes run in the family’s Woodhouse flock which is based just outside of Leominster, Herefordshire. She is by a Penrenant ram out of a homebred ewe and as well as taking the breed championmship at the Royal Welsh last month, she was reserve breed champion at a lamb at Kington Show last year. 

Standing reserve to her was a Ryeland shearling tup, Widgits Xemplar, from Steve Gray and Doreen Smillie Gray, Bosbury, Herefordshire. He was purchased as a lamb and was reserve male champion at Devon County and Royal Bath and West this year as well as breed champion at Monmouth Show.  

Over in the beef cattle lines, interbreed judge Robert Neill, Jedburgh, Borders, took a shine to Church Stretton, Shropshire-based Fred Robinson’s Saler bull, Seawell Invader. Born in 2013 and bred by Peter and Sheelagh Donger, this one is by the imported sire Denver and out of an imported cow Duchesse. Mr Neil was particularly impressed with the bull as he had been working 35 cows and was still in good condition and paraded well on the day. 

Taking the reserve was a Limousin heifer from Paul Dawes, Dinmore, Herefordshire. Dinmore Naturelle is a January 2017-born heifer by the record priced 145,000gns Trueman Jagger and out of the herd’s prolific show winner Dinmore Elle. Taking the native interbreed title was a Highland heifer from M J and V M Monk, Urshula 1^st of Yarchester.

It was more success for Herefordshire exhibitors in the commercial beef line as the Leominster-based Burnett and Lloyd partnership took the championship with a Limousin cross steer, Dark Shot. 

Bred by Brian Jones and purchased out of a Brecon store sale, he stood reserve champion at the English Winter Fair, Royal Welsh Winter Fair and East of England Winter Stock Festival last winter and champion at Newark this year. 

Standing reserve was Limousin cross heifer, Sooty, from Noel and Avril Porter, Raglan, Monmouthshire, shown by Tim and Kitty Bodily. This 500kg heifer was bought at Brecon and again bred by Brian Jones. She’s previously stood reserve champion at Royal Cornwall and champion at Brecon Show. 

Meanwhile taking the top spot in the small selection of dairy cattle was the Holstein champion and January 2015-born Hawksmoor Dot 91 from Rob Clare, Market Drayton, Shropshire. She’s by Farnear-TBR Altaavalon and is out of the Ex92 Hawksmoor Dot 71.  

Press release issued by Country Girl Media on behalf of Burwarton Show. For more information, please contact Chrissie Long. Email: info@countrygirlmedia.co.uk.