Garrowby Farms’ Clive Rowland saw his first prize pedigree Limousin heifer, Garrowby Hiccup, who turns one-year-old this month, progress to first become female champion, then overall champion.

Hiccup is a daughter of Glenrock Ventura, bought from North Craven breeder Ian Handley’s Gunnerfleet herd in Chapel-le-Dale, who was also responsible for Garrowby Farms’ 2012 Northern Limousin Extravaganza supreme champion on what was their first foray into the peidigree show area just a few years after Mr Rowland first started breeding pedigree Limousins.

Out of a classy home-bred cow who is also the grand dam of last year’s victor, the 2013 title winner was the stand-out performer in the eyes of Scottish show judge Harry Emslie, who runs the Emslies pedigree Limousin herd at Peterhead, Aberdeen.

He commented: “I could not draw a better heifer. She had the presence, style and extra panache I was looking for and, while of an equal standard to the reserve supreme champion, showed that extra sparkle to be overall champion.”

Reserve supreme honours fell to the first prize Limousin-sired commercial heifer and commercial champion from Cumbrian breeders Julie Sedgewick and Neil Slack, of Plum Tree House, Newby, Penrith, on what was their first-ever appearance at the Northern Limousin Extravaganza.

Known at home as Watabootie, the 11-month-old daughter of the Irish sire Culnagechan Egbert was bred by John Richardson at Ghyll House, Dufton, Appleby, and acquired after becoming champion at Penrith’s ’Spring Spectacular’ fixture. The runner-up is now destined for further appearances in the Limousin show area, beginning with the following week’s NBA Beef Expo in Malvern.

Indeed, many of the leading performers in the sixth annual Northern Limousin Extravaganza can be expected to go on to bigger and better things in the show area. Staged in conjunction with the North East Limousin Breeders Club, it remains an early season highlight, allowing halter-led pedigree and cross-bred youngsters born the previous year to gain valuable experience in the competition ring. The majority were making their first appearance.

With a 50-plus entry this year, the male championship was awarded to Millington Limousins in the Vale of York with their first prize February-born bull Millington Hawk, by the AI sire Wilodge Vanyastic, out of the well regarded Brockhurst Option.

Millington, consistently high performers at the Northern Limousin Extravaganza and extra large herd champions in the 2012 NELBC herd competition, also won the pedigree pairs show class with the male champion and Millington Highlight, a second prize winner in one of the heifer classes.

The reserve male championship was awarded to the first prize March-born bull from the Barbondale pedigree herd of Morgan and Jill Shuttleworth, of Barbon Fell House in Barbon, Carnforth. Barbondale Hugo is by their stock bull Gunnerfleet Danny.

Standing reserve female champion was the first prize January-born pedigree heifer, Tomschoice Hailey, from James and Sarah Cooper, of Dacre, Harrogate, who have achieved multiple successes at the fixture in past years, notably with progeny of Haltcliffe Vermount, who was also responsible for their latest success. The dam is Tomschoice Celestial.

The Rice family, from Church Garth, Carlton, Yeadon, commercial champions the previous two years, narrowly missed out on a memorable hat-trick when taking the reserve championship at this year’s renewal with their first prize Limousin-sired commercial bullock.

Known as The Gloves Are Off, the July-born youngster is, like their 2011 and 2012 commercial champions, by Rossingal, another quality bull bred in Cumbria by John Richardson. The Rices continue to show cattle as in interest, raising just a handful on their West Yorkshire smallholding.

For the third year, an open stock judging competition organised by the North East club was run alongside the Northern Limousin Extravaganza. The under-18’s winner was xxxxxxxxx, of xxxxxxxxx, with xxxxxxxxx, of xxxxxxxxx, successful in the over-18s category.

Show sponsors were NELBC, Ripon Land Rover, Ripon Select Foods, Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Intervet/Schering Plough, LEBC Group, Elite Beef Semen, Bishopton Veterinary Group, I’Ansons, Limousin Society and David H Cox.

The Northern Limousin Extravaganza formed day one of CCM Skipton’s annual two-day Limousin showpiece, which climaxed with the mart’s premier ‘Craven Limousin Event,’ the annual Spring show and sale of pedigree Limousin bulls and females the following day. Full results of both are at www.ccmauctions.com

ENDS

Pic caption 1: Garrowby Farms’ Clive Rowland with his 2013 Northern Limousin Extravaganza supreme champion.

Pic caption 2: Garrowby Farms’ Clive Rowland with his 2013 Northern Limousin Extravaganza supreme champion, joined by judge Harry Emslie.

Pic caption 3: Neil Slack with the 2013 Northern Limousin Extravaganza reserve supreme champion.

Further info: Robin Moule, Moule Media, 01756-794027, mobile 07976-559961, e-mail: robin@moulemedia.com