The Southern England Aberdeen-Angus Calf Show took place at Sedgemoor Market, Somerset, in conjunction with the South West Autumn Pedigree Calf Show.

The Aberdeen-Angus classes drew a choice entry from Cornwall to Hereford. Under the discerning eye of Judge Dudley Luxton, of the Luxtons Herd, Okehampton, Devon, Miss Gayle Bersey of Lynher Valley Aberdeen Angus, Torpoint, Cornwall took the Supreme Championship with Lynher Valley Enymeenyminymow T088. This one by Idvies Euris B112 is out of Round House Elma M281 and goes back to Ty-Isha Elma B040 on the dam’s side. With Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot and Castle of Mey Elscot featured, this January bull combined some of the greats of the breed and displayed true thickness and a real top. Standing Reserve Male Champion was Temple Jester Eric T692, a March born Temple Northern Prince P583 son out of Temple Jelly Erica N550. From Andrew and Judith Denning of Bridgwater, Somerset and shown by YDP student Alfie Waker, Jester Eric carried Nightingale Defiance, Netherallan Peter Pershore on both the sire’s and dam’s side of the pedigree, Netherton Kiwi Sam A141 and Lynher Valley Jelly Erica F042 in the grand dam.

The Female and Reserve Breed Championship was won by Mr and Mrs Peter Symonds of Newgrove, Hereford. Shown by Paul and son Ian Dowlman, Newgrove Prinsassy T627 displayed the top Mr Luxton was looking for. By Netherton Americano M703, Prinsassy was out of Wedderlie Prinsassy, who herself was by Lorabar Jasper Eric E170, who in turn was by Rawburn Transformer.

Mr and Mrs Symonds won the Reserve Female Championship with very similarly bred and January born Newgrove Prinsassy T624. Again by Netherton Americano, this one was out of a Nightingale Ploughman G376 daughter and also showed great thickness.

The Prinsassy heifers went on to win the pairs competition, being near mirror images of one another.

The Denning family continued a prodigious day by winning the remaining classes. Temple Lolly Top T697 won the March/April heifer class. By Temple Northern Prince P583 again and out of a Rawburn Double Oseven J985 and Lockerley Laura D444 daughter.

Blackbling Estelle T698 from Miss Grace Denning won the May onwards class. By Wall Royal Leo L837 and out of Maplejacks Edwina P240, Estelle carries renowned sires Blelack Evor H929, Blelack Jury Eric C673 and Wedderlie Netmark A281 and goes back through Netherton, Monkwood and Shieldmains to Newhouse Edwina on the dam’s side.

Grace also won the Young Handler competition with Blackbling Estelle to top off a great day.

Rob Venner of Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt, who hosted the event, commented that:

“We’ve had a fantastic day for the South. Being half term it was brilliant to see so many youngsters and the YDP program bearing fruit. What also struck me was the depth of pedigree many of today’s exhibits displayed. There was excellent fleshing and real tops on show, which Dudley honed in on but to back up the appearances, the pedigrees also stand up to inspection. With their pedigrees, these calves should go on to be excellent breeders, which only bodes well for this part of the world.”